Fasting is Proof of Being Without Cigarettes, This is the Message of a Pulmonary Doctor

JAKARTA - The habit of smoking is still one of the major challenges in efforts to maintain public health. Even though various campaigns about the dangers of cigarettes continue to be chanted, many smokers find it difficult to stop their nicotine dependence.

In fact, there are certain moments that can be used as a starting point for change, one of which is during fasting in the month of Ramadan.

The Chairman of the Honorary Assembly of the Indonesian Pulmonary Doctors Association (PDPI), Tjandra Yoga Aditama, encourages the public to use the holy month as an opportunity to quit smoking completely.

"Smokers who fast will stop smoking from sahur until breaking the fast. The wider community should take advantage of the momentum of this holy month of Ramadan to quit smoking completely," said Prof. Tjandra.

The former Director of Communicable Diseases at the World Health Organization (WHO) for Southeast Asia explained that cigarette smoke contains thousands of harmful chemical compounds.

"Hundreds of types, among which are toxic substances and are related to the occurrence of dozens of diseases, from head to toe," he said.

He also reminded that the impact of cigarettes is not only felt by active smokers, but also by those around them. In a worship atmosphere, each individual should avoid behaviors that can interfere with the health and comfort of others.

According to Prof. Tjandra, during Ramadan, smokers have actually proven themselves to be able to refrain from sahur until breaking the fast. The habit of not smoking in that time frame should be continued until the evening and beyond.

He emphasized the importance of building a strong intention to quit and rejecting the temptation to smoke again. The assumption that a person cannot work without cigarettes is also considered wrong.

"This means that it is not true that you have to smoke first before you can work, the real experience in this fasting month proves the opposite," said the adjunct professor at Griffith University.

Prof. Tjandra also does not advocate the habit of smoking directly during breaking the fast. According to him, the relatively weak body condition after fasting and thirst can be further burdened if it is directly exposed to harmful substances from cigarettes.

The time of breaking the fast should be used to consume nutritious food and drinks, not to start smoking again. He added that the success of refraining during Ramadan shows that cigarette dependence can actually be controlled.

"Quitting smoking in Ramadan will benefit health and life as well as the environment," he said.

With consistent commitment, the momentum of Ramadan can be the first step towards a healthier and smoke-free life.