SOURCE: http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?section=opinion&xfile=data/opinion/2011/march/opinion_march53.xml
My Article for The Khaleej Times
Care for a puff, can you pay the price?
11 March 2011: " A fun night out, an easy way to keep the weight under control, the fun flavours of Shisha, peer pressure to appear “in” – keeping aside these reasons, one faces an increased risk of cancer for one’s own self and for others. In 1957, the US Public Health Service confirmed that data suggested a causal relationship between smoking and lung cancer. And since then America has seen a drastic decline in their smoking habits. Cigarette smoking is a leading preventable cause of death in USA (CDC). As the west is focused on eliminating this health hazard, the tobacco companies are focusing on Asia to be their major tobacco market.
The World Health Organization (WHO) statistics show that tobacco is the chief preventable cause of death in the world. It causes 1 in 10 deaths among adults worldwide and kills up to half of all users. 100 million deaths were caused by tobacco in the last century, and if current trends continue, there will be up to one billion deaths in this century.
So what is the rationale for calling smoking ‘not cool’? The Center for Disease control and prevention (CDC) states that when non smokers were compared with smokers, data showed that there was an increase risk of:
· coronary heart disease by 2 to 4 times
· stroke by 2 to 4 times
· men developing lung cancer by 23 time
· women developing lung cancer by 13 times, and
· dying from chronic obstructive lung diseases (such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema) by 12 to 13 times.
Cigarette smoking is known to be the main cause of mouth, esophagus, pharynx and bladder cancers. It also has a role in the development of cancers of stomach, kidney, pancreas, and some forms of leukemia (CDC). The harmful effects of tobacco do not end with smoking cigarettes. That beautiful Shisha is not as harmless as many of us may like it to be- it would not be wrong if it was classified as a fatal attraction!
Babies born to mothers who smoke are 1.5 - 3.5 times more likely to be of low birth weight and are 33 per cent are more likely to be stillborn or die during the neonatal period (Schroeder). Furthermore, the adverse health effects of smoking during pregnancy extend into childhood, increasing the risk of impaired growth and educational achievement (Bartecchi et al.). Second hand smoke increases risk of heart disease by 25–30 per cent, and of lung cancer by 20–30 per cent (CDC 2002), and in children increases the risk of SIDS and acute asthma exacerbations (West and Cohen).
According to Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the UAE Global youth tobacco survey ( GYTS) 2005 showed the about 25 per cent of grade 7th,8th , 9th and 10th students smoked. And about 32 per cent use other tobacco products. About 40 per cent of these students bought the cigarette at a store and majority had no difficulty buying them. According to the global school based student health survey (CDC 2010), about 82.1 per cent of the students who smoked cigarettes did it before the age of 14 years!
In the UAE, the WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic 2008 estimates that over one quarter (27.2 per cent) of the male population smoke tobacco, compared to only 2.4 per cent of the female population. The report says that “among smokers who are aware of the dangers of tobacco, three out of four want to quit.” But like people dependent on any addictive drug, it is difficult for most tobacco users to quit on their own, and they benefit from help and support to overcome their dependence.” According to an article by Peter Harrison, “UAE health officials say 14 per cent of all cancer cases in the nation are lung cancer and most are smoking related.”
If you were a smoker and decide to quit: Smoking cessation reduces the risk of developing and slows the progression of established tobacco-related diseases, and increases life expectancy (Office of the Surgeon General). Quitting by age 30 eliminates nearly all excess risk associated with smoking, and smoker s who quit smoking before age 50 half their risk of dying in the next 15 years (CDC 2002). A place which believes in dreaming big and achieving, a healthier smoke free environment is an aspiration that desires to be fulfilled. "
'The best way to break a bad habit is to drop it.' ~Leo Aikman
My Article for The Khaleej Times
Care for a puff, can you pay the price?
11 March 2011: " A fun night out, an easy way to keep the weight under control, the fun flavours of Shisha, peer pressure to appear “in” – keeping aside these reasons, one faces an increased risk of cancer for one’s own self and for others. In 1957, the US Public Health Service confirmed that data suggested a causal relationship between smoking and lung cancer. And since then America has seen a drastic decline in their smoking habits. Cigarette smoking is a leading preventable cause of death in USA (CDC). As the west is focused on eliminating this health hazard, the tobacco companies are focusing on Asia to be their major tobacco market.
The World Health Organization (WHO) statistics show that tobacco is the chief preventable cause of death in the world. It causes 1 in 10 deaths among adults worldwide and kills up to half of all users. 100 million deaths were caused by tobacco in the last century, and if current trends continue, there will be up to one billion deaths in this century.
So what is the rationale for calling smoking ‘not cool’? The Center for Disease control and prevention (CDC) states that when non smokers were compared with smokers, data showed that there was an increase risk of:
· coronary heart disease by 2 to 4 times
· stroke by 2 to 4 times
· men developing lung cancer by 23 time
· women developing lung cancer by 13 times, and
· dying from chronic obstructive lung diseases (such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema) by 12 to 13 times.
Cigarette smoking is known to be the main cause of mouth, esophagus, pharynx and bladder cancers. It also has a role in the development of cancers of stomach, kidney, pancreas, and some forms of leukemia (CDC). The harmful effects of tobacco do not end with smoking cigarettes. That beautiful Shisha is not as harmless as many of us may like it to be- it would not be wrong if it was classified as a fatal attraction!
Babies born to mothers who smoke are 1.5 - 3.5 times more likely to be of low birth weight and are 33 per cent are more likely to be stillborn or die during the neonatal period (Schroeder). Furthermore, the adverse health effects of smoking during pregnancy extend into childhood, increasing the risk of impaired growth and educational achievement (Bartecchi et al.). Second hand smoke increases risk of heart disease by 25–30 per cent, and of lung cancer by 20–30 per cent (CDC 2002), and in children increases the risk of SIDS and acute asthma exacerbations (West and Cohen).
According to Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the UAE Global youth tobacco survey ( GYTS) 2005 showed the about 25 per cent of grade 7th,8th , 9th and 10th students smoked. And about 32 per cent use other tobacco products. About 40 per cent of these students bought the cigarette at a store and majority had no difficulty buying them. According to the global school based student health survey (CDC 2010), about 82.1 per cent of the students who smoked cigarettes did it before the age of 14 years!
In the UAE, the WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic 2008 estimates that over one quarter (27.2 per cent) of the male population smoke tobacco, compared to only 2.4 per cent of the female population. The report says that “among smokers who are aware of the dangers of tobacco, three out of four want to quit.” But like people dependent on any addictive drug, it is difficult for most tobacco users to quit on their own, and they benefit from help and support to overcome their dependence.” According to an article by Peter Harrison, “UAE health officials say 14 per cent of all cancer cases in the nation are lung cancer and most are smoking related.”
If you were a smoker and decide to quit: Smoking cessation reduces the risk of developing and slows the progression of established tobacco-related diseases, and increases life expectancy (Office of the Surgeon General). Quitting by age 30 eliminates nearly all excess risk associated with smoking, and smoker s who quit smoking before age 50 half their risk of dying in the next 15 years (CDC 2002). A place which believes in dreaming big and achieving, a healthier smoke free environment is an aspiration that desires to be fulfilled. "
'The best way to break a bad habit is to drop it.' ~Leo Aikman
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