CHECKING THE DANGERS OF TOBACCO INTAKE AS THE 2016 WORLD NO-TOBACCO DAY IS COMMEMORATED TODAY TUESDAY MAY 31
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,
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 private part.
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 macular 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 related
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 and Nigeria isn’t
exceptional.
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.
No one or group is exempted in the crusade that is targeted to end this
life-threatening menace, which has become the order of the day. Thus, the
National Tobacco Control Bill that was recently passed into law by the 7th Assembly,
which was a welcome development, ought to be encouraged by any concerned
authority such as the NDLEA as well as anyone who mean well for Nigeria. Think
about it!
Comr Fred Doc Nwaozor
(TheMediaAmbassador)
-Public Affairs analyst & Civil Rights
activist-
Chief Executive
Director, Centre for Counselling, Research
& Career
Development - Owerri
_____________________________________
frednwaozor@gmail.com
+2348028608056
Twitter: @mediambassador
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