Smoking: A threat to life and well-being

By in Pulmonology, Respiratory & Sleep Medicine

May 31, 2018

31st May is being observed as World No Tobacco Day across the globe, with the aim to highlight the risk factors related to the consumption of tobacco while promoting the effective methods to reduce the tobacco consumption. This year the day will focus on the salient connection between the heart disease and tobacco under the theme “Tobacco breaks Hearts.”

Impact of tobacco on health:

The use of tobacco is the foremost risk factor for the progression of coronary heart disease, stroke and peripheral vascular diseases.

According to various data, it has been observed that cardio vascular diseases kill more people as compared to any other disease, worldwide. Tobacco consumption and exposure to second hand smoke is accountable for approximately 12% of all the heart disease. After high blood pressure, the use to tobacco is the second leading cause of CVD.

The use of tobacco is accountable for the rising incidents of tuberculosis, homicide, suicide, heart ailments, strokes, bronchitis, and delay in healing of wounds, infertility and peptic ulcers.

Every year the global tobacco epidemic kills more than 7 million people, out of which about 90,000 are non smokers and are dying just because of second hand smoke breathing. Worldwide, about 80% of the more than 1 billion smokers are living in low and middle income countries, where the significance of tobacco related illness and death is the heaviest.

Deaths due to tobacco:

India is the second leading consumer of tobacco among the rest of the countries. On an average 1 death takes place at every 6 seconds due to the use of tobacco. About more than 6 million tobaccos related deaths occur every year across the world, among which India is independently accountable for one sixth of these cases. According to experts, it is believed that by the year 2030, the deaths associated with tobacco use will increase up to 8 million. On an average, every third adult in India consumes some form of tobacco. Bidis are the most common tobacco product used by the majority. In the year 2011, bidis were independently accountable for 5.8 lakh deaths in the country.

According to the results published by Indian Council of Medial Research (ICMR), in India, tobacco is responsible for about 30% of all the cancers found in men and women. The result also states that mouth cancer is much more common than lung cancer particularly in men. Tobacco related cancer death is accountable for 42% of all male deaths and 18.3% of all the female deaths.

There are about 4, 800 chemical found in tobacco till date, 93 are harmful andout of which 70 are responsible for causing cancer. Smoking up of tobacco releases carbon monoxide in the air, which easily gets mix with the hemoglobin in the blood in fact more easily than oxygen does.

Mentioned below are five steps which one can follow if they are looking forward to quit the use of tobacco.

The Five D’s:

• Delay: The craving will eventually go away.
• Deep breath: Take a few calming deep breaths.
• Drink water: It will help flush out the chemicals.
• Do something else: Find a new and healthy habit.
• Discuss: Talk about your thoughts and feelings with your friends and family, you’ll feel mentally relaxed.

It is important for the smokers to get themselves screened for any possible disease occurred due to smoking and avail timely treatment before it turn out to be life threatening. You can also attend our Quit Smoking Clinic to help yourself quit smoking.

To book an appointment at Metro Group of Hospitals, Call: +919910492867 or e-mail: metro@metrohospitals.com.