Smoking-+how+healthy+is+Australia?

**Name:** Brooke Hollindale **Student number**: 8281432 **Subject**: PUB209 Health, culture and society **Tutor**: Katie Page
 * Lecturer**: Julie Ann Carrol
 * Word Count**: 1990


 * __Topic: __**// Health relat ////ed behaviours in generation x and generation y. How healthy was generation x and how healthy is generation y? //

 This picture highlights how drastic the implications of smoking cigarettes are. It lists the many affects associated with smoking and questions why one should begin to start smoking in the first place. By depicting a gun with cigarettes as the bullets, it quite harshly demonstrates the fact that smoking kills. The various affects that are listed are only a few that arise from smoking, in fact there are many more affects that smoking causes, and some of which lead to poor health or even mortality.
 * __Artefact: __**


 * __Public health issue: __**

This artefact shows not only a cigarette, but the leading cause of preventable deaths and diseases in Australia. (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2006) This essay will provide statistics and information on the current health on generation y and also the health of its predecessors generation x. It will analyse the impact that cigarette smoking has on the population of Australia, both those smokers and non-smokers, and the strategies that have been implemented to improve the health of those with diseases caused by smoking, and what is being done to prevent more people from taking up the habit.


 * __Literature Review __**

Cigarettes, or tobacco are made of leaf tobacco and raw materials, it is generally smoked but can also be sucked, or chewed. The key ingredient to cigarettes is nicotine an extremely addictive substance. (World Health Organisation, 2011) Everyone knows how bad the effects of smoking tobacco are so why do they start? Is Generation Y any better than Generation X? Smoking is the number one cause of preventable deaths in Australia, and 1 in 5 deaths are due to smoking. However the Australian Social Trends survey conducted by the Australian Bureau of statistics (2009) concludes that in 2008 there were still roughly 3.3 million daily smokers and approximately 8 million Australians aged 15 years and over who had smoked at some stage in their lives. A report by Haussmann and Hans-Juergen (2007) highlights the association between cigarette smoking and lung cancer. It says that the only way to prevent developing lung cancer due to smoking cigarettes is simply to not smoke. It also researches ways to undergo therapy for those that develop lung cancer but once again says it is not as affective for those that smoke. <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Keeping in mind that these time frames are not 100% accurate and do vary, those categorised as Generation X were born between 1965 and 1979 and Generation Y as those between 1980 and 1995. In generation X it was quite common to smoke, there were commercials everywhere that advertised smoking as beautiful, sexy, cool and desirable. In the year 1983 the number of deaths recorded (per 100,00) that were related to Ischaemic heart disease was 204 and the cancer death rate was 166. (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 1995) These causes of death can both be associated with smoking tobacco. (Health Insite, 2011) <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Also recorded in the Australian social trends survey conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (1995), in 1983 the apparent consumption per person per day for tobacco was 7.2 grams. The last year recorded on this survey showed that in 1993, that amount had dropped to 4.8 grams. <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Colditz, G. A., Kenfield, S. A., Rosner, B. A., and Stampfer, M. J. (2008) state in their report of smoking in relation to mortality rates amongst women, that even if one quits smoking the likelihood of them developing diseases such as cancer, is still increased. However, at what rate is still in need of more evidence. It also highlights that those who postpone their age of their first cigarette, reduces their risk of acquiring diseases such as lung cancer, however it does not change the cause-specific mortality. <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">A reissue of the National health survey, conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (2009) showed that with all the campaigns and health advertisements against smoking, in 2008 those aged 18 and over that were current daily smokers made up 19% of the population. However, statistics providing better hope for Australians showed that 2% smoked less than once each day, 29% were ex-smokers and 52% had never smoked. <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Trends show that since the 1970’s the percentage of smokers is decreasing. In 1977, 37% of the population were daily smokers but in 1995 the percentage was 24% and it is now down to 19%. (Australian Bureau of Statisitcs, 2000)(Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2009) Smoking wasn’t seen as a health issue until around the 1960’s. The release of a report by the Surgeon General in 1966 emphasised the importance of smoking as a health hazard, and as shown by the statistics created <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">a turning point for the future health of not only Australians but many more around the globe. (Thompson, E. L., 1978). <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">There have been many strategies devoted to ensuring the population of Australian smokers is declining. One strategy that has been implemented is the warnings on the back of cigarette packages. This was designed to deter people from smoking and to encourage them to see the health risks and quit. However a study by Dinter, C., Hermann, D., Kiefer, F., Loeber, S, Rockenback, C., Schneider, S., Wagner, M., Wilden, S., Winterer, G., Vollstadt-Klein, S., and von der Goltz, C (2011), shows that the health warning may be creating the opposite effect. They concluded that the pictures and the warning on the cigarette packages created stronger craving and anxiety levels for those that are heavy smokers. The report also showed the warning on the cigarette packages was positively affected for those that don’t smoke or are considered light smokers. <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">There are several campaigns and products available to help people quit, and to prevent others from taking up the nasty habit, which have been issued ever since the early 60’s. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">(Thompson, E. L., 1978) An Individual can simply log onto the internet and Google the word smoking, and several websites can be made available to you that are devoted to helping you quit smoking. There are also several numbers that you can call to talk to someone about quitting. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">The World Health Organisation, (2011) is issuing a new campaign entitled World No Tobacco Day which is on the 31st of March. This day was created due to the alarming statistics in 2011. Tobacco kills approximately 6 million people each year, and out of this 5 million were ex-smokers and 600 000 are non smokers that were exposed to second hand smoke. (World Health Organisation, 2011) <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">These deaths are hard on Australian families and the Australian economy. A survey conducted by the Australian Bureau of statistics, (2009) stated that the annual cost for smoking alone exceeded 31 billion dollars. This places great demand on the Australian health care system, considering the diseases associated with smoking are preventable. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">The main limitation to the strategies implemented to stop smoking in Australia, would be that it is an individual choice to smoke and that is something you cannot force. It is an individual’s choice to smoke a cigarette. People smoke for many reasons, such as peer pressure, or because their parents have modeled this behavior. However, after their first cigarette it can be extremely hard to quit due to the nicotine in the cigarettes. (Teenshealth, 2010)


