The Hazards of Smoking, the Negative Impact it Creates on the Human Body - Term Paper Example

Quit Smoking in Media Order ID: 470121 Introduction The Media never fails to grab our attention to some of the more catchy phrases it projects for smokers to quit smoking…but how far could this be true, especially when we look at the other side of the coin, where media turns a deaf ear and a blind eye to what actually takes place and the outcome of habitual smoking? Some such catchy phrases that are intended to bring about awareness among the smoking population include – “Smoking is injurious to health” “No- smoking insures your health,” “Quit smoking. It Kills,” “Quit smoking, before smoking quits you,” (Brandon Gaille, 2013) However, one of the most preventable yet leading causes of death around the globe is smoking, yet the lack of awareness among the people continues to make the problem get even worse. In this essay we would be discussing the hazards of smoking, the negative impact it creates on the human body and the procedures for quitting the habit of smoking, with special reference to Australia and other countries around the globe. Targeting the Audience According to (Begg s, Vos T, Barker B, Stevenson C, Stanley L, Lopez AD, (2007) Australia was estimated to have had approximately 15, 500 deaths in 2003 brought about by smoking. As a result, the quality of life decreased a great deal with a heavy risk and threat to life expectancy in Australia. Targeting an appropriate audience for any particular product is what smart marketing is all about and there is no doubt that marketing and advertising agencies take advantage of this situation and literally thrive on such audiences. According to (Kotler, 2000) In the marketing industry, product marketing is directed towards particular targeted audiences who are bound to view the messages either through media publications, digital advertisements or just by word of mouth. A good example for attracting a targeted audience would be that such an audience would be in want or need of a particular product because it could be beneficial to them in some way. For example, people suffering from heart disease or smoking disorders would definitely want to minimize their risks of getting a heart attack or other damage to themselves brought about by smoking and therefore would keenly watch out for products that would lower their risks of smoking and improve their health and quality of life. A targeted audience as we know it includes people who are vulnerable in some way to the product being advertised and in this case it is smoking. This particular audience fall a prey to the smoking habit for many reasons. Some depend on it because they want to feel in with their peer group, some smoke due to health reasons such as nervousness etc. and others smoke because they have nothing better to do. However, from this targeted audience, we understand that all of them are dependent on this habit and once the habit is formed, they find it almost impossible to break away from it. Audiences are targeted through various marketing strategies such as advertisements and print and digital media. They may also be influenced by their peers or sometimes just by word of mouth. Negative Impacts of Tobacco Tobacco in any form has a very negative impact on our bodies and may result in crippling people for life or even killing them eventually. For a regular smoker, inhaling tobacco smoke serves to reduce the flow of blood through the body that finally leads to various other health issues such as living with crippling disabilities such as stroke, paralysis and speech imparities for life. Smoking causes the arteries to narrow and gradually gets totally blocked, keeping the blood flow from reaching the brain and this could result in further complications and may even lead to death. Other health issues include diseases such as Cancer, stroke, heart disease and irreparable damage to arteries, mouth, lungs and eyes. Smoking for the fun of it is one thing, but getting addicted to it is quite another thing because quitting after prolonged use of tobacco is very difficult. Addiction takes a heavy toll on the individual and robs them of their quality of life by reducing it considerably. When smokers inhale, nicotine which is a dangerous drug is absorbed into the blood and gradually makes the person become dependent and addicted. Smokers are not the only ones to be affected. On the other hand, non- smokers or passive smokers as we call them are affected even more than the actual smoker. Though smoking is a preventable disease, yet most people do not pay attention to it till it is too late. The burning and inhaling of tobacco in any form is very harmful because it restricts the blood flow through the body causing it to shut down gradually. Smoking cigarettes that are low on tar or nicotine is not a good option when compared to cigarettes that contain toxins that are high. (Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, 2005) Research has proved that the ill effects of smoking is gradual and long lasting and though most smokers believe that they would not get affected, the sad fact remains that