Lifestyle: Smoke your health away

As negative as the title may sound, that is the reality of smoking effect. Apart from the sensation of inhaling and exhaling nicotine containing fume, smokers also imposing themselves to many risk of smoking behavior.

Health risk for smokers vs Non smokers

• Coronary heart disease by 2 to 4 times
• Stroke by 2 to 4 times
• Men developing lung cancer by 23 times
• Women developing lung cancer 13 times
• Infertility
• Preterm delivery
• Sudden Infant Dead Syndrome (SIDS)

According to World Health Organization (WHO), in 2009, there are 50% of Male and 2% of Female from total population of Malaysia. However, even not smoking, if you are living with or sitting nearby smokers, you still exposed to the smoke exhaled by the smokers. Therefore you are what scientist called as “Passive Smoker” with all the health risk similar with regular smokers, plus the additional Carbon Dioxide!

Each cigarette smoked will drains away 25mg Vitamin C (same amount in an orange) from body, a nutrient for immune and disease-prevention antioxidant. In the meantime, Nicotine and other toxic material also block absorption of Vitamin D which aid in Calcium absorption.

Smokers also linked with negative health behavior such as eating less fruits and vegetables, high fat food, heavy consuming alcohol and caffeine, being physically inactive, and ultimately avoiding regular visit to health care provider.

Let us lead ourselves to healthier life by combating this treatable negative behaviour. Self motivation is the biggest factor to get us kick started and constant moral support from family and peers is the reason for us to get through the whole journey.

Guest Columnist

Farahanani Amhazali
B. Sc. Dietetics, UPM