QUIT NOW OR DIE LATER EARLIER

Today, one of the major cause of health problems is the continuous habit
of smoking. In the Philippines, smoking is very common despite its serious health
effects. In 2009, the Department of Health and Philippine Global Adult Tobacco
Survey conducted a research about smoking in the Philippines. According to their
studies, 28.3% or 17.3 million Filipino adults aged 15 years and older were
current tobacco smokers. 47.7% or 14.6 million are men and 9% or 2.8 million
are women. There were 13.8 million Filipino smokers every day or approximately
22.5%. Smoking doesnt only affect the health of the smokers but also to non-
smokers. Second-hand smoking or passive smoking is the combination of the
mainstream and side stream smoke. Mainstream smoke is the smoke exhaled by
the smokers and the mainstream smoke is the smoke produce by the burning
cigarette.
This can also cause serious health problems and may also lead to death.
There are estimated 7,300 non-smokers adults who die from lung cancer as a
result from their exposure to smokers. It may also cause disease to children and
may increase their heart illness and premature death to 25-30%. In the
workplace, smoking is very common and 66.7% of Filipino workers are exposed
to second-hand smoke and 75.7% of them are exposed to smokers where there
is no anti- smoking policy.
Every year, there are about 20,000 smoking related deaths in the country.
10 people die every hour because of smoking related diseases. Because of the
addictiveness to the tobacco products, the Department of Health recommends
different ways to prevent smoking and support smoking cessation. In the
country, almost half of the Filipino smokers, current and former smokers
attempted to quit during the past years. There are a lot of ways to stop smoking
and there are treatments that prove to be effective for smokers who wants to
quit. They can join group counselling and behavioural therapies. Counselling and
medication are both effective for treating tobacco dependents. They can also
purchase nicotine replacement products over-the-counter like nicotine patch,
gum, and lozenge.
Below are the smoking cessation clinics accredited by the DOH:

Dr. Jose Rodriguez Memorial Hospital in Caloocan City

Amang Rodriguez Memorial Hospital in Marikina City
Rizal Medical Center in Pasig City
San Lorenzo Ruiz Women's Hospital in Malabon City
Philippine General Hospital in Manila
Lung Center of the Philippines
Philippine Heart Center
National Children's Hospital
St. Lukes Medical Center
Quirino Memorial Medical Center

Benefits of Quitting:

After 20 minutes of quitting, heart rate and blood pressure which are
abnormally high while smoking will begin to return to normal.
 After several months, food taste and smell will be better and there will
be improvements for lung functions.
Within a few years of quitting, they will have lower risks of cancer,
heart disease, and other smoking related illness.
Within 10 to 15 years, it will have lower risks for lung disease like
bronchitis, emphysema, etc. Possibility to have eye diseases such as
cataracts, dementia, and other conditions like osteoporosis will also
lowered.
According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, non-
smokers live about 10 years longer than smokers.

References:
- doh.gov.ph/smoking-cessation-program
- National Cancer Institute - Harms of Cigarette and Health Benefits of
Quitting,
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Fast Facts,
TobaccoFreeMaine.org
- healthline.com/health-slideshow - quit-smoking-timeline#10