Other Issues To Consider Because of Health

If you are single and dating, would you consider a person who smokes? Is it a big issue to you? Would you ask a smoker-a family member, friend or partner- to quit smoking?

The reason I am asking these questions is because I have encountered several women friends whose partners smoke even before they met and now they they are married, they are making quite a big issue about it. They want their partners to stop smoking! And when I asked why, the answer is because of health! When asked further, what about health? He might get cancer! What if he gets cancer? Then he might die before his time! And if he dies? I don't want him to die!

Of course, we don't want any of our loved ones to die, untimely. So I perfectly understand their reasons. Smoking undoubtedly affects health! It causes lung diseases like lung cancer, chronic bronchitis, and emphysema. It also opens for more room for other health problems like impotence/infertility, stroke, and other kinds of cancers. Smoking also makes you look old before your time. So whichever the reason is, these women friends are certainly worried about their partners' well-being.

But what I can't understand is that why focus only on smoking when there are so many other things that are equally or even more dangerous than smoking? What about the following?

1. Nature of job. The kind of job a person does matter...a lot! And I really don't think that there is a particular type of work that doesn't expose a person to danger or any other health issues - mental or physical. A man could lose his job anytime. He could get sick, hurt, injured, or die doing his job. So there is no guarantee that your job is safe enough from getting you sick or killed. Would you ask your partner to quit his job because of health issues? I doubt it!

2. Area where you live. The place where you live matters, too. If you live in an area free from any kind of pollution like traffic, crowd or smog then perhaps you can urge your partner not to smoke anymore. But if you don't, then perhaps you better stop urging your partner to stop smoking or at least encourage him to try smoking less.

3. Transportation. Whether you walk, commute or drive your own car there is no guarantee that you will not get ill, hurt, injured or die. No matter how careful you are on this you just don't have control over other people's action. And whether you like it or not you will inhale the exhaust of all the vehicles you are exposed to every day. This is no different from smoking.

4. Food you eat. If your diet is fully on healthy side like fruits, vegetables, and other green leafy vegetables then you have the right to insist that your partner should quit smoking but if your diet is mostly on the junkie side then perhaps it's time for you to stop making a big deal out of your partner's smoking habit. Here's more about healthy food.

5. Drinking alcohol. Moderate alcohol consumption is known to have health benefits but excess drinking will certainly lead you to your grave before your time is even over. So like smoking, if done in excess, alcohol consumption is also not healthy. Click here for more details about alcohol and health.

6. Activities you are busy with. You don't spend hours watching TV and still use health as reason not to smoke. Choosing not to walk for a short distance is also not healthy. Inactivity is definitely one of the top reasons why people have health problems. So unless you are not doing any of these, you can still keep telling your partner to stop smoking.

7. Your weight. Obesity is as dangerous as smoking so if you are obese and have an issue with smoking, you might try to change your behavior towards smoking or start losing weight. If you are too thin, try to eat more healthy and nutritious food or consult a doctor just to make sure how healthy being thin is.

Smoking is an issue to most people. I agree! It is dangerous, no doubt. But smoking is just one of the many issues that need to be considered when we talk about health. So when we consider one thing as harmful to health we should consider other issues as well. If smoking is really a big deal, make the other things a big deal, too. We cannot focus our attention to one thing because we see it as a negative habit and neglect the others because they benefit us.