Political action paper

Representative: Senator Gerand Cardinale is a Republican member of the New Jersey Senate, representing District 39.

Health issue: Health effects of tobacco use

 The issue of tobacco use is an issue of concern as it is the leading cause of death in U.S., and young people are vulnerable to smoking related disease. Tobacco use is the risk factor for many diseases and it is second major cause of mortality in worldwide. Not only tobacco users are affected by the effects but also people who are vulnerable to environmental tobacco smoke.  The Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Office on Smoking and Health reported that young people aged 18 and below are addicted to tobacco use (Slovic, 2001). On the same note, about 434,000 Americans die each year due to tobacco use. This is an issue of concern where public health tragedy and intervention programs are required to prevent deaths of young people and improve their lives. The main reason of introducing this topic to the senator is to understand the tobacco effect on health, effect of environmental tobacco smoke and how people can quit smoking (Slovic, 2001). By understanding these issues, it will be easier to implement measures which can eliminate tobacco use.

On the issue of tobacco use, Senator Cardinale supports the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act which is capable of regulating tobacco sales and marketing and implements actions for reducing death from tobacco use. He also participates in federal laws and policies to ensure that children and young people are protected from tobacco use, harmful effects are reduced and people are assisted on quitting. His first priority as a senator is to ensure tobacco control programs and a comprehensive approach for reducing death and illnesses and negative effects of tobacco.

Questions

1. What are some of the short and long term effects of tobacco

Addiction to nicotine, bad breath, shortness of breath and impaired lung function are short-term effects. In addition, people who are addicted developed chronic cough asthma and respiratory system damage (Fong, 2006). Long-term effects include serious health risk such as heart problems. A high percentage of people who use tobacco have long-term illnesses like hypertension, heart attack, and other related illnesses which lead to death.  Cancer is also a long-term effect. Types of cancer such as lung cancer, mouth, throat and cervical cancer are found in smokers (Fong, 2006).  Tobacco users also develop lung disease where lung airways changes in size and cause infections. Young people get long-term effect in reproductive damage, menstrual disorder, miscarriage, premature birth, stomach ulcers, weakened immune system and more (Fong, 2006).  

 

1. What are the dangers of environmental tobacco smoke, or second hand or passive smoking?

Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) cause health risks. Passive exposure contributes to mortality in children since they are the vulnerable population (Larson, 2000). Passive smoking is dangerous because the exposure to smoke affects both children and adults. Particularly when nonsmokers are in enclosed places, they inhale irritants and toxins chemicals which cause many types and cancers and other diseases. In addition, second-hand smoking, especially paternal smoking increases the fetal exposure and develops preterm birth, prenatal mortality, neurobehavioral problem and more (Larson, 2000). There are 4,000 toxic chemicals found in tobacco smoke. ETS has toxic chemicals and a particle which penetrates to the airways and children develops health issues.ETS exposure to children leads to problems in lung function, asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia and other illnesses (Larson, 2000).  Adult also develop health risk when they inhale second hand smoke. On-smokers or secondhand smoking leads to heart cancer, lung cancer, and premature death.

 

1. How do people successfully quit?   

 

People can successfully quit through following these steps

• Creating a quit plan and making a call- a quit plan is important as it will build confidence in you, motivate and help you stay focused (Brizer, 2003). There are also quit programs and therapy which people use in quitting. After creating a plan, making the call means that people should say enough is enough and intermingles with other people in the community who had a similar experience so that they can assist. In addition, people need to search for help through education and media and other tools of information since they will act as a weapon in the quitting process (Brizer, 2003).
• After deciding to quite, think of My New, Health Self- this is known as visualizing and it is a powerful tool which helps people in achieving their goals. Thinking about the renewed life and cleaning the conscience, it will be easier to avoid the unhealthy life and focus on building a health life and eliminate the unburdened conscience (Brizer, 2003).
• Find quitting aids- quitting smoking is tricky and the nicotine withdraw can lead to physical and psychological problems. Strategies such as a nicotine replacement therapy will assist in behavioral change and achieve success. There are also smoking cessation programs where smokers get information and support in quitting smoking (Brizer, 2003).
• Get a fresh start- a fresh start means that after quitting, people should set goals of who they want to be. They may set educational goals, financial goals, career goals and more (Brizer, 2003).

I was impressed by the representative because he answered the questions in a deeper manner. As a  senator, he  has  the necessary  knowledge on this areas  as he  understand the trend in  tobacco smoking  and its effect to the population. I was impressed to hear that even nonsmokers are affected by tobacco use through exposure. In addition, I understood that tobacco use has long-term and short-term and both can lead to death.  I have gained important knowledge on tobacco use and I can help people quit through following the guidelines given.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reference

Brizer, D. A. (2003). Quitting smoking for dummies. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.

Slovic, P. (2001). Risk, perception & policy. Thousand Oaks, Calif: Sage Publications.

Fong, C. B. (2006). Smoking and health research frontiers. New York: Nova Science.

Larson, R. (2000). Health effects of exposure to environmental tobacco smoke: The report of the. Place of publication not identified: Diane Pub Co.