RISKS OF CIGARETTE SMOKING

RISKS OF CIGARETTE SMOKING:

ASSALAMO ALAIKUM DEAR BROTHERS AND SISTERS…

LET US INSHA ALLAH, SEE THE DANGERS OF SMOKING…

THIS ARTICLE IS AVAILABLE FOR READING ONLINE ALSO AT http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=ddps6nzw_3f9ddd9fs

AND FOR DOWNLOAD AT MY SHARED FOLDER AT http://www.4shared.com/dir/5650605/247be174/sharing.html .


THIS ARTICLE IS AN ADDITION TO THE ARTICLE “CAN A MUSLIM SMOKE? “ WHICH IS THE PREVIOUS POST IN THIS BLOG
http://www.firdoze1234.blogspot.com . “CAN A MUSLIM SMOKE?” can be downloaded at my shared folder

http://www.4shared.com/dir/5650605/247be174/sharing.html .

ANY DOUBTS COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS, kindly mail me at firdoze1234@yahoo.co.in or firdoze1234@gmail.com


RISKS OF CIGARETTE SMOKING:


http://www.patient.co.uk/showdoc/23068824/

Smoking - The Facts

Cigarette smoking is the greatest single cause of illness and premature death in the UK. This leaflet gives reasons why smoking is so harmful. It also lists the benefits of stopping, and where to go for help.

Some initial facts and figures

About 106,000 people in the UK die each year due to smoking. Smoking-related deaths are mainly due to cancers, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and heart disease.
About half of all smokers die from smoking-related diseases.
If you are a long-term smoker, on average your life expectancy is about 8-12 years less than a non-smoker. Put another way, in the UK about 8 in 10 non-smokers live past the age of 70, but only about half of long-term smokers live past 70.
The younger you are when you start smoking, the more likely you are to smoke for longer and to die early from smoking.
Many smoking-related deaths are not 'quick deaths'. For example, if you develop COPD you can expect several years of illness and distressing symptoms before you die.
Smoking increases the risk of developing a number of other diseases (listed below). Many of these may not be fatal, but they can cause years of unpleasant symptoms.
The good news is:
Stopping smoking can make a big difference to your health. It is never too late to stop smoking to greatly benefit your health. For example, if you stop smoking in middle age, before having cancer or some other serious disease, you avoid most of the increased risk of death due to smoking.
Many people have given up smoking. In 1972 just under half of adults in the UK were smokers. By 1990 this had fallen to just under a third. At present, just over a quarter of UK adults are smokers.
Help is available if you want to stop smoking but are finding it difficult.

Cigarette smoke contains the following

Nicotine - a drug that stimulates the brain. If you are a regular smoker, when the blood level of nicotine falls, you usually develop withdrawal symptoms such as craving, anxiety, restlessness, headaches, irritability, hunger, difficulty with concentration, or just feeling awful. These symptoms are relieved by the next cigarette. So, most smokers need to smoke regularly to feel 'normal', and to prevent withdrawal symptoms.
Other chemicals in the 'tar' of the smoke. These deposit in the lungs and can get into the blood vessels and be carried to other parts of the body. Cigarette smoke contains over 4000 chemicals, including over 50 known carcinogens (causes of cancer) and other poisons.

Which diseases are caused or made worse by smoking?

Lung cancer. About 30,000 people in the UK die from lung cancer each year. More than 8 in 10 cases are directly related to smoking.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD. About 25,000 people in the UK die each year from this serious lung disease. More than 8 in 10 of these deaths are directly linked to smoking. People who die of COPD are usually quite unwell for several years before they die.

Heart disease is the biggest killer illness in the UK. About 120,000 people in the UK die each year from heart disease. About 1 in 7 of these deaths are due to smoking.

Other cancers - of the mouth, nose, throat, larynx, gullet (oesophagus), pancreas, bladder, cervix, blood (leukaemia), and kidney are all more common in smokers.

Circulation. The chemicals in tobacco can damage the lining of the blood vessels and affect the level of lipids (fats) in the bloodstream. This increases the risk of atheroma forming (sometimes called 'hardening' of the arteries). Atheroma is the main cause of heart disease. It is also the main cause of strokes, peripheral vascular disease (poor circulation of the legs), and aneurysms (swollen arteries which can burst causing internal bleeding). All of these atheroma-related diseases are more common in smokers.

Sexual problems. Smokers are more likely than non-smokers to become impotent or have difficulty in maintaining an erection in middle life. This is thought to be due to smoking-related damage of the the blood vessels to the penis.

Ageing. Smokers tend to develop more 'lines' on their face at an earlier age than non-smokers. This often makes smokers look older than they really are.

Fertility is reduced in smokers (both male and female).

Menopause. On average, women who smoke have a menopause nearly two years earlier than non-smokers.

Other conditions where smoking often causes worse or more prolonged symptoms include: asthma, the common cold, flu, chest infections, tuberculosis, chronic rhinitis, diabetic retinopathy, hyperthyroidism, multiple sclerosis, optic neuritis, and Crohn’s disease.

Smoking increases the risk of developing various other conditions including: optic neuropathy, cataract, macular degeneration, cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis, psoriasis, gum disease, tooth loss, osteoporosis and Raynaud's phenomenon.

Smoking in pregnancy increases the risk of:
Miscarriage.

Complications of pregnancy, including bleeding during pregnancy, detachment of the placenta, premature birth, and ectopic pregnancy.

Low birth weight. Babies born to women who smoke are on average 200 grams (8 oz) lighter than babies born to comparable non-smoking mothers. Premature and low birth weight babies are more prone to illness and infections.
Congenital defects in the baby — such as cleft palate.
Stillbirth or death within the first week of life — the risk is increased by about one-third.
Poorer long-term growth, development, and health of the child. On average, compared to children born to non-smokers, children born to smokers are smaller, have lower achievements in reading and maths, and have an increased risk of developing asthma.

How does smoking affect other people?

Children and babies who live in a home where there is a smoker:
are more prone to asthma and ear, nose and chest infections. About 17,000 children under five years old in England and Wales are admitted to hospital each year due to illnesses caused by their parents smoking.
have an increased risk of dying from cot death (sudden infant death syndrome).
are more likely than average to become smokers themselves when older.
on average, do less well at reading and reasoning skills compared to children in smoke-free homes, even at low levels of smoke exposure.
are at increased risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cancer as adults.

Passive smoking of adults.

You have an increased risk of lung cancer and heart disease if you are exposed to other people smoking for long periods of time. Tobacco smoke is also an irritant, and can make asthma and other conditions worse.
Unborn babies. Described in pregnancy section above.
Other problems with smoking
Your breath, clothes, hair, skin, and home smell of stale tobacco. You do not notice the smell if you smoke, but to non-smokers the smell is usually obvious and unpleasant.
Your sense of taste and smell are dulled. Enjoyment of food and drink may be reduced.

Smoking is expensive.
Life insurance is more expensive.

Finding a job may be more difficult as employers know that smokers are more likely to have sick leave than non-smokers. More than 34 million working days (1% of total) are lost each year because of smoking-related sick leave.
Potential friendships and romances may be at risk. (Smoking is not the attractive thing that cigarette advertisers portray.)

What are the benefits of stopping smoking?

The benefits begin straight away. You reduce your risk of getting serious disease no matter what age you give up. However, the sooner you stop, the greater the reduction in your risk.
If you have smoked since being a teenager or young adult:
if you stop smoking before the age of about 35, your life expectancy is only slightly less than people who have never smoked.
if you stop smoking before the age of 50, you decrease the risk of dying from smoking-related diseases by 50%.
But, it is never too late to stop smoking to gain health benefits. Even if you already have COPD or heart disease, your outlook (prognosis) is much improved if you stop smoking.
Other benefits of stopping smoking include the following:
Breathing improves.
Chest infections and colds become less frequent.
Reduction in 'smoker's cough'.
The smell of stale tobacco goes from your breath, clothes, hair, and face.
Foods and drinks taste and smell much better.
Finances improve. You will save well over £1000 per year if you smoked 20 a day.
You are likely to feel good about yourself.

How can I stop smoking?

About 2 in 3 smokers want to stop smoking. Some people can give up easily. Willpower and determination are the most important aspects when giving up smoking. However, nicotine is a drug of addiction and many people find giving up a struggle. Help is available.
GPs, practice nurses, or pharmacists can provide help, information, encouragement, and tips on stopping smoking. Also, many parts of the country now have specialist NHS 'Stop Smoking Clinics' which have a good success in helping people to stop smoking. Your doctor may refer you to one if you are keen to stop smoking but are finding it difficult to do so.
Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) can help if withdrawal symptoms are troublesome. Nicotine gum, sprays, patches, tablets, lozenges, and inhalers are available. Using one of these roughly doubles your chance of stopping smoking if you really want to stop. A pharmacist, GP, practice nurse, or Stop Smoking Clinic can advise about NRT.
A medicine called bupropion (trade name 'Zyban') is another option. It also roughly doubles your chance of stopping smoking if you really want to stop. It helps to reduce the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal. It may be advised by a GP or Stop Smoking Clinic if you are determined to stop smoking, but are finding it difficult.

