The Effect of Gender on Smoking: Women's Health and Cessation

This essay delves into the critical issue of women and smoking, exploring the significant impact of gender on the epidemiology, health effects, and cessation of smoking. The author reflects on the importance of understanding these factors to develop effective strategies for improving public health. The essay examines the severe health risks associated with smoking, particularly in women, including respiratory diseases, fertility issues, and complications during pregnancy. The research questions address the role of epidemiology in mitigating negative health effects, the benefits of smoking cessation, and ways to minimize the impact of smoking on women's health. The author emphasizes the importance of public awareness, government policies, and medical interventions to combat the detrimental effects of smoking and promote a healthier lifestyle. The analysis highlights the need for tailored approaches considering the distinct challenges faced by women smokers and stresses the benefits of cessation programs, including improved physical and emotional well-being.

WOMEN AND SMOKING: THE EFFECT OF
GENDER ON THE EPIDEMIOLOGY,
HEALTH EFFECTS AND CESSATION OF
SMOKING

Table of Contents
REFLECTION.................................................................................................................................1
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9

REFLECTION
I feel glad to have a great opportunity to investigate the topic of women and smoking including
the effect of gender on the epidemiology, health effects and cessation of smoking. It is a great
chance for me to understand the respective facts and figures in order to develop appropriate
findings. However, I can contribute my efforts for evaluating the actual findings about smoking
effects which encourage medical staff to develop effective strategies for maintaining health of
people. It is necessary to conduct research on various kinds of problems which become a threat
for country in order to evaluate its findings to overcome with the particular issues (Papadopoulos
and et. al., 2014). Meanwhile, it has been analysed that it is a huge contribution to determine
facts about effects of smoking on health and epidemiology which helps government authorities
to focus on such issue in order to make required policies and rules for further improvements. It
will provide support to legal bides to put ban in smoking products and other relevant items in
market in respect of improving entire health condition of population. This study is very
important to be carried out in order to gain understanding of related health issues. It is observed
that there are number of severe disease that can be developed among people who smoke on daily
basis. It is required to analyse the cause behind development of complicated health problems
among people to solve them.
On the other hand, my main title of the investigation is the ‘effect of gender on the
epidemiology, health effects and cessation of smoking’. It is necessary to analyse about different
effects of smoking on male and female along with their respective diseases. It has been analysed
that smoking is responsible for mostly develop respiratory health issues like asthma, emphysema,
chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases and so on. My investigation reflects that mostly people
having habit of smoking, they always have dry cough and their coughing continues. The main
purpose of carrying out this research is to identify various effects of smoking on male and female
to develop effective strategies by which adverse effects can be reduced (Regidor and et. al.,
2015). However, I have analysed that some of people smoke around 10 to 12 cigarettes in a day
which is considered as severe condition of an individual. This investigation topic has been
chosen because it is favourable to boost up my personal research skills, knowledge and abilities.
It is necessary to conduct investigation in order to sharpen my research skills and an experience
of this study is suitable to carry out research in future more effectively. I feel that it is not that
much easy to conduct an investigation but experience can make it easy for me to become a good
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investigator. This investigation opportunity is very beneficial for me as it can develop my
instilling skills including collaborative working, conflict resolution, communication, researching,
analytical, evaluation, time management, critical thinking and so on. It will provide support to
avoid mistakes and gain more accurate findings while carry out another study in future.
Considering my dissertation, it is based on number of research questions in order to address them
by gaining accurate information. It is favourable to focus on different aspects of specific
investigation in separate manner which facilitate to work with focus and avoid skipping nay
important factor of study (Abbaspour, Hurrell and Kelishadi, 2014). However, it has been
analysed that gathering information about various aspects of effects of smoking of male and
female which facilitate to evaluate relevant diseases. Through this information, government
authorities can take strict actions against people who smoke to maintain better health condition
of them. The main aim of this research is to investigate the role of epidemiology in terminating
negative health effects of smoking on women. I have to analyse that rate of occurring smoking
habits and its related health problems among male and female which provide support to take
effective actions in order to improve health status of overall population. Meanwhile, it consist the
criterion of evaluating fact that how much frequently respiratory diseases has been started to
develop in male and female on the basis of which effective measures cam be taken for their
wellbeing.
