CHECKING THE DANGERS OF TOBACCO INTAKE AS THE WORLD NO-TOBACCO DAY IS COMMEMORATED TODAY SUNDAY MAY 31, 2015
The BBC English Dictionary defines tobacco as ‘the dried leaves of a
particular plant which people smoke in pipes, cigars, and cigarettes.’ The
products of the tobacco leaves can also be referred to as ‘tobacco’. In the
same vein, tobacco smoking is the act or habit of smoking tobacco leaves or any
of its products to include cigarette, cigar, snuff, et cetera.
Tobacco contains a stimulant known as ‘alkaloid nicotine’. Dried tobacco
leaves are mainly smoked in cigarettes, cigars, pipe tobacco and flavoured
shisha tobacco. They are also consumed as snuff, chewing tobacco, and dipping
tobacco. Tobacco use is a risk factor for many diseases, especially those
affecting the essential organs in the body including the heart, liver and lungs
as well as several other protracted illnesses such as cancer.
In 2003, in response to growth of tobacco use in developing countries and
its overwhelming deadly consequence, the World Health Organization (WHO)
successfully rallied 168 countries to sign the Framework Convention on Tobacco
Control (FCTC). The convention was designed to push for effective legislation
and its enforcement in all countries in order to reduce the harmful effects of
tobacco. This led to the development of cessation of tobacco products.
There are a number of types of tobacco including, but are not limited
to, Aromatic fire-cured, Brighleaf tobacco, Burley tobacco, Cavendish criollo
tobacco, Dokha, Turkish tobacco, Perique, Shade tobacco, White burley, Y1, and
Wild tobacco. It is noteworthy that, any of the type involved contains
unwholesome substances, which cause untold harm to the body. In 2008, the World
Health Organization (WHO) named tobacco as the world’s single greatest cause of
preventable deaths.
Tobacco smoke contains many
chemicals that are harmful to both smokers and non-smokers. Research shows that
inhaling even a little tobacco smoke can be harmful to the body. This is why
among the various means of consuming tobacco leaves, which include sniffing,
smoking, chewing and stuffing, smoking remains the most dangerous and delicate.
Scientifically survey indicates that, of the more than 7,000 chemicals in
tobacco smoke, at least 250 including hydrogen cyanide, carbon monoxide and
ammonia are known to be harmful. Among the 250 known harmful chemicals in
tobacco smoke, at least 69 can cause cancer, especially in the lung, kidney,
mouth, larynx, esophagus, bladder, pancreas and cervix.
Tobacco smokers are exposed to variety of risks or health complications
namely: blood clots and aneurysms in the brain which can lead to stroke, blood
clots in the legs which may travel to the lungs, coronary artery disease
including angina and heart attacks, high blood pressure, poor blood supply to
the legs, problems with erections due to decreased blood flow into the penis.
Other health risks or problems
are poor wound healing especially after surgery, asthma, problems during
pregnancy such as babies born at low birth weight, premature labour,
miscarriage and cleft lip; decreased ability to taste and smell, harm to sperm
which contributes to infertility, loss of sight as a result of an increased
risk of mascular degeneration, tooth and gum diseases as well as wrinkling of
the skin.
Smokers who switch to smokeless tobacco instead of quitting tobacco
intake completely still have a number of health risks to include increased risk
of mouth or nasal cancer, gum problems, tooth wear, cavities, worsening high
blood pressure, and angina. Those who do not smoke or take any form of tobacco
but always stay around smokers are also exposed to some health issues such as
heart attack and other heart diseases, lung cancer and sudden reactions
involving the eye, nose, throat, and lower respiratory tract.
Infants and children who are regularly exposed to secondhand smoke are
not left out. They can easily contract asthma, infections like virus-caused
upper respiratory diseases, ear infections and pneumonia; lung damage or poor
lung function, as well as Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
Obviously, the aforementioned consequences are good reasons to quit the
intake of tobacco. Like any addiction, quitting tobacco is not an easy task,
especially when the person involved is acting alone. If one intends to quit
smoking or intake of tobacco, family members, friends and coworkers may be
supportive. He can also talk to his health care provider concerning nicotine
replacement therapy and smoking cessation medications. More so, if he or she
joins smoking cessation programmes, which are often offered by hospitals,
health departments, community centres and work sites, he would have a much
better chance of success.
Today the global community is
commemorating the World No Tobacco Day. The Day, which is marked on every 31st
of May, was instituted by the United Nations (UN) through the effort of the World
Health Organization (WHO). Annually, WHO alongside its partners mark the World
No Tobacco Day (WNTD), highlighting the health risks associated with tobacco
use and advocating for effective policies to reduce its consumption. This
year’s commemoration is calling on countries to work together towards ending
the ongoing illicit trade of tobacco products. Frankly, from several angles
such as social, health, legal, economy, and governance, the illicit trade of
tobacco products has been a major global concern.
The bitter fact is that the global tobacco epidemic kills nearly six
million people each year, of which more than 600,000 are non-smokers dying from
breathing secondhand smoke. Unless we act, according to WHO, the epidemic is
likely to kill more than eight million persons annually by the year 2030; and
more than eighty percent (80%) of these preventable mortality rates will be
among people living in low and middle income countries like Nigeria.
As the world commemorates the
annual World No Tobacco Day, it is the responsibility of every Nigerian to
acknowledge that the dangers of tobacco intake can only be avoided if its
addicts as well as illicit traffickers holistically desist from such uncalled
act.
Similarly, the members of the legislature ought to also note that they
are not exempted in the crusade that is targeted to end this life-threatening
menace, which has become the order of the day. The National Tobacco Control
bill that was recently passed into law by the National Assembly is indeed a
welcome development that ought to be encouraged by any concerned authority or
anyone who thinks good of Nigeria. Think about it!
COMR FRED DOC
NWAOZOR
(The Media Ambassador)
_____________________________________
frednwaozor@gmail.com
Twitter: fdnnwaozor
+2348028608056
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