Further help and information

Quit - a charity that helps people to stop smoking. Quitline: 0800 00 22 00 Web: www.quit.org.uk
NHS smoking helpline: 0800 169 0 169 and website www.givingupsmoking.co.uk


http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/health_advice/facts/smokehealth.htm

Smoking - health risks

Reviewed by Dr Gavin Petrie, consultant chest physician

You can eat five portions of fruit and veg a day and exercise regularly, but healthy behaviour means little if you continue to smoke. The message that 'smoking is bad for you' is an old one, so not everyone gives it their full attention. Below we list the health risks of smoking. Why quit smoking?
Term watch
‘Cardiovascular’ means the heart and circulation.
Cardiovascular disease causes:
· poor circulation
· angina (chest pains)
· heart attacks
· stroke.
Most people know that smoking can cause lung cancer, but it can also cause many other cancers and illnesses.Smoking kills around 114,000 people in the UK each year. Of these deaths, about 42,800 are from smoking-related cancers, 30,600 from cardiovascular disease and 29,100 die slowly from emphysema and other chronic lung diseases.How do cigarettes damage health?Cigarettes contain more than 4000 chemical compounds and at least 400 toxic substances. When you inhale, a cigarette burns at 700°C at the tip and around 60°C in the core. This heat breaks down the tobacco to produce various toxins. As a cigarette burns, the residues are concentrated towards the butt. The products that are most damaging are:
tar, a carcinogen (substance that causes cancer)
nicotine is addictive and increases cholesterol levels in your body
carbon monoxide reduces oxygen in the body
components of the gas and particulate phases cause chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD).
The damage caused by smoking is influenced by:
the number of cigarettes smoked
whether the cigarette has a filter
how the tobacco has been prepared.
Smoking affects how long you live Research has shown that smoking reduces life expectancy by seven to eight years.
Did you know?
On average, each cigarette shortens a smoker's life by around 11 minutes.
Of the 300 people who die every day in the UK as a result of smoking, many are comparatively young smokers. The number of people under the age of 70 who die from smoking-related diseases exceeds the total figure for deaths caused by breast cancer, AIDS, traffic accidents and drug addiction. Non-smokers and ex-smokers can also look forward to a healthier old age than smokers. Major diseases caused by smoking
Cardiovascular diseaseCardiovascular disease is the main cause of death due to smoking. Hardening of the arteries is a process that develops over years, when cholesterol and other fats deposit in the arteries, leaving them narrow, blocked or rigid. When the arteries narrow (atherosclerosis), blood clots are likely to form. Smoking accelerates the hardening and narrowing process in your arteries: it starts earlier and blood clots are two to four times more likely. Cardiovasular disease can take many forms depending on which blood vessels are involved, and all of them are more common in people who smoke.
A fatal disease
Blood clots in the heart and brain are the most common causes of sudden death.
Coronary thrombosis: a blood clot in the arteries supplying the heart, which can lead to a heart attack. Around 30 per cent are caused by smoking.
Cerebral thrombosis: the vessels to the brain can become blocked, which can lead to collapse, stroke and paralysis.
If the kidney arteries are affected, then high blood pressure or kidney failure results.
Blockage to the vascular supply to the legs may lead to gangrene and amputation.
Smokers tend to develop coronary thrombosis 10 years earlier than non-smokers, and make up 9 out of 10 heart bypass patients.
Cancer Smokers are more likely to get cancer than non-smokers. This is particularly true of lung cancer, throat cancer and mouth cancer, which hardly ever affect non-smokers.The link between smoking and lung cancer is clear.
Ninety percent of lung cancer cases are due to smoking.
If no-one smoked, lung cancer would be a rare diagnosis - only 0.5 per cent of people who've never touched a cigarette develop lung cancer.
One in ten moderate smokers and almost one in five heavy smokers (more than 15 cigarettes a day) will die of lung cancer.
The more cigarettes you smoke in a day, and the longer you've smoked, the higher your risk of lung cancer. Similarly, the risk rises the deeper you inhale and the earlier in life you started smoking.For ex-smokers, it takes approximately 15 years before the risk of lung cancer drops to the same as that of a non-smoker.If you smoke, the risk of contracting mouth cancer is four times higher than for a non-smoker. Cancer can start in many areas of the mouth, with the most common being on or underneath the tongue, or on the lips.Other types of cancer that are more common in smokers are:
bladder cancer
cancer of the oesophagus
cancer of the kidneys
cancer of the pancreas
cervical cancer

COPD Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a collective term for a group of conditions that block airflow and make breathing more difficult, such as:
Term watch
Chronic means long term, not severe.
emphysema - breathlessness caused by damage to the air sacs (alveoli)
chronic bronchitis - coughing with a lot of mucus that continues for at least three months.
Smoking is the most common cause of COPD and is responsible for 80 per cent of cases.It's estimated that 94 per cent of 20-a-day smokers have some emphysema when the lungs are examined after death, while more than 90 per cent of non-smokers have little or none.COPD typically starts between the ages of 35 and 45 when lung function starts to decline anyway.
Quitting can help
Lung damage from COPD is permanent, but giving up smoking at any stage reduces the rate of decline in lung capacity.
In smokers, the rate of decline in lung function can be three times the usual rate. As lung function declines, breathlessness begins. As the condition progresses, severe breathing problems can require hospital care. The final stage is death from slow and progressive breathlessness.
Other risks caused by smoking
Did you know?
A single cigarette can reduce the blood supply to your skin for over an hour.
Smoking raises blood pressure, which can cause hypertension (high blood pressure) - a risk factor for heart attacks and stroke.
Couples who smoke are more likely to have fertility problems than couples who are non-smokers.
Smoking worsens asthma and counteracts asthma medication by worsening the inflammation of the airways that the medicine tries to ease.
The blood vessels in the eye are sensitive and can be easily damaged by smoke, causing a bloodshot appearance and itchiness.
Heavy smokers are twice as likely to get macular degeneration, resulting in the gradual loss of eyesight.
Smokers run an increased risk of cataracts.
Smokers take 25 per cent more sick days year than non-smokers.
Smoking stains your teeth and gums.
Smoking increases your risk of periodontal disease, which causes swollen gums, bad breath and teeth to fall out.
Smoking causes an acid taste in the mouth and contributes to the development of ulcers.
Smoking also affects your looks: smokers have paler skin and more wrinkles. This is because smoking reduces the blood supply to the skin and lowers levels of vitamin A.
Smoking and impotenceFor men in their 30s and 40s, smoking increases the risk of erectile dysfunction (ED) by about 50 per cent.
Did you know?
The British Medical Association estimates that up to 120,000 men have ED because of smoking.
Erection can't occur unless blood can flow freely into the penis, so these blood vessels have to be in good condition.Smoking can damage the blood vessels and cause them to degenerate: nicotine narrows the arteries that lead to the penis, reducing blood flow and the pressure of blood in the penis.This narrowing effect increases over time, so if you haven't got problems now, things could change later.Erection problems in smokers may be an early warning signal that cigarettes are already damaging other areas of the body - such as the blood vessels that supply the heart.Smoking and others There are many health-related reasons to give up cigarettes - not just for smokers, but to protect those around you.Babies born to mothers who smoke during pregnancy are twice as likely to be born prematurely and with a low birth weight.
Passive smokingThe 'side-stream' smoke that comes off a cigarette between puffs carries a higher risk than directly inhaled smoke.Children who grow up in a home where one or both of their parents smoke have twice the risk of getting asthma and asthmatic bronchitis. They also have a higher risk of developing allergies.Infants under two years old are more prone to severe respiratory infections and cot death. For adults, passive smoking seems to increase the risk of lung cancer, but the evidence for an increased risk of heart disease is not yet conclusive.
Thinking about quitting?As well as reducing your risk of getting a smoking-related illness, there are other benefits to quitting smoking.
General health improves - tiredness and headaches can be linked to smoking.
Your sense of taste and smell improve.
Your heart will be less strained and work more efficiently.
Stopping smoking is the single biggest thing you can do to improve your health, but it's a difficult task.Smokers who are trying to kick their habit may be disappointed to find there's no single quit method that guarantees success.The weight of evidence suggests that smokers should set a date to stop, and do their best to quit completely from this point. On average it takes four to five attempts to give up, and there are a number of things that can help willpower:
nicotine replacement treatment (NRT) in the form of gum, skin patches or nasal spray
Zyban (bupropion) is a medicine that's licensed to help smoking cessation
behaviour modification programmes
alternative therapies such as acupuncture and hypnosis.

Based on a text by Dr Carl J Brandt
Last updated 14.02.2005



http://www.helpwithsmoking.com/effects-of-smoking.php

The long-term effects of smoking on our health and illnesses caused by smoking.

Whether you smoke 5 cigarettes a day or 50, there is no doubt that smoking is extremely bad for you and will seriously affect your health in some way. Smoking cigarettes can harm almost every organ in your body, from top to bottom and inside and out. Moreover, it is only now that doctors are beginning to discover the true extent of the harm that smoking can cause to a person's health and to the health of those around him.