 * __<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Cultural and Social Analysis __**

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Although the statistics indicate that the prevalence of smokers in Australia is decreasing, there are still many smokers, not only in Australian but all around the world. (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2009) Research shows that those with lower economic status and with a background of lower educational status have a higher percentage of smokers. It also discovers that males have a higher prevalence rather than females however this differs by only 2% (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2000) <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Those with a low income job, or jobs that place high stress on individuals, may turn to smoking as it is a temporary relief of stress and also helps with anxiety and depression. (Graham, N. A., Lane, P. C., Ovson, E. A., 2011) There is also a higher percentage of smokers that had been separated from a partner, lost a loved one, and those that live alone, both of which can be depressing and stressful situations. (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2000)

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Between generations X and Y, the percentage of smokers in Australia has dropped and the statistics show promising results that this will continue to happen. (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2009) This is due to the focus on the health issues that arise from smoking and the lack of advertisements showing smoking as a sexy behavior. However, it is still a major priority for the health of future Australians considering the high mortality rate and the fact smoking is the number one cause of all preventable deaths in Australia. (Health Insite, 2011). <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Although being aware of the risks associated with smoking is important, that is not all smokers need to know. The advertisements today notify smokers that help lines are available, there are advertisements on the television and radio and also throughout the internet that encourage smokers to quit and give up. There are products available, such as nicorette gum and patches that are designed to help with cravings. (Nicorette, 2010) <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Being aware of this issue is of great importance, due to the health hazards that so many Australians have been affected by. Smoking affects people in different ways; it is one’s genes that determine how the effects of smoking can affect an individual. Genetics are why smoking could kill one person that has had the same amount of cigarettes each day as another who does not get affected at all. Why a person beings smoking could also be a biological determinant (Johnstone, E. C. and Munafo, M. R., 2008) <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">With the diseases and health problems that smoking cause, not only is it creating horrific mortality statistics for Australia and costing the health care system billions of dollars. It is creating stressful situations for those that have to cope with the loss of someone and also because taxes are increased to cater for those in need of health care, because they smoke and are continuing to. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">The public health experts are currently targeting most Australians through advertisements on the television, radio, internet, and newspapers just to name a few. They also put photos on cigarette packages, to warm those that do smoke and to attempt to stop this. The public health experts are doing a lot to warn people and get the message out there of how bad smoking is for health.


