HEALTHWATCH
Killer weed
Dr. R.NARASIMHAN
|
`World No Tobacco Day', on May 31, is an attempt to create awareness about the growing problem of tobacco consumption.
|
GROWING MENANCE: Despite warnings, the use of tobacco continues to grow.
THE Portuguese introduced tobacco in India 400 years ago. Tobacco consumption has been rising from that time. The international classification of diseases (ICD - 10) has notified "Tobacco Dependence" as a disease. Unfortunately, nobody including the medical fraternity has taken this seriously and no attempt has been made to treat or prevent this controllable malady.
It is my personal observation that smoking as a habit starts in a family where there is a smoker. In one of our observations, we realised most start smoking for pleasure, go through the stressful smoking stage to compulsive smoking. The latter two are difficult to convert unless they develop some serious illness. The first group can be convinced through education and awareness.
Educate people
"World No Tobacco Day" gives an opportunity to educate people about the effects of cigarettes and other tobacco-related products. It is celebrated on May 31 every year. Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death in the world today. With 4.9 million tobacco-related deaths per year, no other consumer product is as dangerous, or kills as many people, as tobacco. But with the adoption of a new, groundbreaking international treaty, the scene is now set to protect billions of people from the devastating impact of tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke.
The tobacco fact sheet is scary. Tobacco is the second major cause of death in the world. It is currently responsible for the death of one in 10 adults worldwide (about five million deaths each year). If current smoking patterns continue, it will cause some 10 million deaths each year by 2020. Half the people that smoke today — that is about 650 million people — will eventually be killed by tobacco
Tobacco causes around 13,500 deaths per day. A large number of children are exposed to tobacco smoke at home. In India there are 18 crores who use tobacco-related products. A rough break up among the various products would read four crores using cigarettes, eight crores beedis and six crores other products like gutkha and Zarda. Other hard facts: 55,000 children start smoking in a year; An Indian smokes 90 billion cigarettes a year; At an average of Rs. 2 a cigarette, Rs. 180 billions goes up in smoke.
According to the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) the cost of treating tobacco related disorders like COPD, CAD and cancers was Rs. 2,776 crores whereas the value of tobacco products sold nation wide was about Rs. 24,400 crores. If this trend goes unchecked 13 per cent of all deaths in India would be solely due to tobacco. Eight lakh people die every year, 2,200 deaths per day and 90 per hour.
Tobacco epidemic
A cigarette is the only legally available consumer product that kills through normal use. The tobacco epidemic is an international problem with developing countries set to bear the brunt of the problem in future. By 2030, if present trends continue unchecked, there will be 10 million deaths per year globally due to tobacco-related disease, with 70 per cent of these deaths taking place in developing countries. India is the world's third largest tobacco growing industry with a great impact on the economy. More than 3,50,000 hectares of land are harvested and nearly 3.5 million people will be engaged in full-time tobacco manufacture.
The Government of India has passed an anti-tobacco legislation, "The Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act 2003", which came into force on May 1, 2004. This replaces the Cigarette Act 1975. If this act is enforced fully, there can be a tobacco-free India.
Some of the problems that smoking can cause are:
Hair loss; Cataracts; Hearing loss ; Wrinkling; Skin cancer; Tooth decay; Emphysema; Osteoporosis; Heart disease; Stomach ulcers; Discolored fingers; Uterine cancer and miscarriage; Infertility; Psoriasis; Buerger's disease; Cancer (Smokers are 22 times more likely to develop lung cancer)
Salient features of "The Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act 2003"
Enforce smoking ban in public places more aggressively.
Prohibition of selling tobacco to children below 18 years.
Stop the attractive and deceptive advertisements which tantalises the gullible to resort to smoking not knowing that he is putting his systems to risk
Make the smoke-free kits more affordable.
To end all forms of sponsorship and advertisement
Measures to reduce ETS exposure in work places and public places
Strong health warnings with graphics about the dangers of smoking on the tobacco containers in their local language
An end to duty free tobacco products and duty imports
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Magazine
