Health
‘Individual lifestyle choices limit good health more than any other factor’
To live a healthy life people need a balanced diet and to take plenty of exercise but other habits, such as smoking and drinking in excess, can affect our lifestyles and have a negative impact on our health. Whilst some people believe that individuals themselves should know what is good and bad for them, others believe that some people have not been educated enough on the impacts of certain habits on their health and on others around them. Some of these people believe it is the job of the government and other groups to warn these individuals but does this not lead to the people being controlled by a nanny state? Whilst the people should be educated, shouldn’t the individual also take part in improving their lifestyle as well as the government?
In the UK around 10 million people smoke, this is roughly 30% of the population. Smoking is a habit which can stunt good health yet millions continue to smoke. A smoking habit of 20 cigarettes a day can cost an individual roughly £1800 per year. Smoking doesn’t just cause the smoker to smell but rather creates many health problems for the individual and those around them. Yes, the nicotine within the cigarettes is addictive, many were peer pressured into smoking and some even started smoking before they found out that it wasn’t good for them but this is a habit that can be stopped. It requires patience and perseverance but it is possible. Yet figures of people smoking are still extremely high. It is up to the individual to stop smoking; whilst the government can provide support they cannot stand over the individual telling them what they can and cannot do. That is up to the individual. The NHS stated that “Women smokers are five times more likely to be killed by their habit today than in the 1960s” but why is this? Research found an increasing difference in mortality between women smokers and women that don’t smoke since the 1960s. The increase can
To live a healthy life people need a balanced diet and to take plenty of exercise but other habits, such as smoking and drinking in excess, can affect our lifestyles and have a negative impact on our health. Whilst some people believe that individuals themselves should know what is good and bad for them, others believe that some people have not been educated enough on the impacts of certain habits on their health and on others around them. Some of these people believe it is the job of the government and other groups to warn these individuals but does this not lead to the people being controlled by a nanny state? Whilst the people should be educated, shouldn’t the individual also take part in improving their lifestyle as well as the government?
In the UK around 10 million people smoke, this is roughly 30% of the population. Smoking is a habit which can stunt good health yet millions continue to smoke. A smoking habit of 20 cigarettes a day can cost an individual roughly £1800 per year. Smoking doesn’t just cause the smoker to smell but rather creates many health problems for the individual and those around them. Yes, the nicotine within the cigarettes is addictive, many were peer pressured into smoking and some even started smoking before they found out that it wasn’t good for them but this is a habit that can be stopped. It requires patience and perseverance but it is possible. Yet figures of people smoking are still extremely high. It is up to the individual to stop smoking; whilst the government can provide support they cannot stand over the individual telling them what they can and cannot do. That is up to the individual. The NHS stated that “Women smokers are five times more likely to be killed by their habit today than in the 1960s” but why is this? Research found an increasing difference in mortality between women smokers and women that don’t smoke since the 1960s. The increase can