Sunday 20 December 2015

Clean your lungs - No Smoking Please

Some years back an Irish gentleman  and others were partying at our house . While drinks were permitted , but cigarettes were a taboo. An occasional drink was a relaxation so to say. This Irish gentleman survived a plane crash and gave up smoking , thanking his stars and  God almighty. A few years later , he once again  survived a plane crash and  restarted  smoking. But I reckon he lacked in gratitude. " When a person doesn't have gratitude , something is missing in his or her humanity. A person can almost be defined by his or her attitude towards gratitude." writes Elie Wiesesl .
 
So very true.
 
A few days back I met a junior in service , who kicked smoking  in circa 2000, but once again resumed smoking 11 years later.   Why do we smoke? Peer pressure , just to chill it out or relax?  There is no definitive answer . However it is a  weak mind which cannot resist the temptation. But all smokers agree that smoking is dangerous to their health . Not only theirs  but also of their family members  and those in close in proximity.
 
WHO estimates that in the year 2014  approximately 6.4million  deaths  occurred  on account of tobacco consumption. And apparently 100 million people have perished over the course of 20th century because of smoking and tobacco related diseases . There is an apt Japanese proverb that " Fear is only as deep as mind allows ." Despite realising the dangers of smoking and consumption of tobacco related products we fall prey to the temptation.
 
The United States Centres for Disease Control and Prevention describes tobacco use as " the single most important preventable risk to human health in developed countries and an important cause of premature death worldwide." Several countries have adopted stringent measures to control the consumption of tobacco with the  usage and sale restrictions as well as bold warning messages   printed on the  packaging .
 
While our venerable  Parliamentarians do not agree to the passage of GST( Goods and Service Tax) to kickstart  the economy, they   are however  in unanimity not to print the prohibitive  and  horrific pictures on the products which would  otherwise  scare the prospective consumer .Without doubt the tobacco lobby in India is brazen and   emboldened  to carry on the sale of their dangerous products. Infact celebrities like sports persons , filmstars and others should refrain from endorsing  tobacco and alcohol products completely . That should be their minimum  corporate social responsibility for the enormous  wealth accumulated .
 
Without any doubt tobacco is one of the single greatest cause of preventable deaths globally. It affects the heart, liver and lungs of human bodies. Smoking is a major contributor for heart attacks, COPD(Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease). This  includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis.   I recall of an incident  when  an  officer( who was  both  an  alcoholic and smoker) in railways who   was charred to death in a  state of stupor. I reckon as Arthur Rubinstein says" If you love life, life will love you back." Such tragic human foibles lead to us hubris as we  fail to  love and appreciate  life.
Smoking causes cancers of larynx and mouth , hypertension besides  polluting  the environment. Secondary smoking is equally debilitating for the passive smoker. WHO argues that cigarettes sold in underdeveloped countries tend to have a higher tar content and are less likely to be filtered , potentially increasing the  vulnerability of  tobacco and  smoking related diseases .
Given all these negativeness, people still consume tobacco and smoke. To begin with a  person planning to quit smoking should find a powerful reason to stop smoking as his mind remains   in a  state of denial . The individual should realise that both he and his family needs  to be protected.
Is the addict not being self centred by not caring for the family. As Louis Hay says" By choosing loving , joyous thoughts, I create a joyous , loving world. I am safe and free."  The addict is neither safe nor free  or joyous.
 
The  human brain is wired to this addiction and  nicotine. It is the withdrawal symptoms which plays a havoc on the physical and psychological self. The addict needs to consult  a counselor, take medication or join self help groups like smokers -anonymous to be free from this addiction.
 
That craving for that  ONE -DRAG needs  to be challenged  at any cost . It would be wise on part of the smoker or tobacco addict to fix a goal of not smoking at all for a certain period of time  and see the results and benefit . Make a solemn promise to the  self and family that smoking is deleterious to health and therefore , resolve that whatever may  be the provocation , avoid smoking . It would be worthwhile to look at the financial  cost of the packet and savings that  could accrue by quitting smoking . The amount of money saved in a day, a week , a month , a year by abstaining from smoking would be manifold. This is Darren Hardy's  Compound Effect .
Simultaneously , the addict should avoid triggers like coffee, cafine,   tea and alcohol . Invariably  an addict lights  up a cigarette while consuming triggers. Instead we  would recommend taking to exercise, long walks and developing hobbies to divert the mind from consuming tobacco products and smoking.
A smoker should clear his office room and house of those innumerable  stubs and see the garbage accumulated over a period of time. Just clean the environment of the existing  stench and appreciate as to how fresh the air could be( despite the existing pollution).
 
We would strongly recommend breathing techniques like Nadi Shodhan Pranayama ( alternate nostril breathing), Sudarshan Kriya ( as discovered by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar), meditation and yoga to overcome this malady. An addict without fail should enroll for the Happiness Programme of Art Of  Living  followed by the Advanced Meditation Course to kick the habit.As such breathing patterns and techniques permeate to the millions of cells in our body and detoxify the system. . An addict becomes addicted to a healthy way of life and accumulate positive thoughts .  Such positivism spreads and acts as a change agent.  
There is a saying ," If you want to walk fast , walk alone, and if you want to walk far , walk with someone." So an addict can walk with the Art Of Living to overcome the habit . That is what Guruji calls Sangachadwam ( Let us Move Together).

No comments:

Post a Comment