Epidemiology refers to the information including rate of occurring specific health problems
among people having habit of smoking. It involves the criterion of making an effective as well as
efficient study of facts and figures related to specific topic. However, I have analysed that the
rate of occurring health problems and relevant complications are different in men and women. It
is observed that people having habit of smoking are at high risk of respiratory diseases but
women should avoid this because this activity impact negatively on development of their foetus
developing in womb (Morley and et. al., 2015). My research said that male partners should not
smoke nearby their female pregnant partner because it also impact negatively on development of
foetus. It is required for females that if they have a habit of smoke then they should strictly avoid
it before conceiving and never smoke for a once till they feed their baby on breasts.
Considering the facts & figures different among men and women intake smoke, it has been
analysed that both of them has a chance to develop differentiated complicated health problems. I
have examine that people should not smoke ever because it affect respiratory system and brain
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which are connected to other organ systems of body to perform together so that we can say that it
affects the entire human body. However, it is required for medical practitioners to carry pout
health promotional campaigns to motivate citizens to avoid this habit and appeal from legal
bodies to ban such inappropriate products that are responsible for destroying health of them. It is
necessary for government authorities to apply strict rules and regulations which provide support
to secure youth of the country from this harmful habit (Coutts and Hahn, 2015). Moreover, I
believe that facts are required to exposed among public and government so that they together
take effective steps to overcome with this threat to enhance health status of the nation.
In context of this investigation, I have work on number of research question formulated earlier to
focus on special aspects related to the main aim of this study. Initially, the first research question
was the roles of epidemiology in improving human health which contains brad information about
it. It is observed that epidemiology is helpful to evaluate the rate of occurring health problems
due to habit of smoking among population. It will provide support government and legal bodies
to predict the future in respect of this problem which encourage them to take appropriate steps
currently to avoid worst situations. However, I have evaluated that effective strategies can be
carry out when we can analyse that actual situation. My opinion is that government should focus
on these aspects because smoking and other relevant products are harmful for citizens and these
items are responsible for no only developing severe diseases as well as reduce the lifespan of
human beings. However, it is that fact that health of people of particular country should be
maintained because their efforts on regular basis are accountable to strengthen economy of the
same.
On the other hand, my investigation reflects that study of epidemiology is one of the important
factors as it is helpful to recognise circulation of health issue, basic elements of source & cause
and effective practices through which problem can be controlled (McNeil and et. al., 2015).
However, I have analysed another important component’s that several factors are required to
control problems developed by habit of smoking that are political, social and logical equipment.
These are supportive to manage all the needed funds through which effective strategies can be
established and applied for welfare of people. The study of epidemiology is beneficial for
medical authorities of the country and government to become aware of problem related to health
which occur at large level. It will encourage them to take immediate action like ban smoking
products and start police investigations against dealers of such items. This will facilitate to
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reduce that availability of smoking goods in market due to which people automatically come out
from habit. In addition to this, I believe that when overall statistics of smoking habit and their
complicated illnesses will expose among people then they can understand the severity of this
problem. It is very important to make them understand about it because their individual efforts
become country effort which helps to get rid of the problem of effects of smoking in men and
women.
Similarly, the second research question is about to analyse the advantages of smoking cessation
on health of women to evaluate relevant information. I personally, believe that smoking
cessation is a beneficial aspect of anyone’s life that has a habit of smoking. It is beneficial to
avoid health problems and its relevant complications in order to remain healthy (England and et.
al., 2015). Basically, I have analysed that there are various kinds of benefits that are gained by an
individual after smoking cessation. It has been analysed that if a person want to quit smoking
then are different options are available such as nicotine items like nicotine patches, gum,
inhalers, lozenges and nasal sprays. It includes several clinical procedures including behaviour
therapy, counselling, medicines, and nicotine-containing products. However, my opinion is that
medical practitioners and government should display advertisements on regular basis which
encourage smokers to avoid it. It is necessary to provide proper information to common citizens
including severity of health problems occurs due to habit of smoking.
