Gift yourself with good health; stop smoking now–expert
QUITTING smoking is the best gift that you can give to yourself and your loved ones this Christmas.
“Let this Christmas season be the time to kick the bad habit of smoking,” said Dr. Jaime Galvez Tan, former Health Secretary and a trustee of Healthjustice Philippines.
Dr. Galvez Tan noted that smoking may lead to major non-communicable diseases which are cardiovascular diseases, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes mellitus.
He said that quitting smoking is also the best way to protect your family for you will spare them from the dangers of secondhand smoke.
By kicking the bad habit, Dr. Galvez Tan said that it will also be good for the mental health of a person and that vaping is not also a better option.
“Focus instead on exercising, listening to music, and get enough sleep,” he said.
“May quitting smoking also be your New Year’s resolution. It is one of the best things you can do for your health,” Dr. Galvez Tan said added.
Smoking cessation
THE Department of Health (DOH) said that tobacco use is one of the most serious avoidable risk factors for premature death and chronic illness from tobacco-related diseases that needs to be addressed. To help smokers stay nicotine-free, the DOH said that there is a Tobacco Control component of the Lifestyle Related Diseases Prevention and Control Program which primarily aims to reduce non-communicable diseases caused by cigarette smoking.
It implements the World Health Organization (WHO) MPOWER measures which monitors tobacco use and policies, protects people from exposure to second-hand smoke, offers help to quit tobacco use, warns people of its dangers, enforces bans on tobacco advertising, and reduces the affordability of tobacco products.
This program helps create an enabling environment to help current tobacco users quit, protect people from secondhand smoke and prevent young people from taking up the habit.
Smokers who wish to quit may call hotline no. 165-364 or simply text ‘STOPSMOKE’ to (29290) 165-354.
The DOH national quit line is 1558 and professional counselors will give them advice.
Local government units also have smoking cessation clinics aside from hospitals offering the same.
Services offered are free within Metro Manila, and currently the Philippine Lung Center together with DOH are working towards enabling free mobile services to areas even outside the region.