This page is © Copyright 2005-2008 helpwithsmoking.com

Smoking over a prolonged period of time can cause a number of serious diseases and illnesses, some fatal and others that will not kill you but will leave you with a poorer quality of life in general. Usually a person takes up smoking when they are young and the effects that smoking may have on their health does not enter their head at the time. Within a short while, they will become addicted to nicotine and it will be too late to give up. The younger a person starts to smoke, the greater the health risks they will face later on in life. Smoking is one of the biggest single causes of preventable disease and premature death in a large number of mainly developed countries around the world. In the UK around 120,000 people die each year from smoking-related diseases. 50% of long-term smokers die prematurely from smoking, a large number of them when they reach middle age. Globally around 2.5 million people die each year from smoking and it has been estimated that some time during the 2020's the number of deaths caused by smoking will hit the 10 million mark. The majority of people who die from smoking will have suffered from one of three main diseases: lung cancer, coronary heart disease or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). © Copyright 2005-2008 helpwithsmoking.com Around 90% of all lung cancer deaths are caused from smoking and smoking is also the biggest risk factor for a number of other types of cancer as well. Overall, smoking has been linked to a third of all deaths from cancer. In the US, 1 in every 4 people die of cancer and over half a million people die each year from this disease. To give you a clearer idea, more than 1,500 people a day die from cancer. People who smoke a lot of cigarettes a day are particularly at risk of developing cancer and if those people have been smoking for a long time, the risk is even higher. For example, a person who has been smoking one packet of cigarettes a day for 30 years is more at risk than a person who has been smoking two packs a day for 15 years. Smoking also causes a quarter of all deaths from heart disease. Over 70% of smokers between the ages of 35 and 44 who die of coronary heart disease, die prematurely due to smoking. In teenagers who smoke, early signs of heart disease, such as the building up of fatty deposits in the arteries, can be detected. In the US, coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death and more than 2,600 people die each day from some form of cardiovascular disease, which may have been caused by smoking. Smoking also causes strokes and heart attacks and doctors say that smokers are twice as likely to suffer a heart attack than non-smokers and three times as likely to suffer a stroke. However, on a more positive note, if a smoker quits smoking, after 5 years, the risk of suffering a heart attack is halved and after 10 years the risk drops to the same as that of a non-smoker who has never smoked. Another major illness and cause of death from smoking is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This term is used generally and includes a number of lung destroying and respiratory illnesses that are brought on by smoking. The main diseases are emphysema and chronic bronchitis. The airways and tissues of the lungs are destroyed, which will in time make breathing extremely difficult. Sufferers of these diseases may experience shortness of breath, chest pain, constant coughing and tiring after a small amount of exertion. At the moment, the symptoms can be eased with medical treatment, however as yet no cure exists. If you already have either of these diseases, giving up smoking will stop their progression. If you do not suffer from any of the symptoms associated with either emphysema or chronic bronchitis, then giving up smoking will greatly reduce the risk of developing these seriously debilitating illnesses. © Copyright 2005-2008 helpwithsmoking.com Smoking reduces a person's life expectancy from anything from 7 years to 30 years. Generally smokers are less healthy and less physically fit than non-smokers. In addition, they take more days off work through illness than non-smokers and are more prone to common illnesses such as colds or sore throats. Smokers will get out of breath much quicker after exertion and find it harder to exercise and they will also have a higher risk of infections, as the body's immune system is damaged from smoking. As well as having long-term negative effects on a person's health, smoking also has immediate effects on the body. After smoking a cigarette your blood pressure will rise and your heart rate will increase by about 20 beats per minute. Carbon monoxide, a poisonous gas, will enter the lungs and begin to replace the oxygen. The tiny hairs in the lungs that filter the air that you breathe will cease to work, as they become paralysed by the poisons that are contained in tobacco smoke. Circulation, especially to the hands and feet becomes less efficient and the temperature of the skin may drop by up to 5°C. Your nervous system will be altered and smoking can cause muscle tension. In the long-term, smoking causes other diseases apart from those mentioned above.

Below is a list of diseases, illnesses and other effects that are caused from smoking:
· Lung cancer
· Cancer of the mouth
· Cancer of the throat
· Cancer of the larynx
· Cancer of the oesophagus
· Stomach cancer
· Kidney cancer
· Cancer of the bladder
· Cancer of the pancreas
· Liver cancer
· Cancer of the penis
· Cancer of the anus
· Cervical cancer
· Prostate cancer
· Heart attack
· Coronary heart disease
· Cardiovascular disease
· Congestive heart failure
· Stroke
· Atherosclerosis
· Abdominal aortic aneurysm
· Peripheral artery disease
· Ischaemic heart disease
· Angina
· Leukaemia
· Emphysema
· Chronic bronchitis
· Pneumonia
· Asthma
· Diabetes
· Stomach ulcers
· Cataracts
· Gum disease
· High blood pressure
· Crohn's disease
· Premature aging of the skin
· Loss of smell and taste
· Osteoporosis (women)
· Gangrene
· Impotence
· Reduced fertility
© Copyright 2005-2008 helpwithsmoking.com For the effects of secondhand smoke see section on passive smoking and its related articles. For more on the effects of smoking on our health see:
Smoking and Cancer
Smoking and the Heart
Smoking and COPD
Other Health Effects
back to top © Copyright 2005-2008 helpwithsmoking.com



http://www.helpwithsmoking.com/other-health-effects.php

Secondary illnesses

Illnesses and effects on the body caused by smoking including diabetes and aged skin.

Smoking has adverse effects on almost every major organ of the body and on almost every part of the body, inside and out. Not only that, it affects the appearance of your skin and hair and leaves you with foul smelling breath and clothes.

This page is © Copyright 2005-2008 helpwithsmoking.com

Many people who die of smoking will do so prematurely. The risk of premature death is higher the younger a person starts to smoke and with the amount of cigarettes that they smoke a day. The main killers caused from smoking are coronary heart disease, lung cancer, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, other forms of cancer and peripheral vascular disease. However, other diseases or health effects that are caused from smoking can also seriously debilitate a person's health and restrict them from enjoying a normal and healthy life. Below are a number of other illnesses and health consequences that may be brought about and are definitely more likely if a person smokes. In our guide to smoking and other diseases and health effects:
Diabetes type 2
Ulcers
Cataracts
Back pain
Skin
The contraceptive pill
Osteoporosis
The immune system
© Copyright 2005-2008 helpwithsmoking.com

Diabetes type 2

Statistics show that smokers are 50% - 90% more likely to develop diabetes that people who have never smoked. There are several risk factors to the development of diabetes type 2, which sufferers usually develop from the age of 40 onwards, and amongst others smoking is one of them. People with high blood pressure or high cholesterol are at a greater risk of developing diabetes and smoking increases both. Diabetes occurs when the body can no longer regulate the amount of glucose or sugar in the blood and levels in the body become too high. This usually happens when the body becomes resistant to the natural hormone insulin or if there is a shortage in the production of insulin by the body. Several studies have shown that smoking may cause a substantial resistance to insulin, which would in turn eventually lead to the development of diabetes type 2. Smokers have a tendency to produce more of a certain hormone that acts against insulin than non-smokers. Diabetes can be a very dangerous disease if it is not carefully controlled. Diabetes can cause blindness and kidney failure and sufferers of diabetes have an increased risk of developing heart disease or cardiovascular disease. If this is coupled with smoking, then the risks are increased even higher. High levels of glucose in the body will increase the amount of fatty deposits and cholesterol in the arteries. This leads to atherosclerosis, which is also triggered by smoking. Atherosclerosis is the underlying cause of heart disease and most types of cardiovascular disease. Studies show that people with diabetes who smoke are three times as likely to suffer from cardiovascular disease than non-smoking diabetics. (see section on smoking and cardiovascular disease) © Copyright 2005-2008 helpwithsmoking.com

Ulcers

For many years doctors have thought that ulcers were formed due to stress, alcohol and too much spicy food. They have now discovered that this is not the case. Ulcers form due to an infection by a bacterium that lives and grows in the stomach. When infection occurs, this bacterium produces substances that damage and inflame the stomach lining and make it more susceptible to the harmful effects of acid. Acid that is produced in the stomach then gets through the damaged lining and into the sensitive tissues of the digestive system, which then leads to the formation of an ulcer. Smoking is also another major cause of ulcers, as the nicotine in the tobacco smoke causes the stomach to create much higher quantities and concentrations of acid, which erode the stomach's lining and lead to an ulcer. People who smoke and who have an ulcer are twice as likely to die from it than non-smokers with an ulcer. Ulcers also take longer to heal if people smoke, as the nicotine interferes with the repairing of the stomach lining and reoccurrence of an ulcer is more common if a person smokes. © Copyright 2005-2008 helpwithsmoking.com