eventually they will experience the hard side to it. Tobacco – related diseases could occur early in life or it could take place during middle or old age. (Mackay J. and Erikson M. 2002) Smokers face high risks of diseases such as strokes, respiratory dysfunction, emphysema, atherosclerosis, dental problems, aneurysm, osteoporosis, decreased fertility and in the case of women complications during pregnancy sometimes leading to premature birth or infant mortality. (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2004) Government Strategies for Quitters Governments in Australia and around the world are formulating different strategies and programs to help the smoking audience quit smoking. They have strong anti- campaign programs within their framework and make use of stringent strategies to make quitters stop smoking. They are well aware that the first step in the right direction would be to bring about awareness on the effects and hazards of smoking and the negative impact it has on their health. Tobacco companies are compelled to portray anti- smoking slogans and pictures depicting the bad effects of smoking on the wrappers of their cigarette packs. Anti- smoking programs targeting such audiences are held regularly to help them understand that their health will not only deteriorate at a fast pace, but eventually there is a possibility of them losing their lives. The Health Industry such as doctors, nurses, psychologists and other caretakers, do their best in not only bringing about awareness but also treating them as patients and curing them of their habit and disease. Public Information and Analysis on ‘Quit Smoking Campaigns’ Quit smoking campaigns serve to bring about awareness among smokers by projecting the many benefits they get if they quit the habit. There is no specific age when this awareness comes about because the choice is individualistic and depends on the individuals themselves. However, the benefits of quitting are countless because it drastically reduces health risks especially if quitting is at the earliest. (Doll R, Peto R, Boreham J, Sutherland I, 2004) In relation to Australia, the awareness of the smoking impact on the human body is not very high and therefore efforts in this direction need to be enforced. Australia’s smoking prevalence has declined over time, but even so, in 2010, the National Drug Strategy Household Survey found that still over 2.8 million individuals in Australia aged 14 years and over smoke on a regular basis with heavy risks to themselves. (The Department of Health, 2013) In order to reduce the community’s social and economic risks caused by tobacco the Government and State developed and introduced many anti- smoking campaigns. These campaigns were directed towards helping habitual smokers to quit. The strategies included graphic commercials on the television and radio, indoor and outdoor advertisements, print and digital media and several other strategies using public relations to bring about awareness among smokers to quit smoking. The campaigns acquired funds from the Australian Government as well as the State and Territory Governments. (The Department of Health, 2013) In 2005, the National Tobacco Campaign was introduced and a lot of research in the field was undertaken. The media content included graphic television commercials depicting the hazards of smoking and the bad impact it had on smoker’s mental and physical health. In addition, anti- smoking activities were undertaken at the community level that targeted even the youth and helped to greatly reduce the risk to their health. In this undertaking ‘The National Tobacco Company’ has achieved great results by reducing the prevalence of smoking from 23.5% in 1997 to only 16.6% in 2007. (The Department of Health, 2013) Cultural Influences Cultures around the world are also benefited from the anti- smoking campaigns by the National Tobacco Company because all the anti- smoking campaigns conducted were designed in such a way so as to make it easily understood to all culturally diverse and linguistically diverse groups. Individuals living in remote or socially disadvantaged regions such as prisoners or those with physical or mental disorders were also reached out to through these campaigns to help them quit smoking and improve their standard of living. Presently, the Australian National Preventive Health Agency (ANPHA) has taken over the responsibility from the National Tobacco Company of helping quitters since 2012 and this has helped to improve the situation still further. (The Department of Health, 2013) Communication and Perception Smoking in the days gone by was considered to be a fad or something that was considered cool because it boosted their image. Some of the popular or famous personalities that died due to smoking were George Harrison, from the Beatles, at 58 years due to cancer of the throat, Reggae icon Bob Marley who passed away at the young age of 36 due to lung cancer, King George VI, Queen Elizabeth’s father who passed away from lung cancer at 56 years, and the very famous Walt Disney who passed at 65 from lung cancer, to name a few. Bob Marley did not quit smoking even in the