No Buts, Butt out
My esteemed colleague, Peter Goers’ article today (Sunday, May 30) needs to be addressed and to set the scene here are some vital statistics to mull over on World No Tobacco Day – May 31.
The average Australian male can expect to live to 79 years old ; Women in Australia on average will reach 84 years of age.
Both men and women are now living 25 years longer than 100 years ago (55 years for men and 59 years for women) – a wonderful gift of time to be relished.
Chances are far too many long-term addicted smokers won’t live to enjoy the bonus years.
The National Ageing Research Institute at the University of Melbourne reckons the extra quarter-century is due to better disease prevention, better knowledge of how lifestyle factors affect health and a much better public health system.
The link between lifestyle factors – no-smoking, low-moderate alcohol consumption, healthy weight and regular exercise – and disease prevention is well-known to babyboomers. It’s an important reason why vast numbers of boomers have quit smoking already. But today – World No Tobacco Day – is about those who are still addicted, whose habits, according to many federal government reports breed disease – heart disease, stroke, and lung cancers in both sexes.
The Institute admits genetics plays a role in our life span, but how we live day by day to prevent or breed disease places our long life chances in our own hands.
This is all sober stuff on the cusp of World No Tobacco Day – the ideal time to give up smoking – and increase your chances of long, healthy life.
One must weigh up the discomfort of temporary cravings and higher stress levels with the benefits of butting out – and dramatically reducing the risk of smoking-related diseases and dying prematurely.
Quit smoking before middle-age (45-50??) reduces your risk of developing lung cancer by 90 per cent.
• After a year of quitting the habit, your increased risk of death from heart attack will be halved.
• Quit smoking for 15 years and the risk of stroke will have fallen to that of someone who has never smoked. No Butts!
Action on Smoking and Health states smoking is still the leading cause of chronic disease in Australia – and it’s preventable. No wonder smokers are socially ostracised because the economic cost to the taxpayer in treating life-threatening smoking-related disease is a huge drag on our hip pocket. Also consider that the National Preventative Health Strategy states a massive one third of Australia’s health budget is to treat disease caused by lifestyle factors, such as smoking, which can be altered through choice to prevent debilitating illness and premature death.
Help is at hand. Call Quitline 13 7848 or visit www.quitsa.org.aufor a FREE QUIT kit.
Tags: anti-smoking
my journal | nadine 30/05/2010
1 Comment to “No Buts, Butt out”
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By Jim Binder, 13/06/2010 @ 12:10 pm
Hi,
Just read the No Buts, Butt out and would just like to highlight men’s health.
Men’s Health week is here. (June 14th – 20th)
I was greatly disappointed last year that I did not see much (if any) media encouraging guys to do something about their health – because it is a BIG problem. We don’t look after ourselves as you ladies do.
You ladies are well organised and do it well presenting and promoting the various women’s health issues, supporting and assisting each other (often with the loving support of male partners).
Men are supportive of women’s health events such as the ‘Field of dreams’ with the AFL to highlight women’s Cancer and ‘Go Red for Women’ Heart Foundation campaign…which gies profile to women’s health – I haven’t seen many specifically for guys.
For the majority of men, visiting a doctor is not something which comes easily, despite the fact they may be feeling extremely ill. Often men will refuse to see their GP for fear of the unknown and unfortunately, this often means that symptoms go untreated or worsen due to delayed treatment.
The goal should be to break down the barriers preventing men from making regular medical visits while making them aware of the services available in the local community.
“Many men think they’re bulletproof or just too busy. We need them to realise how important and easy it is to visit their doctor regularly. Men are over-represented within chronic disease deaths when compared with women, with the leading causes being heart disease, stroke, chronic obstructive lungs, depression, lung cancer and accidents.
I am involved in organising a Men’s Health night in SA during Men’s Health week – but am not after publicity for our event – rather wanting a broader coverage of Men’s health…and it be given a better profile !
JIM