Cataracts

Cataracts, which usually lead to blindness, affect more than 3 million people in the US and more than 50 million people all over the world. A cataract is the clouding of the part of the eye that is responsible for focus and image production. People with cataracts usually have a blurred vision and over time their vision will deteriorate and may result in blindness. Smoking cigarettes is a big risk factor in the development of cataracts and the risk is increased with the number of years a person has smoked and the amount of cigarettes a person smokes a day. Smokers who smoke at least one packet of cigarettes a day will have a 50% increased risk of developing cataracts than a person who has never smoked. The majority of cataract formations are caused by free radicals. Free radicals are unbalanced molecules in the body that try to stick to other molecules in order to stabilize themselves. This process can damage healthy cells due to the oxidising effects it causes. As well as being responsible for cataracts, free radicals in the body can also cause the arteries to harden and can bring on the development of some forms of cancer. Anti-oxidants are produced by the body to destroy the free radicals and to protect tissues from damage, however research has found that smokers have lower levels of anti-oxidants in their blood, which means that they will have more free radicals available to damage their cells. Furthermore, free radicals are also found in tobacco smoke and are one of the 4,000 harmful substances that the smoker inhales into his body. © Copyright 2005-2008 helpwithsmoking.com

Back pain

Some studies have linked smoking, especially heavy smoking with severe back pain. It is thought that this is because smoking inhibits blood flow to the area of the spine, which would make it more vulnerable to injury. A smoker's constant cough would also have an adverse effect on the back. Smoking it seems is an independent risk factor for back pain and statistics show that 40% of smokers have more back pain than non-smokers. © Copyright 2005-2008 helpwithsmoking.com

Skin

It is a well-known fact that smoking can cause premature ageing and wrinkling of the skin. This is more pronounced around the eyes and mouth and is usually more noticeable in heavy smokers. The colour of the skin is also affected. Smokers do not usually have a healthy glowing skin, but more of a greyish tone on the face and yellowish tar-stained fingers. Toxins in the body from the tobacco smoke lead to the formation of cellulite and a reduced blood flow caused by smoking may impair flow to the skin. Smoking also destroys collagen and elastin, which are needed to maintain a young-looking and healthy skin. © Copyright 2005-2008 helpwithsmoking.com

The contraceptive pill

Females who use the contraceptive pill as birth control should not smoke. This is of particular importance for female smokers who are over the age of 35. Using the pill has no mortality risks for non-smokers, however female smokers who use the contraceptive pill have a 50% increased risk of dying from a heart attack, stroke, or other cardiovascular disease. © Copyright 2005-2008 helpwithsmoking.com

Osteoporosis

Female smokers are also at risk of developing osteoporosis, a decrease in a person's bone mass and density, which can increase the risk of bone fracture due to a weakened bone structure. This is because estrogen, a hormone that increases bone density and mass, is inhibited by the effects of nicotine in tobacco smoke. Smoking may also lead to an earlier menopause in females. Once a woman reaches menopause, the body starts to produce less estrogen and small holes start to form in the bones, making them brittle and weak and more likely to fracture. Therefore, if a woman smokes and reaches menopause early, there is a much greater risk of developing osteoporosis. Statistics show that female smokers have a 50% higher risk of developing osteoporosis that non-smokers and that by the time that they reach menopause they may have reduced their bone density by 5 - 10% more than non-smokers. © Copyright 2005-2008 helpwithsmoking.com

The immune system

Smoking has been found to damage and weaken the immune system and stop it from working as well. This means that a smoker is more prone to common infections such as colds and respiratory and urine infections. It is quite clear that smoking has more than just a few negative effects on a person's body and health. The list of adverse effects is endless and the best thing that a smoker can do for the sake of his health and the health of those around him is to give up smoking as soon as possible. Smoking can never be equated to a healthy body and lifestyle. It is associated with disease, death and a less enjoyable and limited lifestyle. back to top © Copyright 2005-2008 helpwithsmoking.com


http://www.indianexpress.com/story/272627.html

By 2010, India will see a million deaths a year due to smoking
new delHI, FEBRUARY 13

It’s confirmed. If you wish to have a long and healthy life, then you better heed those warnings on cigarette labels. An independent research by the Canada-based Centre for Global Health Research (CGHR) on the effects of smoking on Indians has revealed some startling facts. It predicts that by 2010, at least 10 lakh will die annually (1/10th of the total) due to smoking.

Dr Prabhat Jha, lead author of the research team from St Michael’s Hospital, University of Toronto, says that illiterate people have more to fear.

“More than half the people killed due to smoking are from rural backgrounds. This is because they are not able to understand the labels printed on the back of cigarettes. Pictorial displays are more effective than written,” says Jha.
The study was conducted over a period of three years (2001-03) in over 6,671 randomly selected areas across the country. Around 900 field workers went door-to-door to collect data from all adult deaths that occurred in at least 1.1 million homes.
The researchers then compared the smoking histories of the 74,000 adult deaths (due to diseases) with the smoking history of the 78,000 living relatives. And the results were shocking. It found that at least 80 per cent people smoked bidis, which contain less tobacco than cigarettes. The difference in the effects of smoking the two, however, is not very significant.
The basic premise of the study was observation of the smoking patterns of Indians vis-a-vis Europe. Says Jha: “We were shocked as we found that even though Indians started smoking at a much later age, the effects were equally disastrous.”
Contrary to earlier beliefs, the study revealed that smoking actually has deadly effects in the middle age (36-69 years) group.
In men, about 61 per cent are expected to die in the middle-age as compared to 41 per cent of non-smokers. In women, 68 per cent can be expected to die as compared to only 38 per cent of non-smokers. In terms of figures, this means that by 2010, 6 lakh men and 1 lakh women will die annually due to smoking.
The research also busted the claim that cancer is the major cause of smoking related deaths. As per the study, 38 per cent deaths were due to tuberculosis and cancer accounted for only 32 per cent.
Although numerous studies have been conducted on this issue in the past, this one assumes larger dimensions for its national representation.
Even Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss acknowledges the findings of this study.

“I am alarmed by the findings and particularly concerned about the 600 million young population of the country,” he says.

Lifting the smoke-screen
• Tobacco is responsible for 1 in 5 of all male deaths and 1 in 20 of all female deaths in the age group of 30 to 69 years
• Men and women who smoke bidis lose an average 6 to 8 years of life respectively, while men who smoke cigarettes lose 10 years
• Smoking only a “few” (1-7) bidis a day raises mortality risk by one-third, while smoking 1-7 cigarettes daily nearly doubles it
• Among smokers, 61 per cent male and 68 per cent female are expected to die in middle-age. This means by 2010, 6 lakh men and 1 lakh women will die annually due to smoking
• Contrary to popular belief that cancer is the major cause of smoking-related deaths, the study says 38 per cent deaths are due to tuberculosis and cancer accounts for only 32 per cent of the deaths

http://sify.com/news/fullstory.php?id=14604455


Study predicts one million deaths from smoking in India

Thursday, 14 February , 2008

New Delhi: One in five of all male deaths and one in 20 of all female deaths in India in the 30-69 age group will be caused by smoking in the 2010s, says a new study underlining that the country is in the midst of a "catastrophic epidemic".
The findings, which was published online in the February 13 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, said on an average, male beedi (leaf-rolled cigarettes) smokers lose about six years of life, while women smoking them lose about eight years.
Men who smoke cigarettes lose about 10 years, said the study, which claims to be the first nationally representative study of smoking in India.
"The extreme risks from smoking that we found surprised us, as smokers in India start at a later age than those in Europe or the US and smoke less," said Prabhat Jha, director of the Centre for Global Health Research (CGHR), a research institute that is co-sponsored by St. Michael's Hospital (Toronto) and University of Toronto.

"Our study shows that smoking will cause about one million deaths per year during the 2010s. It also shows that smokers in India have a particular risk of dying from tuberculosis," Jha said here.

The research, which covered 1.1 million households in 6,671 areas - 4,436 rural and 2,235 urban - and took 10 years, showed that about 70 per cent of the one million who will die would be before old age.
It means that 700,000 will be killed per year in the age group of 30-69 (600,000 men and 100,000 women), he said, adding, "India is in the midst of a catastrophic epidemic of smoking deaths. "The country has about 120 million smokers and more than one-third of men and five per cent of women aged 30-69 smoke - mostly in the form of beedis.
Only two per cent of adults in India have quit smoking, and often only after falling ill, the study 'a nationally representative case - control study of smoking and death in India' said.
"Half of the deaths due to smoking is among illiterate adults," Jha said.
"Smoking kills mainly by tuberculosis, respiratory and heart diseases, but also by cancer," he added.
About 66 per cent of men and 13 per cent of women who died from tuberculosis were smokers. About 62 per cent of women aged 30 who smoke will die before they touch 69 as compared to only 38 per cent of non-smokers, the study said.
Even smoking only a few (1-7) beedis a day raises the mortality risk by one-third, and smoking only a few (1-7) cigarettes a day, nearly doubles the risk, says the study.
"Substantial hazards were found both among educated and among illiterate adults and were found both in urban and in rural areas," Jha said.
Over 70 per cent of deaths due to smoking occur in middle age in India, which is much higher than in the US or Canada, Jha said.