final days preceding his death because he took to smoking as a way of expressing himself. Marley is quoted to have said, “Your worst enemy could be your friend and your friend could be your worst enemy.” (Bob Marley, 2015) Oscar Wilde gives us a famous quote depicting smoking and how helpless people are when they are addicted stating that, “A cigarette is the perfect type of pleasure. It is exquisite and leaves one unsatisfied. What more can one want?” (Oscar Wilde, 2015) People’s perception on smoking has changed for the better because of the change brought about by awareness through communication and perception of things. The various campaigns helping quitters to quit has served to shift people’s perspectives from smoking being a good thing to being a threat to one’s health and life. In this new age contemporary world, people communicate freely through various social media and are more aware of the adverse impact of smoking and the long term detrimental effects it has on the human body. People’s perceptions have changed drastically as they have become more health conscious about the risks that face smokers. Popular Culture and Media Both popular culture and the media are like two sides of the same coin because both go hand in hand with each other. The media is always on the look out for something sensational to talk about. In fact, we could say that in a way the media thrives on popular culture. Our contemporary society is one that is capitalistic and as such is continuously influenced by huge Corporates who are responsible for the promotion and consumption of such products. People are greatly influenced by the media everyday of their lives, so much so it becomes part and parcel of them. Intense messages together with sophisticated technology and digital resources are frequently used to influence people to purchase their merchandise irrespective of cultural values. For example, selling cigarettes which is bad for health is not an easy task. However, the media depicts cigarette smoking as something that is good and popular among the masses and gullible consumers easily fall a prey to it. They also make use of celebrity endorsement by getting celebrities to express the goodness they find by smoking. The youth get easily influenced because they idolize celebrities and do not question the good or bad about it. Conclusion The global perspective on smoking and the adverse impact it creates has dramatically changed for the better. What used to be considered as sexy, cool or good is now looked upon as harmful and a high risk to life. The primary reason for this change is due to the intensive and extensive research undertaken in this field and the ‘Quit Smoking Campaigns’ conducted to bring about awareness among the people and help reduce risks and improve their quality of life. Though smoking still exists in our society, yet we can say that it has decreased considerably. The main reason for this change is the awareness that has been brought about. People have become more conscious of their health and are now more inclined towards building their health in different ways. There is no doubt that the media is responsible for promoting the use of cigarettes and endorsing a smoking culture. However, if the media understood its responsibility in the right sense of the word, then it would not be promoting or endorsing smoking. Through its various programs and campaigns, the government has helped reduce cigarette smoking by bringing about a sense of awareness among the people. However, it would be very useful if the governments set rules within their framework that would not give the media free rein to endorse the things that are harmful to humans. If this was done, the world would be a healthier place to live in. References Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, Media release 19 December 2005 Low yield cigarettes ‘not a healthier option’:$9 million campaign. Downloaded 16/10/07 from ACCC Media release 19 December 2005 Low yield cigarettes ‘not a healthier option Bob Marley Quotes. Retrieved from the web in 2015 from: www.searchquotes.com/quotes/author/Bob_Marley Brandon Gaille, (2013) 68 examples of Catchy No Smoking Slogans. Retrieved from the web from: www.brandongaille.com/68-examples-catchy-no-smoking-slogans-and-tagline Doll R, Peto R, Boreham J, Sutherland I. Mortality in relation to smoking: 50 years observation on male British doctors. British Medical Journal. June 2004, 328:1519. BMJ - Mortality in relation to smoking Mackay J. and Erikson M. 2002. The Tobacco Atlas. World Health Organization. Geneva. Switzerland. http://www.quitnow.gov.au/internet/quitnow/publishing.nsf/Content/ntc-2009-2013-lp Oscar Wilde. Book of Famous Quotes. Retrieved from the web in 2015 from: www.famous-quotes.com/topic.php The Department of Health, (2013) The History of the National Tobacco Campaign . Australian Government. http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/tobacco-educat U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 2004. The health consequences of smoking: a report of the Surgeon General. [Atlanta, Ga.]: Dept. of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Read More