MANGALORE: Mangalore will become the main centre in the country in educating the public on the risks of smoking and chewing tobacco as studies have identified the prevalence of tobacco as high. Having a dedicated nicotine replacement therapy cell appears to be imminent for the city.

The studies by Mangalore-based experts have reiterated the earlier research findings that smokers are at high risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, cancer, respiratory diseases, gastric ulcers, and so on. Tobacco intake may accelerate early menopause, cataract and wrinkling of the skin. There are 4,000 compounds in tobacco and over 40 of these are known to cause cancer. When a consumer stops taking tobacco, he may suffer from withdrawal symptoms.

Smoking is the cause for 82 per cent of the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) cases. There are over 12 million people in the country suffering from this disease. Four lakh people die of tobacco-related cancer every year.

Behavioural therapy has demonstrated cessation rates of around 20 per cent for those willing to participate. Addition of drug therapy has been found to improve the results.

The standard approach has been nicotine substitution using one of the five forms of nicotine replacement.

R.C. Sahoo, Unit Head, Chest and Allergy Department, Attavar who is one of the few experts in the country on nicotine replacement therapy says that quitting tobacco is difficult. Most of the COPD cases are found among men.

The nicotine replacement therapy provides nicotine in small dosages such as chewing gums and sustains levels of nicotine in the blood.

Craving for tobacco is reduced over weeks as nicotine levels are maintained in the blood. In about three months, the nicotine replacement therapy is tapered and the patient has less chance of relapse to tobacco.

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