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"I thought that if I hadn't smoked like a chimney, my lungs would last for decades. Zhou Bo said half-jokingly to the doctor in the corridor of the hospital, with helplessness and anxiety in his voice.
Zhou Bo, a 58-year-old postman, has always been a "temperate smoker," or he thinks he is. However, a recent check-up was a bolt from the blue, as he was diagnosed with COPD in the early stages and showed signs of increasing the burden on his heart.
The doctor looked at Uncle Zhou seriously and said solemnly: "Mr. Zhou, there are two symptoms that I want to remind you to pay attention to, they are urgent signals to quit smoking. The first is your frequent coughing and difficulty breathing, which are typical symptoms, and the second is increased pressure on your heart. If you don't quit smoking now, your condition could deteriorate quickly with dire consequences. ”
These two symptoms became a turning point in Zhou Bo's life. In order to better understand these symptoms and the need to quit smoking, Zhou Bo began to conduct his own research and study. He found that smoking was one of the main causes, that the harmful chemicals in tobacco smoke can damage the airways and alveoli in the lungs, causing permanent damage, and that smoking can also accelerate the development of cardiovascular diseases such as heart disease.
For further health considerations, Zhou Bo participated in a smoking cessation program in the local community. The programme offers a range of support measures, including nicotine replacement therapy, counselling and regular health check-ups.
Over time, Zhou Bo gradually felt the positive changes brought about by quitting smoking: he breathed more easily, his cough and chest tightness improved significantly in the morning, and even his family said he seemed more energetic.
In the community, Zhou's change inspired other smokers to start thinking about quitting as well. They were inspired by Zhou's experience and also wanted to improve their health. He is happy to share his experiences and learnings, and he often talks about his quitting process at community meetings and stresses the importance of quitting smoking as soon as possible.
During a Q&A session at a community health event, Zhou Bo was asked, "You must have encountered many challenges in the early stages of quitting smoking, what was the most difficult one, and how did you overcome them?"
Zhou Bo replied: "It is true that it is not easy to quit smoking in the early days, especially for someone like me who has been smoking for decades. The hardest part is withdrawal, like anxiety and irritability. ”
"I was relieved of these symptoms through nicotine patches and community support groups. These groups helped me a lot and let me know that I wasn't fighting alone. Whenever I feel like giving up, looking at other people's persistence and achievements gives me the motivation to keep going. ”
With his positive impact in the community, his story has inspired many people to start paying attention to their health behaviors, especially smoking. The increasing number of health mobilization activities in the community, including regular smoking cessation seminars and healthy lifestyle workshops, has greatly increased the health awareness and motivation of the residents.
Fueled by this atmosphere, Zhou Bo is often invited to share his experience of quitting smoking at these events, which is not only a personal victory, but also a symbol of collective progress in the community. Through these sharings, Zhou highlighted the improvement in quality of life after quitting smoking, and the importance of ongoing community support to maintain healthy behavior change.
At a community health forum, a young father asked a question: "Uncle Zhou, you mentioned that quitting smoking has an important impact on improving heart health. I wondered, in addition to quitting smoking, what other lifestyle changes can help us reduce our risk of heart disease?"
Zhou Bo replied to the young father with a smile: "That's a good question. In addition to quitting smoking, maintaining proper physical activity is very crucial. Secondly, a balanced diet is also very important. You should increase your intake of fruits and vegetables, which not only helps with weight control, but also improves blood circulation. ”
"Managing your stress well is also an important aspect of heart disease prevention. Prolonged high-pressure states can have a negative impact on the heart. Check your health regularly, which can help detect problems early and deal with them in a timely manner. ”
Through such exchanges and sharing, the community not only gained valuable health information, but was also inspired to take practical actions to improve their own and their families' lifestyles. Zhou Bo's suggestion has become the starting point for many people to change their living habits and jointly create a healthier living environment.
What do you think about quitting smoking?