In context of female smokers, it has been analysed that smoking cessation is beneficial for them
as well as their kids. It is beneficial for women in several aspects like to have healthier blood,
heart and lungs as they can breathe easier, prevent permanent damage of lungs and maintain
heart rate as well as blood pressure (Laumbach, Meng and Kipen, 2015). Basically, it is
favourable to make body strong by improving bone strength, immune system and muscles
strengths. It involves the benefit of changes on body like healthy skin, cleaner mouth, reduces
belly fat; lower risk of diabetes and sense of taste & smell improves. Moreover, it is helpful to
decrease fertility problems like normal oestrogen levels, increase chance of healthy pregnancy
and having healthy baby. Furthermore, it will provide support to reduce chance of occurring
severe health problems such as heart diseases, stroke, lung cancer and dying early in future
among women. A woman becomes emotionally strong after quitting the habit of smoking
respectively.
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The third research question is about to ways through which negative effect of smoking on
women health can be minimised. I have work on to identify effective ways to reduce negative
impact of smoking among females. It has been analysed that the negative impact of smoking is
occurrence of number of severe health problems such as heart disease, lung cancer, COPD,
asthma, stroke, aortic aneurysm, oropharyngeal cancer, oesophageal cancer and cataracts issues.
I have determined that smoking habits is responsible for developing several fertility issues and
complications in pregnancy. With the help of analysing data, it has been examined that if a
woman who want to conceive and a healthy baby then they should strictly avoid use of cigarettes
or similar products (Kumar, 2019). It is accountable to impact negatively on the development of
the foetus developing in the womb of mother and creates complications in delivery procedures.
However, it is required focus on better strategies that are favourable to reduce impact of
smoking.
In addition to this, women smokers should go for regular check-ups and intake prescribed
medications and routine properly. It is essential for them to intake green leafy vegetables and
avoids fast food for increasing strength of immune system. However, it is observed that women
should opt the method of smoking cessation first then focus on other aspects. It is important to
follow regular exercise and yoga in morning or evening by continuing for desired duration of
time. Meanwhile, it is significant to include regular morning walk which is helpful to make
human body fresh and active whole day (Fletcher, 2017). I think that women should not avoid
the procedure of smoking cessation till the physicians will not satisfied with the habits and
ensure that the patient has been quit smoking. In addition to this, it is observed that regular
session of meditation is necessary to reduce impact of smoking on body and it is also beneficial
for minimising the urge of smoking. With the help of meditation are favourable to reduce urge of
smoking which facilitate to easily attain smoking cessation accordingly. Moreover, it has been
evaluated that several strategies are efficient to minimise impact of smoking of health of women
such as preparation of quit data that how much females wants to quit smoking. It consist another
strategy of using NRT which is suitable to reduce cravings of smoking so that woman can easily
quit smoking. It contains use of alternative therapies through which impact of smoking can be
minimised among females in order to enhance their health status.
Finally, the final question is all about to the impacts of epidemiology in minimising negative
health effects of smoking on women. I have analysed that epidemiology provide support to
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evaluate those factors related to smoking which are mostly severe and impact negatively on
health condition. Basically, it is observed that facts about occurrence of smoke relevant diseases
are responsible for direct efforts of researchers working on effective treatment preventive
measures to develop effective medications for minimising harmful effects of smoking of human
body. It is essential to make preventive measures in order to increase immune system strength
which facilitates to reduce occurrence of health problems. Moreover, the strategy of preventing
health problems by controlling them is one of the important aspect to which medical practitioners
should be work on (Jamshed, 2014).