http://in.rediff.com/news/2008/feb/14smoke.htm

In India, people hardly quit smoking.
February 14, 2008

About 50 per cent of people dying in India due to smoking are illiterates, says a study by the World Health Organisation. "This shows the need for pictorial warnings as the illiterate people cannot read written warnings and need pictorial warnings to tell them about the dangers of smoking," WHO member Poonam Singh said.
According to Prabhat Jha, author of the study, the rate of quitting smoking across the world is higher than that in India.
While in India, the rate of quitting smoking is just two per cent, China scores with nine per cent even as the country did not use pictorial warnings. "It was the awareness created through the media, which helped in the Chinese case."
In the United Kingdom, however, the change from pictorial warnings to written ones helped a lot.
"Something like 40 per cent of the population in the United Kingdom has quit smoking over a period of 20 years," Jha said, adding that the number of smokers in that country declined from 80,000 to 40,000 per year in close to two decades.
"Currently the quitting rate in India is very low. May be pictorial warnings would help," Jha said.
Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss is a strong proponent of pictorial warnings on tobacco products, depicting advanced stages of diseases caused due to smoking.
But the effort is stalled due to protests from the bidi workers, who claim that their livelihood would be affected due to the step.
The new study predicts one million deaths per year for smokers in India from 2010 onwards.
The study -- probably the first of its kind which gives extensive information about women smokers in the country -- said though the percentage of women smokers in India is lesser than that of men, the habit kills more females in this country.
It showed that there is an eight-year gap in the life of women who smoke and those who do not. For men, the figure is a six-year gap for 'bidi' smokers and 10 years for cigarette smokers.
Contrary to the general perception, bidis are less harmful than cigarettes. "Probably because of the less tobacco content in each bidi as compared to a cigarette, it has been found that the former are responsible for lesser number of deaths than the latter," Jha said.
Also the overall risks of smoking are roughly the same in the eastern and western countries.

© Copyright 2008 PTI. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of PTI content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent.



http://medind.nic.in/iae/t06/i1/iaet06i1p37.pdf

Tobacco Smoking in India: Prevalence, Quit-rates and
Respiratory Morbidity

S.K. Jindal1, A.N. Aggarwal1, K. Chaudhry2, S.K. Chhabra3, G.A. D’Souza4, D. Gupta1,
S.K. Katiyar5, R. Kumar1, B. Shah2, V.K. Vijayan3 for Asthma Epidemiology Study Group
Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research1, Chandigarh; Indian Council of Medical Research2,
New Delhi; Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute3, Delhi; St. John’s Medical College Hospital4 Bangalore;
G.S.V.M. Medical College5, Kanpur, India


ABSTRACT

Background. Population prevalence of tobacco smoking especially with reference to detailed habits such as the amount
smoked, the smoking forms, quit-rates and relationship with demographic variables were studied at four different centres
in India along with the study on epidemiology of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Methods. The study population included adults of over 15 years of age selected with two-stage stratified random sample
design. A specifically designed questionnaire was used for the study.
Results. There were 11496 (15.6%) ever smokers in the study sample of 73605 subjects. Among 37682 males, 10756 (28.5%)
were ever smokers and among 35923 females, 740 (2.1%) were ever smokers. Bidi was the commonest form of smoking, more
so in the rural areas. The mean number of cigarettes/bidis smoked per day was 14 (± 11.5) and the mean age of starting
smoking was 20.5 (± 20.0) years. Increasing age, low socio-economic status and rural residence were important factors
associated with smoking. Vigorous anti-tobacco measures under the tobacco control programmes yielded only a quit-rate
of 10 percent. Nearly 14% of ever smokers had some respiratory symptoms.
Conclusions. A substantial proportion of population in India has current or past smoking habit with higher prevalence
among males than females. The quit-rates have been low in spite of the various anti-tobacco measures. There is a significant
respiratory morbidity associated with smoking. [Indian J Chest Dis Allied Sci 2006; 48: 37-42]
Key words: Smoking, Cigarettes, Bidis, Hookah, Respiratory morbidity, Population prevalence.

INTRODUCTION

Tobacco use including both the smoking and the
nonsmoking forms of tobacco is common in India. The
few reports of tobacco use in different population
groups report its prevalence from about 15% to over
50% among men1-7. Differences in its prevalence are
rather wide for the nonsmoking forms. Tobacco
smoking in most parts of India except Punjab,
Maharashtra and Sikkim is reported in about one fourth
to half of adult men of over 15 years of age8. Amongst
women, smoking was more common in the North
Eastern states, Jammu & Kashmir and Bihar, while most
other parts of India had prevalence rates of about 4
percent or less 8. In other reports, ever smoking among
the school going youth of 13- 15 years age, studied as a
part of the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) study
was reported on an average in upto about 10 percent
individuals9-12.
All these reports clearly indicate a higher prevalence
of tobacco smoking in adult men. Detailed information
on the type of smoking forms, amount smoked, quitrates
and relationship with different demographic
variables is relatively small. A multicentric study was
undertaken to investigate the epidemiology of chronic
airway obstruction such as chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease (COPD) and bronchial asthma in the
adult population13. The present report provides
information on the population prevalence of smoking
habits at four different centres studied with the help of
question items included in the questionnaire for the
above mentioned study.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study reported here formed an essential component
of the comprehensive report on epidemiology of asthma
and COPD13. Information on smoking habits,
demographic and exposure variables was collected with
the help of a single, pre-validated respiratory symptom
questionnaire at Bangalore, Chandigarh, Delhi and
Kanpur employing a two-stage stratified sampling
[Received: September 29, 2005; accepted: October 28, 2005]
Correspondence and reprint requests: Dr S.K. Jindal, Professor and Head, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Postgraduate
Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh-160012, India; Tele.: 91-0172-2756821; Telefax: 91-0172-2745959;
E-mail: skjindal@indiachest.org.
Original Article
38
design. Both rural and urban samples were studied with
a village or an urban locality as the first stage unit and
a household as the second stage unit. A specifically
written computer programme using the software Epi
info (V.6) which operated in DOS mode, was used for
analysis.

RESULTS
The study population of 73605 in total consisted of
37682 male and 35923 female subjects of over 15 years of
age. The distribution of subjects from each centre for
both the urban and the rural populations showed a little
higher preponderance of males except from Bangalore
where there was a larger number of female subjects of
urban residence (Table 1).
Ever smoking habit was present in 28.5% of men and
2.1% of women (Table 2). In spite of some differences
between the urban and the rural populations, the
overall prevalences were similar at all the four centres;
the lowest was reported form Kanpur (22%) and the
highest from Bangalore (33.6%) amongst men (Table 2).
Smoking was seen in 3.1% and 4.2% of women at
Chandigarh and Delhi respectively, while only 1% at
Kanpur and very few (only two ) at Bangalore had
reported the smoking history (Table 2).
Tobacco smoking was further analysed for the type
of smoking product and the amount of smoking.
Considering together the data from all the four centres,
cigarettes were smoked by 47.5% of urban and 12.5% in
rural smokers while bidis were smoked by 51.7% and
81.2% of urban and rural smokers respectively (Table 3).
The rest of the smokers smoked hookah alone or along
with other smoking products. The average number of
cigarettes/bidis smoked daily were similar in the rural
and urban smokers i.e. 15.0 and 12.4 respectively (Table
3). Hookah smoking could not be quantified on the basis
of numbers/day in the absence of a standard unit for a
hookah smoke. Interestingly, the mean age of starting
smoking was similar in both rural and urban subjects,
i.e. 20.2 and 21.0 years respectively (Table 3).
Differences in the smoking prevalence on the basis of
different variables were assessed by calculation of
crude and adjusted odds ratio (OR) for different
smoking products (Table 4). Both the crude and the
adjusted ORs for smoking any product were the highest
for the male sex. Other important variables important
for smoking were an increasing age, rural (or mixed)
residence and lower socio-economic status (Table 4).
The data on subjects who had quit smoking in the
past were analysed separately. Of 11496 ever smokers,
about 10 percent had quit in the past; 928(8.1%) for more
than 1 year and 153(1.3%) for less than 1 year (Table 5).
The important variables favouring abstinence from
smoking for more than a year were the increase in age
and a higher socio-economic status, male sex, and
presence of respiratory symptoms (Table 6). The ORs
were higher for Bangalore and Chandigarh versus Delhi
or Kanpur.

