DUBAI: Smoking has major repercussions on the health of the smoker as what has long been advised by medical professionals. However, many individuals still continue to practice the habit, with YOLO as their motto.
Four Filipinos shared their story with The Filipino Times to hopefully urge smokers, especially the younger generation, to kick the habit while they’re still young.
Heart bypass surgery
Mar Sasan, who used to smoke two packs of cigarettes a day for two decades and pack in the following years, ended up undergoing heart bypass which caused him to completely quit smoking. “Tumigil na akong manigarilyo matapos ma-heart bypass. Pangako ko yun sa taas na pag nakabalik ako, hihinto na ako sa sigarilyo,” said Sasan.
Sasan first experienced a pain in his chest back in April 23, 2013 and had undergone an open-heart bypass due to a clogged artery two days after. “After noong operation ko, wala na. Syempre parang na-te-tempt ka mag-yosi gawa ng nakasanayan mo pagka nagka-kape, magyo-yosi; after kumain mag yo-yosi. Sabi sa akin ng doktor, kung maninigarilyo ka ulit at kung magbabara ulit e di bubuksan ulit ang dibdib mo – open surgery kasi ang ginawa sa akin,” shared Sasan.
“Hindi ko na sinubukan manigarilyo after ng operation ko, if I can do it, they can do it!”
High blood pressure
A mix of poor eating habits and chain smoking led Filipino expat Joy Gapasin to kick the habit. “Dati nakaka 6-7 sticks ng sigarilyo ako per day, sa isang buwan nakaka 160 sticks ako. College days pa ako nagsimulang manigarilyo, 1995 yun, kakatigil ko lang nitong 2016,” said Gapasin.
Gapasin, was eventually diagnosed with high blood pressure, causing him to slow down on his smoking habits.
However, the ill effects of smoking still persisted and this year, he suffered yet another ailment. “I was diagnosed with mild stroke – so di lang sa sigarilyo, dahil na din sa kinakain. Naipon-ipon yung paninigarilyo, tapos yung kinakain na din,” said Gapasin.
“Dapat isipin ng tao na ang paninigarilyo ay isang cause ng high blood pressure. Bukod sa kinakain, sa sigarilyo, yung blood pressure mo tumataas at pag na meet mo yung capacity at na high blood ka, it will lead you to stroke,” warned Gapasin.
Asthma attacks
Lourdes Aquino shared that she started smoking when she was still in high school. However, it was due to her asthma attacks that she eventually realized the false, temporary pleasure smoking gives isn’t worth her life. “I experienced the worst asthma attack that was so unforgettable as it almost put me six feet underground. That was the time when I realized smoking can’t give anything else but sickness,” she said
Major surgery
Jhune Santiago said he was a smoker for over10 years, this being a result of plans to work abroad where a friend told him living alone can be quite lonely and smoking would help ease loneliness.
When he moved to the UAE, he still continued to smoke – up until he had to undergo a major operation in 2013. “My surgeon told me to stop smoking prior to the operation. During my recuperation I decided to stop na for good. I decided that I needed to cleanse my system after that operation, so that was the reason why I stopped smoking for good,” shared Santiago.
