Wet Willy's blog: "unintended consequence"

One of the things i certainy never gave thought to when i started smoking was the effects on my health. Afterall, not long before they had been touting helath benefits on TV and on the backs of magazines. IN movies and on TV smoker were given tough guy status as well as being very cool and suave. Even ABdy Griffith would light up on the porch while strumming his guitar for Aunt Bea. No one even gave a second thought about asbestos being in Kent's micronite filter so fervently advertised on TV

WHO would have thought that Camel's "for digestion's sake" ads would be simply a way of selling a product as deadly as the deadliest consumer products available? I didnt...but theni was too young to care, much less listen to and advertiser. However I often wonder if it played into the thoughts of the adults that introduced me to them and made them as accessable to me as they did..

OK the courts sort of took care of  the untruths in the tobacco industry's advertising but didn't do much to curb addictions for generations to come. Not to mention the unintended consequences pertaining to health. Somethingi have heard no one mention yet is the unintended consequences of social interactions of people with diseases caused by cigarettes. Many people actually balme the person suffering with lung cancer or COPD for their own disease sayig things like "it's your fault, you should have quit". In a short sighted person's view that very well may be true, having not considered whether  addiction was the afflicted's fault in the first place. While smoking contributes to between 80 and 90 percent of lung cancer cases, it’s not the only cause. There are a number of other factors, including genetics, exposure to secondhand smoke and certain toxic chemicals, and environmental pollution. Who would haveever thought of radon when they think of a  cancer patient lying in their bed sucking up the oxygen,  dying?

I doubt very seriously that im the only person with COPD that has a cloud of  pessimism, fatalism and disengagement with the outside world taking to virtual realities as a means of coping with people who are accusatory and blaming of the person afflicted. 

Too bad it doesnt always work. All too often a perosn may try to keep it to themself due to previous interactions with people only to give in to the want of friendship by sharing their diagnosis in an effort to gain understanding of shortcomings. When/if the person is rejected or blamed for their situation directly or indireclty their treatment may be affected...they may give into depression and complete withdrawal from all sources of social interactions including that of their treatment team.

Im not just sharing my own thoughts and experiences, I"m sharing observations from having worked in a hospital and having had family members with lung cancer, emphysema, COPD, as well as Pulmonary Fibrosis...it is important the way you interact with every one...some may have greater needs than othersincluding but not limited to...kindness and understanding...not patronizing but true compassion...they can be believed when it comes to their feelings and wishes...