Table 1. Centre-wise distribution of study population categorised according to the gender and current residence
Urban Rural Total Total
Male Female Male Female Male Female
Bangalore 4527 4800 4111 4003 8638 8803 17441
Chandigarh 5717 5638 5333 4976 11050 10614 21664
Delhi 4033 3927 3933 3749 7966 7676 15642
Kanpur 6107 5552 3921 3278 10028 8830 18858
Total 20384 19917 17298 16006 37682 35923 73605

Table 2. Distribution of prevalence of smoking habit (current or former) in men and women respectively at the four centres
Men Women Total
Chandigarh Rural 2159 (40.5%) 275 (5.5%) 2434 (23.6%)
Urban 1144 (20.0%) 54 (1.0%) 1198 (10.6%)
Total 3303 (29.9%) 329 (3.1%) 3632 (16.8%)
Delhi Rural 1629 (41.4%) 280 (7.5%) 1909 (24.9%)
Urban 720 (17.9%) 42 (1.1%) 762 (9.6%)
Total 2349 (29.5%) 322 (4.2%) 2671 (17.1%)
Kanpur Rural 1032 (26.3%) 52 (1.6%) 1084 (15.1%)
Urban 1170 (19.2%) 36 (.6%) 1206 (10.3%)
Total 2202 (22.0%) 88 (1.0%) 2290 (12.1%)
Bangalore Rural 1427 (34.7%) 0 (.0%) 1427 (17.6%)
Urban 1475 (32.6%) 1 (.0%) 1476 (15.8%)
Total 2902 (33.6%) 1 (.0%) 2903 (16.6%)
Total Rural 6247 (36.1%) 607 (3.8%) 6854 (20.6%)
Urban 4509 (22.1%) 133 (0.7%) 4642 (11.5%)
Total 10756 (28.5%) 740 (2.1%) 11496 (15.6%)
Smoking in India S.K. Jindal et al
2006; Vol. 48 The Indian Journal of Chest Diseases & Allied Sciences 39

Table 3. Distribution of smokers with the type of product used, number of cigarettes/bidis smoked per day and the age of starting smoking
(at the 4 centres combined)
Rural Urban Total
Type of smoking product
Cigarettes 857 (12.5%) 2204 (47.5%) 3061 (26.6%)
Bidis 5568 (81.2%) 2402 (51.7%) 7970 (69.3%)
Hookah and others 429 (6.3%) 36 (0.8%) 465 (4.0%)
No. smoked per day
Mean 15.0 12.4 14.0
S.D 12.0 10.7 11.5
Median 12.0 10.0 12.0
Age of starting smoking (year)
Mean 20.2 21.0 20.5
S.D. 8.4 7.3 20.0
Median 20.0 20.0 20.0

Table 4. Crude and adjusted odds ratio (with 95% confidence intervals) of smoking in relation to various factors
Cigarette Smoking Bidi Smoking Any Tobacco Smoking
Crude odds ratio Adjusted odds ratio Crude odds ratio Adjusted odds ratio Crude odds ratio Adjusted odds ratio
Centre
Chandigarh* 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000
Delhi 0.735 (0.658-0.822) 0.675 (0.600-0.761) 1.047 (0.983-1.116) 0.781 (0.722-0.844) 1.022 (0.968-1.080) 0.817 (0.764-0.874)
Kanpur 0.634 (0.569-0.706) 0.593 (0.523-0.673) 0.747 (0.700-0.797) 0.384 (0.351-0.420) 0.686 (0.649-0.726) 0.446 (0.413-0.481)
Bangalore 1.455 (1.329-1.592) 1.876 (1.695-2.076) 0.889 (0.834-0.948) 0.724 (0.668-0.784) 0.991 (0.940-1.046) 0.946 (0.885-1.011)
Usual residence
Urban* 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000
Rural 0.601 (0.556-0.650) 0.632 (0.580-0.688) 2.979 (2.831-3.135) 3.592 (3.383-3.814) 1.999 (1.918-2.083) 2.243 (2.135-2.356)
Mixed 1.510 (1.239-1.839) 1.029 (0.821-1.289) 1.213 (0.990-1.485) 1.517 (1.201-1.916) 1.342 (1.159-1.554) 1.445 (1.212-1.722)
Gender
Female* 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000
Male 70.116 (53.803-91.375) 83.269 (63.846-108.601) 18.954 (17.309-20.755) 27.499 (25.007-30.238) 18.992 (17.600-20.495) 25.882 (23.909-28.017)
Age
15-24 years* 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000
25-34 years 4.134 (3.543-4.823) 4.570 (3.906-5.346) 6.286 (5.561-7.105) 7.147 (6.297-8.112) 5.431 (4.932-5.981) 6.068 (5.491-6.707)
35-44 years 6.133 (5.259-7.153) 7.685 (6.565-8.996) 11.087 (9.824-12.512) 15.553 (13.704-17.652) 9.189 (8.351-10.112) 12.154 (10.993-13.438)
45-54 years 8.559 (7.330-9.994) 11.041 (9.407-12.960) 15.348 (13.585-17.339) 25.974 (22.816-29.569) 12.817 (11.635-14.120) 19.292 (17.400-21.390)
55-64 years 8.183 (6.908-9.693) 12.142 (10.171-14.494) 16.762 (14.747-19.053) 31.316 (27.255-35.981) 14.073 (12.700-15.594) 23.928 (21.390-26.767)
65-74 years 8.530 (7.062-10.304) 12.958 (10.618-15.813) 19.374 (16.903-22.207) 33.641 (28.926-39.124) 16.841 (15.081-18.805) 26.747 (23.647-30.255)
>=75 years 6.675 (5.108-8.722) 8.717 (6.586-11.536) 16.639 (14.013-19.757) 23.306 (19.186-28.331) 16.858 (14.690-19.346) 21.981 (18.775-25.736)
Socio-economic
Status
High* 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000
Medium 0.856 (07.758-0.967) 1.281 (1.123-1.463) 3.392 (2.894-3.977) 3.827 (3.234-4.529) 1.709 (1.555-1.879) 2.101 (1.889-2.336)
Low 0.515 (0.450-0.590) 1.151 (0.986-1.344) 5.125 (4.369-6.011) 11.138 (9.365-13.247) 2.002 (1.817-2.205) 4.161 (3.717-4.658)
*Reference category.
40
We also analysed the presence of individual
respiratroy symptoms in ever smokers, nonsmokers
exposed to environmental tobacco smoke and the
individuals exposed to exhaust of solid fuel
combustion. In ever smokers, almost all respiratory
symptoms were two to three times as commonly seen as
in never smokers, but the symptoms in the other two
groups were similar to those amongst the never
smokers (Table 7).