On the other hand, I have analysed that use of health promotion is beneficial in respect of
minimising negative impact of smoking on women health. It is necessary to make them aware
about its harmful impact on their forthcoming children and other family members. My research
reflects that women should know that smoking is not only harmful or developing embryo but
also responsible for transmitting severe diseases to their baby. However, it is required to provide
information and encourage them to improve their habits of smoking in terms of providing better
future to their kids (Khan, 2014).
With the help of conducting this investigation, I have analysed that effective research
methodology should be used because it is an important aspect to carry out an appropriate
research. It is beneficial in respect of gathering relevant information more accurately which
facilitate to gain appropriate findings related to selected research problem. However, it is
observed that use of correct methods and procedures also impact on entire project of
investigation as well as its findings. I believe that if an investigator want to gain accurate results
of the study then it is must to utilise appropriate research methods. I have tried my best to select
the correct research methods which are specifically reflected below.
In context of research philosophy, I have evaluated that there are two types of philosophies that
are mostly used by researchers such as positivism and interpretivism. It is necessary for me to
select accurate methods in terms of gathering relevant data and mind set about research
activities. However, to undertake this study, the positivism research philosophy is more suitable
according to my opinion which was chosen as it is beneficial to render logical data which are
responsible for directly supporting an understanding of human actions which are based on
specific problem of investigation respectively.
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The research approach is known to be another method which can be categorised in to two parts
such as inductive and deductive from which I have to select one which is favourable for this
study. It is observed that both approaches are much effective to collect, analyse and interpret
gathered information which facilitates to draw the conclusion of research (Mukhopadhyay and
Gupta, 2014). Meanwhile, I have chosen deductive approach which is suitable in context of
gathering quantitative data which is accountable for assisting identification and evaluation of
relation among two aspects & variables. This technique was selected because it will provide
support to gain valid as well as reliable outcomes.
In context of research strategy, it has been examined that it is framework which can be applied
by investigator to complete overall research activities in successful manner. I have to select
effective strategy through the entire study can be carry out in well-structured as well as
systematic manner. Meanwhile, the appropriate strategy was questionnaire that is helpful to gain
information from participants recruited in a sample from target population. I have used close
ended questions for which respondents can easily answer the question to gain data from tem it is
beneficial to achieve positive results of this study.
In context of research choice, I have to select correct choices because it is helpful to create
authentic as well as successfully study in correct way. It can be categorised intro two categories
like qualitative and quantitative method from which effective one should be opt to utilise in
research. For this study, my research choice is quantitative method of research because it is
suitable to measure scientific and statistical data in order to make correct decision. Meanwhile, it
is beneficial to provide measurable outputs of the investigation which is responsible to make
study authentic and valid in nature (Habib, Pathik and Maryam, 2014).
The time horizon plays an important role to carry out study ion specific topic or problem. I have
analysed that there is time limited is provided to every researchers in terms of conducting
research to gain findings and prepare research project to submit it before respective deadline.
Basically, it is essential for an investigator to complete number of activities of research within
particular frame of duration. However, it includes following reasons which are longitudinal and
cross sectional but both of them are necessary to completed tasks timely. I have used the cross
sectional activities which is helpful for me to complete every tasks in specified period of time.
Data source plays an important role because accurate gathering of data is must for attaining
correct outcomes. The data collect sources can be categorised in two categories such as primary
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and secondary sources. I have evaluated that primary sources of data collection involves survey
method, focus groups, questionnaire, interview and many more. This information is known as
first hand data because it is not used before by any investigator. In contrary to this, secondary
sources of data collection involves boos. Journals, government publications, articles, magazines,
newspapers etc. and this is consider as second hand data as it was used earlier by other
researchers. In context of this investigation, I have used both of the data collection resources to
collect relevant information to gain better findings, the questionnaire was used from primary
sources in order to gather information from respondents to interpret findings whereas secondary
sources were utilised to conduct literature review in effective way. It is required to analyse views
and opinions provided by different authors on the basis of their research in literature review due
to which journals, books, articles and government publications are used to gather accurate data.
