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WHY STOP SMOKING?
By Dr. Rohan Jeyarajah
We all have our vices; mine is chocolate cake. I cannot walk by a chocolate cake and not eat some of it. How can I get on someone for smoking? Surely, this is their vice and are we not allowed one at least? I think about this all the time as I counsel my patients to stop smoking prior to a surgery.
I assure you, I am an equal opportunity abuser: I equally counsel my obese patients on weight loss prior to their surgery or the diabetic on better glycemic control. But what is it about smoking that makes it so bad for you?
Smoking affects so many aspects of the human body: the lungs, heart, blood vessels and on and on. The blood vessel effect is probably the most problematic for what I do as a surgeon. We rely on blood supply to organs to allow them to heal after cutting out a part. The blood vessels bring lifesaving nutrients and oxygen to the area of healing. Without this, there will be limited, or no healing and things can leak or just not heal. This can cause life threatening effects including death.
The heart is critical to life as it pumps blood throughout the body. As with other critical organs, blood needs to supply the heart. This sounds so counter-intuitive as the heart is full of blood all the time – surely it does not need more blood? The heart is a muscle and the blood vessels to the heart itself (called the coronary vessels) can be affected by smoking. Blockages in these vessels can lead to heart attacks and death. This can be a major issue during the stress of surgery. We look at those that smoke as higher risk for surgery in general.
There are so many types of smoke exposure. Those that smoke cigarettes have first-hand smoke exposure. Those that live with smokers have second-hand smoke exposure that can be very harmful. We sometimes see a patient that does not smoke have lung issues attributed to those that smoke. This is from second-hand smoke from being in a household with someone that smokes. Please do not underestimate the risk that second-hand smoke may give.
Vaping (inhaling and exhaling vapor with nicotine and flavoring) has become a big issue, especially in the younger population. This has become a trendy thing to do. The reasons for this increase in use among the younger population is manifold: vaping is thought to be safer than cigarettes. This is not correct. Most vaping fluids contain high levels of nicotine and this can be more harmful than lower-level exposure in cigarettes.
Most agree that the lack of smoke in vape is safer on the lungs than smoke in cigarettes. However, homemade vaping fluids are especially dangerous as they may contain high levels of harmful agents – this has been recently shown in the vitamin E containing vaping fluids that have caused lung injury. Some vaping fluids are mixed with THC and other substances that are thought to aid in the “experience” of vaping.
This mixing can be dangerous and cause lung injury and even death. The preservatives in vape fluid as well as the flavors can be harmful when inhaled. The smell of vape fluids that are flavored with many “fruity” additives make these especially attractive to younger users. The lack of regulation of vape fluids can make this practice very dangerous.
So why stop smoking?
It is bad for you.
It is hard to quit.
It causes proven damage to your vital organs.
I see it every day. I see patients who have had to have their leg cut off because of poor circulation.
Please tell someone you love to stop smoking. You never know if you could be the one who changes their life…
Dr. Rohan Jeyarajah, MD FACS,
Chair, Department of Surgery,
TCU and UNTHSC School of Medicine,
Director HPB/AGI Fellowships,
Director GI Surgical Services,
Associate Program Director,
General Surgery Residency,
Methodist Richardson Medical Center – Texas, USA.
The U.S. Embassy in Colombo welcomed the U.S. Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, former National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) players Stephen Howard and Astou Ndiaye, from June 8 through 14.
The Public Diplomacy section of the U.S. Embassy said that it would launch a weeklong basketball program intended to harness the unifying power of sports, made possible through collaboration with Foundation of Goodness and IImpact Hoop Lab.
While in Sri Lanka, Howard and Ndiaye, both retired professional basketball players, will conduct a weeklong program, Hoops for Hope: Bridging Borders through Basketball. The Sports Envoys will lead basketball clinics and exhibition matches and engage in leadership sessions in Colombo and Southern Province for youth aged 14-18 from Northern, Uva, Eastern and Western Provinces, offering skills and leadership training both on and off the court. The U.S. Envoys will also share their expertise with the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation, national coaches, and players, furthering the development of basketball in the country. Beyond the clinics, they will collaborate with Sri Lankan schoolchildren to take part in a community service project in the Colombo area.
“We are so proud to welcome Stephen and Astou as our Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, to build on the strong people-to-people connections between the United States and Sri Lanka,” said U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung. “The lessons that will be shared by our Sports Envoys – communication, teamwork, resilience, inclusion, and conflict resolution – are essential for leadership development, community building, equality, and peace. The U.S. Sports Envoy program is a testament to our belief that sports can be a powerful tool in promoting peace and unity.”
SJB Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahuman in parliament demanded to know from the government the reasons for CEB suspending the leave of all its employees until further notice from Thursday.
MP Rahuman said that the CEB has got an acting General Manager anew and the latter yesterday morning issued a circular suspending leave of all CEB employees with immediate effect until further notice.
“We demand that Minister Kanchana Wijesekera should explain this to the House. This circular was issued while this debate on the new Electricity Amendment Bill was pending. There are many who oppose this Bill. The Minister must tell parliament the reason for the urge to cancel the leave of CEB employees,” the MP said.However, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena prevented Minister Wijesekera responding to the query and said that the matter raised by MP Rahuman was not relevant.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) successfully concluded the 8th Annual CIPM Symposium, which took place on 31st May 2024. Themed “Nurturing the Human Element—Redefining HRM in a Rapidly Changing World,” the symposium underscored the pivotal role of human resource management (HRM) in today’s dynamic global landscape. Since its inception in 1959, CIPM has been dedicated to advancing the HR profession through education, professional development, and advocacy, solidifying its position as Sri Lanka’s leading professional body for HRM.
Ken Vijayakumar, the President of the CIPM, graced the occasion as the chief guest. The symposium commenced with the welcome address by the Chairperson, Prof. Arosha Adikaram, followed by the Web Launch of the Symposium Proceedings and Abstract Book by the CIPM President. The event featured distinguished addresses, including a speech by Chief Guest Ken Vijayakumar, President of CIPM, and an address by Guest of Honor Shakthi Ranatunga, Chief Operating Officer of MAS Holdings Pvt. Ltd., Sri Lanka.
The symposium also featured an inspiring keynote address by Prof. Mario Fernando, Professor of Management and Director of the Centre for Cross Cultural Management (CCCM) at the University of Wollongong, Australia.
Vote of Thanks of the inauguration session was delivered by Dr. Dillanjani Weeratunga, Symposium Co-chair.
The symposium served as a comprehensive platform for researchers to present their findings across a wide range of critical topics in HRM. These included Cultural Diversity and Inclusion, Talent Development and Retention, Ethical Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility, Adapting to Technological Advancements, Mental Health and Well-being at Work, Global Workforce Challenges, Employee Empowerment, and Reskilling and Upskilling.
The plenary session was led by Prof. Wasantha Rajapakse. Certificates were awarded to the best paper presenters during the valedictory session, followed by a vote of thanks delivered by Kamani Perera, Manager of Research and Development.
The annual symposium of CIPM was a truly inclusive event, attracting a diverse audience that spanned undergraduates, graduates, working professionals, research scholars and lecturers. This widespread interest highlights the symposium’s significance in the field of HRM, offering a unique opportunity for everyone to network and learn from scholarly brains.The CIPM International Research Symposium was sponsored by Hambantota International Port, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), E B Creasy & Co. PLC, and Print Xcel Company.
US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development
Rahuman questions sudden cancellation of leave of CEB employees