DISCUSSION
The present study conducted at four different centres in
India primarily to look into the population prevalence
of chronic respiratory diseases such as bronchial asthma
and COPD provides useful information on tobacco
smoking especially with reference to different smoking
forms and relationship with demographic variables. The
prevalence of smoking in 28.5% of men and 2.1% of
women reported in this study is generally similar to the
median prevalence of 30.6% reported in a cross sectional
household survey from 26 states of India8. There was,
however a wide range of the prevalence rate from the
lowest of 13.9% in Punjab to the highest of 49.4% in
Mizoram8.
There are quite a few reports on the smoking habit in
India published in the past decade. In particular, the
habit has been studied amongst the school going youth
of 13 to 15 years age as a part of the Global Youth
Tobacco Survey (GYTS) sponsored by the Centre for
Disease Control (CDC), USA and the World Health
Organization (WHO)9-12 under the same programme,
the smoking habit was also studied amongst adults
working in the schools, i.e., the Global School Personnel
Survey (GSPS)14,15. There was a large variation in current
daily smoking from 14.4% in Rajasthan to over 50% in
the North Eastern states14,15. The prevalence of ‘ever any
tobacco use' was much higher.
Bidi, the hand rolled form of tobacco, wrapped in the
dried tendu leaf, was the most common smoking
product in this study especially in the rural population.
This is quite consistent with reports of the earlier
Table 5. Current smoking habit among ever smokers and those who had quit smoking
Men Women Total
Current Quit Smoking Current Quit Smoking Current Quit Smoking
<1>1 year <1>1 year <>1 year
Chandigarh Rural 1990 (92.2%) 27 (1.3%) 142 (6.6%) 247 (89.8%) 3 (1.1%) 25 (9.1%) 2237 (91.9%) 30 (1.2%) 167 (6.9%)
Urban 965 (84.4%) 21 (1.8%) 158 (13.8%) 46 (85.2%) 2 (3.7%) 6 (11.1%) 1011 (84.4%) 23 (1.9%) 164 (13.7%)
Total 2955 (89.5%) 48 (1.5%) 300 (9.1%) 293 (89.1%) 5 (1.5%) 31 (9.4%) 3248 (89.4%) 53 (1.5%) 331 (9.1%)
Delhi Rural 1528 (93.8%) 23 (1.4%) 78 (4.8%) 262 (93.6%) 2 (.7%) 16 (5.7%) 1790 (93.8%) 25 (1.3%) 94 (4.9%)
Urban 668 (92.8%) 9 (1.3%) 43 (6.0%) 39 (92.9%) 1 (2.4%) 2 (4.8%) 707 (92.8%) 10 (1.3%) 45 (5.9%)
Total 2196 (93.5%) 32 (1.4%) 121 (5.2%) 301 (93.5%) 3 (.9%) 18 (5.6%) 2497 (93.5%) 35 (1.3%) 139 (5.2%)
Kanpur Rural 976 (94.6%) 10 (1.0%) 46 (4.5%) 49 (94.2%) 0 (.0%) 3 (5.8%) 1025 (94.6%) 10 (.9%) 49 (4.5%)
Urban 1053 (90.0%) 23 (2.0%) 94 (8.0%) 32 (88.9%) 2 (5.6%) 2 (5.6%) 1085 (90.0%) 25 (2.1%) 96 (8.0%)
Total 2029 (92.1%) 33 (1.5%) 140 (6.4%) 81 (92.0%) 2 (2.3%) 5 (5.7%) 2110 (92.1%) 35 (1.5%) 145 (6.3%)
Bangalore Rural 1260 (88.3%) 10 (.7%) 157 (11.0%) 0 (.0%) 0 (.0%) 0 (.0%) 1260 (88.3%) 10 (.7%) 157 (11.0%)
Urban 1299 (88.1%) 20 (1.4%) 156 (10.6%) 1 (100.0%) 0 (.0%) 0 (.0%) 1300 (88.1%) 20 (1.4%) 156 (10.6%)
Total 2559 (88.2%) 30 (1.0%) 313 (10.8%) 1 (100.0%) 0 (.0%) 0 (.0%) 2560 (88.2%) 30 (1.0%) 313 (10.8%)
Total Rural 5754 (92.1%) 70 (1.1%) 423 (6.8%) 558 (91.9%) 5 (.8%) 44 (7.2%) 6312 (92.1%) 75 (1.1%) 467 (6.8%)
Urban 3985 (88.4%) 73 (1.6%) 451 (10.0%) 118 (88.7%) 5 (3.8%) 10 (7.5%) 4103 (88.4%) 78 (1.7%) 461 (9.9%)
Total 9739 (90.5%) 143 (1.3%) 874 (8.1%) 676 (91.4%) 10 (1.4%) 54 (7.3%) 10415 (90.6%) 153 (1.3%) 928 (8.1%)
Table 6. Crude and adjusted odds ratio (with 95% confidence
intervals) of having quit smoking for more than a year, in
relation to various factors
Crude Odds Ratio Adjusted Odds Ratio
Centre
Chandigarh* 1.000 1.000
Delhi 0.547 (0.446-0.672) 0.476 (0.384-0.590)
Kanpur 0.674 (0.551-0.826) 0.718 (0.565-0.914)
Bangalore 1.205 (1.024-1.418) 1.085 (0.905-1.302)
Usual residence
Urban* 1.000
Rural 0.705 (0.615-0.809) 0.559 (0.480-0.652)
Mixed 1.743 (1.192-2.547) 1.328 (0.876-2.013)
Gender
Female* 1.000
Male 1.124 (0.844-1.495) 1.359 (1.004-1.840)
Age
15-24 years* 1.000
25-34 years 1.132 (0.618-2.072) 1.175 (0.639-2.159)
35-44 years 1.960 (1.099-3.495) 2.014 (1.125-3.607)
45-54 years 3.433 (1.944-6.061) 3.399 (1.916-6.029)
55-64 years 5.528 (3.128-9.770) 5.710 (3.211-10.156)
65-74 years 9.154 (5.178-16.183) 9.030 (5.065-16.098)
>=75 years 10.201 (5.636-18.465) 10.435 (5.702-19.096)
Socio-economic
status
High * 1.000
Medium 0.491 (0.385-0.627) 0.322 (0.240-0.430)
Low 0.270 (0.207-0.352) 0.548 (0.420-0.715)
Any respiratory
symptom
No* 1.000 1.000
Yes 3.113 (2.677-3.621) 2.180 (1.850-2.568)
*: Reference category.
Smoking in India S.K. Jindal et al
2006; Vol. 48 The Indian Journal of Chest Diseases & Allied Sciences 41
Table 7. Respiratory symptoms in relation to smoking status, and comparison with exposure to solid fuel combustion and ever exposure
to household environmental tobacco smoke (ETS)
Never Smoker Ever Smoker Exposed to Ever Exposed
Solid Fuel to ETS*
Combustion*
Wheezing 1610 (2.6%) 598 (5.2%) 280 (3.1%) 781 (2.8%)
Morning chest tightness/breathlessness 1431 (2.3%) 573 (5.0%) 225 (2.5%) 698 (2.5%)
Dyspnea on exertion 3145 (5.1%) 1101 (9.6%) 502 (5.6%) 1441 (5.1%)
Dyspnea without exertion 1159 (1.9%) 496 (4.3%) 202 (2.3%) 549 (1.9%)
Breathlessness at night 1221 (2.0%) 485 (4.2%) 190 (2.1%) 590 (2.1%)
Cough at night 1480 (2.4%) 869 (7.6%) 223 (2.5%) 729 (2.6%)
Cough in morning 1428 (2.3%) 915 (8.0%) 241 (2.7%) 677 (2.4%)
Phlegm in morning 1301 (2.1%) 851 (7.4%) 207 (2.3%) 613 (2.2%)
Breathlessness-always 427 (.7%) 189 (1.6%) 62 (.7%) 171 (.6%)
usually 1584 (2.6%) 625 (5.4%) 256 (2.9%) 726 (2.6%)
Tightness in chest with dust exposure 2309 (3.7%) 688 (6.0%) 245 (2.7%) 983 (3.5%)
Dyspnea with dust exposure 2489 (4.0%) 762 (6.6%) 279 (3.1%) 1088 (3.8%)
Ever asthma 1267 (2.0%) 437 (3.8%) 182 (2.0%) 637 (2.3%)
Attack of asthma 753 (1.2%) 245 (2.1%) 123 (1.4%) 401 (1.4%)
Inhaler use 1159 (1.9%) 400 (3.5%) 142 (1.6%) 513 (1.8%)
Any of the above 3945 (6.4%) 1602 (13.9%) 615 (6.9%) 1801 (6.4%)
*: Data only for never smokers.
studies16,17. Hookah smoking, the more traditional way in
which tobacco is kept in a earthen pot (chillum) along
with the burning coal and smoked through a watercontainer
with the help of a long pipe was present in
about 6% of rural and less than 1% of urban smokers.
Apparently, this traditional form of smoking is largely
extinct in the cities. Even in the villages, the hookah is
gradually giving place to bidi and/or cigarette smoking.
On an average the number of cigarettes or bidis smoked
daily was similar in both rural (15±17) and urban (12.4
±10.7) areas. Similarly, the mean age of starting smoking
was similar in both the populations.

Male sex, poverty and low education are the more
frequently reported factors of importance among
smokers. In the National Sample Survey in 1995-96
amongst subjects of over 10 years of age, the regular use
of both tobacco and alcohol increased significantly with
each diminishing income quintile18. In Mumbai, both
education and occupation were found to have
simultaneous and independent relationship with
tobacco use19. Similar observations are made in Western
literature, people with low income were reported to
more than twice as likely to smoke in the United
States20.

