Pune: Tobacco kills at least three million people evey year worldwide, Dr Kalyan Gangwal, founder president of Sarva Jeev Mangal Pratishthan, has claimed.
On the occasion of World No Tobacco Day on Saturday, anti-tobacco crusader Dr Gangwal told UNI that in countries where smoking has become a long established behaviour, about 90 per cent of lung cancer deaths, 30 per cent of all cancers and over 80 per cent of cases of chronic bronchitis and emphysema are attributed to tobacco use.
Nearly 20 per cent of cornonary heart diseases and stroke deaths are also due to tobacco. Numerous other adverse health conditions including respiratory dieses, peptic ulcers and pregnancy complications are also attributable to smoking. The use of tobacco is smokeless forms like chewing, snuff taking and othes is a major cause of oral cancer in our country. In last two decades or so that breadnut and raw tobacco habits has taken Indian society by storm in its new transformation ‘Pan Masala’. The Indian scenario as far as tobacco is concerned is even worse due to the use of these Pan Masala, Guthkha, use of these may give you many pre cancerous lesion also, Dr Gangwal said.
In “Submucocs fibrosis”, the person gets difficulty in opening the mouth and unable to eat hotchilly food, in future leads to Oral Cancers also.
Tobacco smoking not only affects the person but passive smoking is unique risk for people who do not smoke. Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke is a serious health problem due to its toxicity, carcinogenicity, he added.
In addition to direct medical care and expenses, smokers are found to be more abstain from work, spending more time on smoking, decreasing positive productivity extra maintenance due to spiting and also the chances of fire accident are invited troubles, Dr Gangwal said. (PTI)
Dr Gangwal expressed concern over rise in youth and female smoking. Tobacco smokes has conquered all places from restaurants, Bars, cafetaries, cinema halls, sports clubs, railways, airport and other places.
Tobacco is burning our living planet, Dr Gangwal said adding that according to WHO every 10 seconds another person dies to tobacco use. Smoking is less in rich countries but more in developping countries like, he said.
WHO in report titled ‘ Tobacco or Health- gobal status report’ reveals shocking facts and figures and situation is termed as ‘Tobacco Epidemic’. What we sea is only a tip of lceberg but health hazards due to tobacco faced india has multiple human, social, mental, economical, ramification, Dr Gangwal said.
The world is gradually understanding these growing meance and people are becoming more and more aware about eradicating these tobacco at all levels and places, he added and said Anti tobacco drive can be made successful only by discouraging its use at all levels, Dr Gangwal added. (UNI)