Research sampling can be defined as a method through which appropriate sample can be
collected from target population (Mackert and et. al., 2014). The sampling method contains two
sections like probabilistic sampling and non-probabilistic sampling with their specific subparts
from which I have to select most appropriate one to select respondents. In context of this
research, I prefer to utilise probabilistic sampling method to recruit participants for gaining the
opinions. Moreover, I have chosen the random sampling method which is a specific subpart of
probabilistic sampling and select 30 respondents as a sample size.
Research ethics is very important to be followed at the time of conducting every specific activity
of investigation which impact on accuracy of it. I have followed all the ethical principles like
autonomy, justice, trustworthiness, honest etc. while collecting data. The confidentiality eas
strictly maintained while conducting investigation and I have taken legal permission from
organisations to use their small part of data in my study. I use to provide all the information to
respondents and encourage them to take part in my investigation process. No one get forced to
participate and their personal information remain private and never disclose among others. I have
also consulted from my senior researchers regarding ethics to make my investigation appropriate
in ethical manner.
Research limitations involve the minor or major threats of investigation or attempt of avoiding
important aspects of study. I have tried my best to conduct the entire study in more effective as
well as efficient way to gain accurate outcomes. My research has minor limitation that
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respondents are not able to provide proper answers to the questions and duration of time is
limited to conduct research.
Considering all the aspects of collected data and use of methodology, I have founded that
government and medical practitioners should take efforts to eliminate threat of smoking in
country. Women should understand extreme harmful impact of smoking to avoid this habit and
government should strictly ban smoking products in the entire nation to secure women and other
citizens also.
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REFERENCES
Books and journals
Papadopoulos, A. and et. al., 2014. Heavy smoking and lung cancer: are women at higher risk?
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Regidor, E. and et. al., 2015. Impact of tobacco prices and smoke-free policy on smoking
cessation, by gender and educational group: Spain, 1993–2012. International Journal of
Drug Policy. 26(12). pp.1215-1221.
Abbaspour, N., Hurrell, R. and Kelishadi, R., 2014. Review on iron and its importance for
human health. Journal of research in medical sciences: the official journal of Isfahan
University of Medical Sciences. 19(2). p.164.
Morley, J.E. and et. al., 2015. Brain health: the importance of recognizing cognitive impairment:
an IAGG consensus conference. Journal of the American Medical Directors
Association. 16(9). pp.731-739.
Coutts, C. and Hahn, M., 2015. Green infrastructure, ecosystem services, and human
health. International journal of environmental research and public health. 12(8).
pp.9768-9798.
McNeil, R. and et. al., 2015. “We need somewhere to smoke crack”: an ethnographic study of an
unsanctioned safer smoking room in Vancouver, Canada. International Journal of Drug
Policy. 26(7). pp.645-652.
England, L.J. and et. al., 2015. Nicotine and the developing human: a neglected element in the
electronic cigarette debate. American journal of preventive medicine. 49(2). pp.286-293.
Laumbach, R., Meng, Q. and Kipen, H., 2015. What can individuals do to reduce personal health
risks from air pollution?. Journal of thoracic disease. 7(1). p.96.
Kumar, R., 2019. Research methodology: A step-by-step guide for beginners. Sage Publications
Limited.
Fletcher, A. J., 2017. Applying critical realism in qualitative research: methodology meets
method. International journal of social research methodology. 20(2). pp.181-194.
Jamshed, S., 2014. Qualitative research method-interviewing and observation. Journal of basic
and clinical pharmacy. 5(4). p.87.
Khan, S. H., 2014. Phenomenography: A qualitative research methodology in
Bangladesh. International Journal on New Trends in Education and Their
Implications. 5(2). pp.34-43.
Mukhopadhyay, S. and Gupta, R. K., 2014. Survey of qualitative research methodology in
strategy research and implication for Indian researchers. Vision. 18(2). pp.109-123.
Habib, M. M., Pathik, B. B. and Maryam, H., 2014. Research methodology-contemporary
practices: guidelines for academic researchers. Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
Mackert, M. and et. al., 2014. eHealth and health literacy: a research methodology
review. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication. 19(3). pp.516-528.
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