As we continue to write about auctioneer health-related topics, smoking is now our focus. Are there auctioneers who smoke? Yes, there are.
First, a note on our previous articles:
So far as anyone smoking, there is no doubt that there are severe health risks associated with smoking, no matter who you are, or what occupation you practice.
How odd would this sound? Let’s say Henry is a highly paid scientist with an IQ of nearly 200. He hits his head with a large hammer every 30-45 minutes because it feels good as the hammer retracts from his skull.
Wouldn’t you think this would be aberrant behavior? For someone such as Henry who relies on his mental ability for his livelihood, and is presumably handsomely rewarded for such — why would he assume such risk at damaging his brain in this fashion?
Yet, for auctioneers as a whole, of which nearly 95% do at least some live bid calling, a fair number of them smoke.
The risks of smoking are well documented. Most notably for auctioneers:
Heart disease
Lung cancer
Emphysema
Stroke
Macular degeneration
Cataracts
Graves Disease
Thyroid Disease
Cancers of the lips, mouth, throat and larynx
Cancer of the esophagus
Sore throat
Shortness of breath
Colds and flu
Pneumonia
Leukemia
Weakened immune system
What is the percentage of adults in the United States who smoke? In 2005, it was estimated that 20.9% (or 45.1 million) of all U.S. adults were current cigarette smokers. Of them, 80.8% (or 36.5 million) smoked every day, and 19.2% (or 8.7 million) smoked some days. Those statistics are not much different today.
Without question, smoking puts an auctioneer at heightened risk of damaging lungs, throat, mouth, lips, larynx, esophagus and throat. Is this any different from Henry questionably hitting his head with a large hammer?
For those auctioneers who smoke, it is also what this does to those around you. Not only is your family and staff exposed to second-hand smoke, but they are likely dependent upon your ability to earn a living, of which smoking directly impairs.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has numerous links and resources for auctioneers looking for help to stop smoking. One such site is: http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/quit_smoking/how_to_quit/index.htm
If you are an auctioneer who smokes, and wish to stop smoking, maybe make this the day you stop? And, if not today, then maybe set a date in the near future? In any case, maybe ask yourself, “What would I tell Henry about him hitting his head with a large hammer numerous times a day?”
Mike Brandly, Auctioneer, CAI, AARE has been an auctioneer and certified appraiser for over 30 years. His company’s auctions are located at: Mike Brandly, Auctioneer, Keller Williams Auctions and Goodwill Columbus Car Auction. His Facebook page is: www.facebook.com/mbauctioneer. He serves as Adjunct Faculty at Columbus State Community College and is Executive Director of The Ohio Auction School.
#GravesDisease #Emphysema #health #Maculardegeneration #Stroke #Coldsandflu #throatandlarynx #Heartdisease #smoke #bidcalling #cigarettes #Shortnessofbreath #Cataracts #auction #Canceroftheesophagus #CDC #auctions #Weakenedimmunesystem #tobacco #hammer #Leukemia #ThyroidDisease #auctioneers #cancer #smoking #TheCentersforDiseaseControlandPrevention #Cancersofthelips #Sorethroat #Pneumonia #mouth #Lungcancer
Comments