While smoking has long been part of cultural and societal practices, the World Health Organization (WHO) attributes as many as eight million deaths as tobacco-related, with seven million as a direct result of tobacco use and 1,2 million to secondhand smoke.
Bearing in mind South Africa’s dire economic situation, with an estimated three million people losing their jobs as a result of restrictions to curb the Covid-19 pandemic, the health and financial benefits should encourage South Africans to stop smoking.
Prof Richard van Zyl-Smit, Pulmonologist and Head of the Lung Clinical Research Unit (LCRU) at the University of Cape Town (UCT) Lung Institute, said research conducted by the US-based National Centre for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) on the hazards of smoking and the benefits of cessation acknowledges that smokers who start smoking early in adult life and do not quit, lose a decade of life expectancy versus non-smokers.
Chronic, non-communicable diseases (NCD) are on the rise, with tobacco consumption being one of the important contributing risk factors for dying of an NCD. Quitting will help protect not only personal health, but those around you from exposure to secondhand smoke. Smoking cessation, especially before the age of 40, results in a reduced risk in mortality,” he said.
The WHO suggested that quitting allows the lungs and heart to function better from the moment a user stops. Within 20 minutes, the elevated heart rate and blood pressure associated with smoking drop and after 12 hours, the carbon monoxide level in the bloodstream returns to normal. Within two to 12 weeks, circulation improves and lung function increases, and after one to nine months, coughing and shortness of breath decreases.
In addition to an improved quality of life and the ability to breathe, you can also taste and smell better. When you quit smoking, your immune system will become stronger which will reduce the number of times you get sick,” explained Van Zyl-Smit.
It’s not just personal health that is affected, but also the economic growth and stability of South Africa as local smokers cost the government money. This is backed up by research conducted by Dr Hana Ross and colleagues at the University of Cape Town suggesting that South African smokers cost the government in excess of R42 billion. This is largely attributed to increased healthcare costs, productive lives lost, and productive days lost through illness.
On a consumer level, many South Africans face a massive challenge with debt. The Debt Counselling Association estimates that in 2020 as many as 10 million South Africans had bad debt, with an average of 63 percent spending their after-tax income on repayments – a number which has certainly increased as of late with banks reporting a surge in provisions for bad debt.
Taking into account that the average pack of cigarettes costs around R40, if one indulges in a pack of 20 cigarettes per day, the habit amounts to over R1 200 per month and over R14 400 per year. One could argue that given the current economic situation of many South Africans as a result of Covid-19, this additional expenditure could be put to better use, such as for food, housing, or to invest in education and improve household financial situations.
While quitting smoking tobacco can be difficult, with the right mindset, a commitment to quit, and the right medical intervention, it can be done. People often benefit from different types of support whilst withdrawing from nicotine, such as counselling and medication.
It is important to note that withdrawal symptoms may be severe – but won’t kill you as some might think. Withdrawal from nicotine can make it difficult to quit, but it is important to note that the symptoms usually dissipate within two to four weeks. Support from friends and family will help during those difficult days.
Along with this, people believe that stopping smoking will cause them to put on weight, however, smoking has actually been shown to negatively affect one’s metabolism. With these points in mind it is important to note that quitting is possible and the benefits outweigh the negative impact of smoking,” concluded Van Zyl-Smit.
While there are different ways to quit smoking such as stopping abruptly, there are cessation methods that have helped many people kick the habit. Should you be looking to quit, speak to your healthcare professional about the solutions most appropriate for you. For more information, kindly visit www.QuitToday.co.za.
