How many smokers have ever heard of “chronic obstructive pulmonary disease” (COPD)? How many smokers know that this chronic disease is mainly caused by smoking and is among the top ten leading causes of death in Hong Kong? Mr. Poon, who was diagnosed with this disease due to long-term smoking, would like to tell everyone that some decisions should never be taken lightly, such as smoking.
Curiosity and tobacco addiction
Mr. Poon, 65 years old, recalled, “I remember very clearly. I smoked for the first time when I was around 11 or 12 years old. My father was working busily and he put his cigarette in the ashtray behind him. I was curious and took a puff secretly behind his back.” Since then, he has smoked for 45 years.
Mr. Poon had a passion for sports especially football when he was young. Addicted to smoking, he would bring cigarettes to the football field. He would smoke a cigarette even during the 10-minute breaks. Gradually, his health worsened. “I was increasingly short of breath whenever I exerted myself, had more phlegm, and coughed more often in my daily life. So I went to the doctor.” He remembered the day clearly; it was August 23rd 2013, Friday, when he was diagnosed with COPD.
Illness and smoking cessation
The doctor asked Mr. Poon to look at his chest X-ray. “I know how normal lungs look like, so why do my lungs look like deflated balloons?” Looking at his chest X-ray, he understood the gravity of the situation. The doctor warned him not to smoke anymore.
Mr. Poon still remembered what the doctor said, “If you continue smoking, you will be gone in a couple of years.” The doctor also knew that he had a young child, and reminded him that he needed to take care of his child. Mr. Poon felt determined to quit smoking. “From that moment, I never smoked again.” Mr. Poon sighed.
Learning to coexist with the oxygen machine
Habits can be reversed, but the same cannot be said for illness. COPD, caused by smoking, is an incurable disease that worsens with time. Quitting smoking is the only way to slow down disease progression. Besides, patients generally need an oxygen machine to assist with breathing and daily activities, and maintain normal oxygen levels in blood. “Without the oxygen machine, I would gasp for air.” Mr. Poon compared his difficulty in breathing as a fish out of water. Daily chores such as showering, moving furniture, or even tooth brushing, are difficult tasks for Mr. Poon. He needs his oxygen machine at all times. For going out, Mr. Poon relies on another oxygen machine that runs on battery. But the battery lasts for 1 hour and 15 minutes only. A 10-minute walk for normal people will take twice the time for him, and he has to stop 4 times on the way.
Mr. Poon was admitted to hospital for pneumonia for 4 times in the past 8 years since his diagnosis. Due to his impaired pulmonary function, he gets bacterial infections easily. Therefore, Mr. Poon became cautious and avoided going out. He seldom eats out, and relied on mostly order takeaway. “I would not even visit my mother because I was afraid of getting infected. Even when I am at home, I wear a mask. My social life is severely restricted because of smoking; I can only blame myself.”
Mr. Poon misses the days when he could still play football whenever he passes by the playgrounds and sees others playing. He feels remorseful and mixed emotions about picking up that first cigarette. He would like smokers to understand that smoking is not just about themselves, secondhand smoke also harms the health of the people around them.