 * __<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Analysis of artefact and Reflection __**

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">The artefact I chose shows the reader at first glance how bad smoking is for you and that it leads to mortality. It represents the health issues and the mortality statistics that smoking causes. In my opinion smoking is disgusting and it should be illegal in our society. But in saying that I know a lot of people that do smoke and find it extremely hard to quit, and even the thought of quitting scares them because of how hard the process is and the high possibility of not succeeding. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">This assessment has taught me that most things in our world do not have a simple answer and, often, the line between what is right and what is wrong is blurred. If everyone is aware of the health risks associated with smoking, one would think that the easy solution is not to start smoking or to quit when you understand how bad it is for your health. But as with many important health issues in Australia it cannot be fixed overnight. Smoking is a perfect example and illustrates the long and arduous process that can take decades to lower statistics in even the slightest way. I believe this assignment has taught me not to be stubborn in my way of thinking and to consider the view points from others, which is something I plan to do in the future.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Australian Bureau of Statistics. (1995). //Australian social trends, 1995.// Retrieved from []
 * __<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">References __**

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Australian Bureau of Statisitcs. (2000). //Australian social trends, 2000.// Retrieved from []

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2009). //Media release: Heart disease still the leading cause of death in Australia.// Retrieved from []

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2009). //National Health Survey: Summary of Results, 2007-2008 (Reissue).// Retrieved from [|http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Latestproducts/4364.0Main%20Features42007-2008%20(Reissue)?opendocument&tabname=Summary&prodno=4364.0&issue=2007-2008%20(Reissue)&num=&view]=

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2009). //Smoking, risky drinking and obesity//. Retrieved from []

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2006). //Tobacco smoking in Australia: A snapshot, 2004-05.// Retrieved from []

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Colditz, G. A., Kenfield, S <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">. A., Rosner, B. A., and Stampfer, M. J. (2008). Smoking and smoking cessation in relation to mortality in women. //The Journal of American Medical Association. 299(//17), 2037-2047. doi:10.1001/jama.299.17.2037

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Graham, N. A., Lane, P. C., Ovson, E. A. (2011) Nicotine. //Journal of Addictive Diseases, 25// (1), 17-31. doi: 10.1300/J069v25S01_03

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Haussmann, Hans-Juergen. (2007). Smoking and lung cancer: Future research directions. //International Journal of Toxicology. 26,// 353-364. doi: 10.1080/10915810701490463 <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Health Insite. (2011). Health effects of smoking. Retrieved from []

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Johnstone, E. C., Munafo, M. R. (2008). Genes and cigarette smoking. //Addiction. 103// (6), 1-12. doi:10.1111/j.1360-0443.2007.02071.x

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Nicorette. (2010) Product range. Retrieved from [|http://www.nicorette.com.au/product-range/?_$ja=kw:anti+smoking|cgn:Quit+Smoking|cgid:1675822457|tsid:5628|cn:Generic+-+with+Sitelinks|cid:59243657|lid:13812762|mt:Broad|nw:search|crid:6399231257|bku:1&gclid=CJuPs8OMnqwCFQNNpgodSE_W1w]

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Teenshealth. (2010). Smoking. Retrieved from [|http://kidshealth.org/teen/drug_alcohol/tobacco/smoking.html#]

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Thompson, E. L. (1978). Smoking education programs 1960-1967. //American journal of public health.// Retrieved from []

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">World Health Organisation. (2011). Tobacco. Retrieved from []

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">World Health Organisation. (2011). Tobacco free initiative (TFI). Retrieved from []

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Dinter, C., Hermann, D., Kiefer, F., Loeber, S, Rockenback, C., Schneider, S., Wagner, M., Wilden, S., Winterer, G., Vollstadt-Klein, S., von der Goltz, C. (2011) The effect of pictorial warnings on cigarette packages on attentional bias of smokers. //Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behaviour//. 98 (2), 292-298. Retrieved from []

__**<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Reflection Task **__

Comment 1 http://healthculturesociety.wikispaces.com/Adolescent+Girls+too+Afraid+to+Play+Sport+due+to+Body+Image+Issues

Well done Kimberly! I believe that this was a great artefact to use for your topic. It truly makes you think about how important it is to encourage females to continue on with sports and develop their skills, even through adolescence. I also think that it is really sad to see that the young girls in the photo represent most of the statisitcs of girls in society, and that they go on to develop self esteem or body image issues. This is a major concern to our society and I think you have done a great job in putting forward statistics to prove that.

Comment 2 http://healthculturesociety.wikispaces.com/Doctor-Patient+Relationships

Considering this is such a hard topic to research, I think that you have done a great job. I believe that in our society doctor patient relationships are not seen as such an important issue. Your assignment highlights the differences across cultures and proves that is something that needs to be considered for doctor patient relationships. I agree with the sentence that says doctors and patients must have a mutual understanding of what trust is. Trust is extremely important when it comes to disclosing information about your health. I believe your artefact ties in great and demonstrates just how aware and ready doctors need to be to consider the cultural beliefs of their patients. .