It is quite noteworthy that about 14 percent of
subjects reported the presence of one or the other
respiratory symptoms. About half this number among
nonsmokers exposed to environmental tobacco smoke
from the smoker parents, spouses or colleagues,
reported similar symptoms. Similarly, exposure to the
exhausts from combustion of solid fuels was responsible
for respiratory symptoms in about 7 percent of
symptoms. It can be indirectly concluded that the
magnitude of respiratory morbidity caused by exposure
to either ETS or solid fuel combustion in nonsmokers is
similar and that smokers are twice as likely to suffer
from respiratory symptoms. We have reported similar
findings on the subject in our earlier studies21.
Another important observations in this study was
made with reference to the ex-smokers. About 10
percent smokers among both the men and women had
quit smoking for about a year or more. This was more
so in the urban population, those belonging to the
higher socio-economic group and those who had
developed respiratory symptoms (and possibly other
tobacco related problems, which were not included in
the study). This may also partly reflect a trend of a
positive outcome of the vigorous anti-tobacco measures
under the tobacco control programmes adopted in the
last few years by India, a signatory to the Framework
Convention on Tobacco Control.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The study was supported by a financial grant from the Indian
Council of Medical Research, New Delhi. Authors also express
their gratitude to members of the Asthma Task Force of Indian
Council of Medical Research for their suggestions and help.
REFERENCES
1. Reddy KS, Gupta PC, editors. Prevalence of tobacco use.
Report on Tobacco Control in India. New Delhi: Ministry of
Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of India 2004; pp 49-56.
2. Malaowalla AM, Silverman S, Mani NJ, Billimoria KF,
Smith LW. Oral cancer in 57, 518 industrial workers of
Gujarat, India: a prevalence and follow-up survey. Cancer
1976; 37: 1882-6.
3. Behera D, Malik SK. Chronic respiratory disease in
Chandigarh teachers. Indian J Chest Dis Allied Sci 1987; 29:
25-8.
4. Pandey GK, Raut DK, Hazra S, Vajpayee A, Pandey A,
Chatterjee P. Patterns of tobacco use amongst school
teachers. Indian J Pub Health 2001; 45: 82-7.
42
5. Sarkar D, Dhand R, Malhotra A, Malhotra S, Sharma BK,
Perceptions and attitude towards tobacco smoking among
doctors in Chandigarh. Indian J Chest Dis Allied Sci 1990; 32:
1-9.
6. Kumar A, Mohan U, Jain VC. Influence of some sociodemographic
factors on smoking status of academicians.
Indian J Chest Dis Allied Sci 1997; 39: 5-12.
7. Ghosal AG, Ghosh A, Debnath NB, Saha AK. Smoking
habits and respiratory symptoms: observations among
college students and professionals. J Indian Med Assoc 1996;
94: 55-7.
8. Rani M, Bonu S, Jha P, Nguyen SN, Jamjoum L. Tobacco use
in India: prevalence and predictors of smoking and
chewing in a national cross-sectional household survey.
Tobacco Control 2003; 12: e4.
9. The Global Youth Tobacco Survey Collaborating Group.
Tobacco use among youth: a cross-country comparison.
Tobacco Control 2002; 11: 252-70.
10. Gupta PC, Ray C. Tobacco and youth in the South-East
Asian region. Indian J Cancer 2002; 39: 5-33.
11. Sinha DN. Exposure vs targeting youth in north and east of
India. Health for the Millions 2003; 29-30: 15-22.
12. Jindal SK, Aggarwal AN, Gupta D, Kashyap S, Chaudhary
D. Prevalence of tobacco use among school going youth in
North Indian states. Indian J Chest Dis Allied Sci 2005; 47:
161-6.
13. Aggarwal AN, Chaudhry K, Chhabra SK, D'Souza GA,
Gupta D, Jindal SK, et al. Prevalence and risk factors for
bronchial asthma in Indian Adults: a multicentre study.
Indian J Chest Dis Allied Sci 2006; 48: 13-22.
14. Sinha DN, Gupta PC, Pednekar MS. Tobacco use among
school personnel in eight North-eastern states of India.
Indian J Cancer 2003; 40: 3-14.
15. Sharma R, Pednekar MS, Rehman AU, Gupta R. Tobacco
use among school personnel in Rajasthan, India. Indian J
Cancer 2004; 41: 162-6.
16. Chhabra SK, Rajpal S, Gupta R. Patterns of smoking in
Delhi and comparison of chronic respiratory morbidity
among bidi and cigarette smokers. Indian J Chest Dis Allied
Sci 2001; 43: 19-26.
17. Reddy KS, Gupta PC, editors. Prevalence of tobacco use.
Report on Tobacco Control in India. New Delhi: Ministry of
Health and Family Welfere, Govt. of India 2004; pp 43-48.
18. Neufeld KJ, Peters DH, Rani M, Bonu S, Brooner RK.
Regular use of alcohol and tobacco in India and its
association with age, gender, and poverty. Drug Alcohol
Depend 2005; 77: 283-91.
19. Sorensen G, Gupta PC, Pednekar MS. Social disparities in
tobacco use in Mumbai, India: the roles of occupation,
education and gender. Am J Pub Health 2005; 95: 1003-8.
20. Ahrens D, Bandi P, Ullsvik J, Moberg DP. Who smokes?: a
demographic analysis of Wisconsin smokers. WMJ 2005;
104: 18-22.
21. Jindal SK, Gupta D. Tobacco smoking, exposure to
environmental tobacco smoke and respiratory disease. In
Gupta PC, Hammer JE (III), Murti PR, editors. Control of
Tobacco Related Cancers and Other Diseases. International
Symposium 1990. Bombay: Oxford University Press, 1992;
pp 187-90.
Smoking in India S.K. Jindal et al


http://www.braytonlaw.com/news/mednews/091004_tobacco_surgeong.htm

Tobacco and smoking- health hazard

More Health Hazards of Smoking Revealed By Latest Surgeon General Report
WASHINGTON, DC — September 10, 2004 — Smokers risk damage to almost all major organs in their bodies, according to the latest report by the surgeon general (Health Consequences of Smoking, Surgeon General’s Report). The list of diseases caused by tobacco now includes cancers of the kidneys, stomach, cervix, and pancreas as well as leukemia, cataracts, pneumonia, and gum disease. These illnesses are in addition to diseases previously known to be caused by smoking— bladder, esophageal, laryngeal, lung, oral, and throat cancers, chronic lung diseases, coronary heart and cardiovascular diseases, and sudden infant death syndrome.
Smoking also reduces overall health, contributing to conditions such as hip fractures, complications from diabetes, increased wound infections following surgery, and various reproductive problems. Smoking cigarettes with lower machine–measured yields of tar and nicotine does not help. “There is no safe cigarette, whether it is called ‘light,’ ‘ultra–light,’ or any other name,” U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Richard Carmona commented. “The science is clear: the only way to avoid the health hazards of smoking is to quit completely or to never start smoking” (Health and Human Services, Press Release).
By current estimates, tobacco use causes 440,000 deaths per year and costs about $157 billion in health–related losses. An estimated 46,000 adults smoked in 2001. On average, men who smoke cut their lives short by 13.2 years, and female smokers lose 14.5 years. “Since the 1964 surgeon general’s report, more than 12 million people have died from smoking–related illness,” Dr. Carmona said. “These include 4.1 million deaths from cancer, 5.5 million deaths from cardiovascular diseases, 2.1 million deaths from respiratory diseases, and 94,000 perinatal deaths…We’ve known for decades that smoking is bad for your health, but this [latest] report shows that it’s even worse than we knew. The toxins from cigarette smoke go everywhere the blood flows.”
Quitting smoking has immediate as well as long–term benefits, according to the surgeon general’s report. The heart rate drops towards normal and circulation improves. The risk of having a heart attack or stroke or of developing lung cancer diminishes. Even seniors who quit after many years can experience positive effects. A smoker who gives up the habit at the age of 65 reduces his or her risk of dying from a tobacco–related disease by half.
Learning More About Tobacco Use
The surgeon general’s report was based on a review of 1,600 articles. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has made these available to the public online on a searchable database (Health Consequence of Smoking, CDC Database).
For online tips and advice about how to quit smoking, see Tobacco Information and Prevention, and the American Cancer Society Guide to Quitting Smoking. The American Cancer Society Guide provides a smoking cessation plan, explains how to deal with withdrawal and cravings, and lists useful anti–tobacco groups.
At Brayton Purcell, we are concerned about tobacco company abuses and the history of the industry’s deception of the public. If you have any questions about cigarette smoking, smoking–related diseases, and your legal rights, please feel free to contact a tobacco lawyer at our firm. We have over 20 years of experience in handling cases on behalf of people injured by tobacco, asbestos, and other toxic substances.


http://www.articles-collections.com/health/medicine/health-hazards-of-smoking.html

Health hazards of smoking

Health is the most precious thing a person can have. But we start to value something only when it is lost. When in old age you feel ache of bones and the whole body, regrets about the damage you�ve made to own health in youth come to light of your mind.Before the age of 35-40 smokers pay no attention on the harm they do to their body. Young vigorous constitution easily deals with another incoming portion of cigarette smoke, dangerous tar and nicotine, but passing ages give us no new strength. In addition, nicotine and attendant poisons, in time, multiply their concentration, that makes the work of our body more difficult.This article is a warning to everyone who is still smoking. Stop it! It has to be done today, because tomorrow� what is going to be tomorrow?Researches, performed in USA, showed that 25% of smokers had never lived so long to celebrate their 70�s birthday, because of nicotine�s influence. In highly developed countries smoking causes death of more people, then alcohol, drugs and suicides altogether.It is said, that two packs of cigarettes contain lethal dose of nicotine. However smokers never receive this dose at once, it is divided into portions, and the fatal effect stays unnoticed. People die not of the nicotine itself, but of the diseases, arising from its influence. Smoking in its cruelty is close to AIDS, they both open the doors of the organism to many diseases.First of all tobacco smoke attacks the oral cavity. The dental enamel is getting worse, oral mucosa is irritated, activity of salvia glands gets low, bringing down the protective function of salvia, and in addition the bad breath appears. Besides, the cases of lip cancer are not a rarity now. It takes place when smoker holds the cigarette in his teeth, instead of using hands.Then smoke goes through bronchus, causing their spasm. That leads to breathlessness, and hyper secretion of protective mucus in bronchus. Its mission is cleaning of the incoming air and protecting pulmonary tissue from pathological microorganisms, but the superfluity of protective substance will not improve the cleaning process; on the contrary, it can be stopped at all.This is the stage, where your body loses another protective barrier.Smoking decreases the inflow of fresh air. In addition blood hemoglobin connects with carbon of tobacco smoke, and can no longer transport oxygen. Hypooxygenemia develops, causing harm to all systems of vital importance, especially to cardiovascular system.When smoking, the spasm of the blood vessels happens, this leads to increase of blood pressure. This condition multiplies the load on the heart. As a result, people, who are not giving up smoking raise their risk of a heart attack by 8 times.Smoking increases the production of stomach juice. Such a run free work leads to ulcer and gastritis.And in the end � awful statistics: only one cigarette a day makes you 7 steps closer to cancer. Smoking more then one pack a day a person makes this distance twice shorter.What will happen to your organism if you stop smoking?At the beginning, your body will experience stress � dizziness, vomiting and total weakness will be a hard test for you, but in a month things will get better. You will notice your breathing to be easier, memory and muscle tone to come back to norm, the color of your skin and teeth will surpass all expectations. In six months bronchus and the pulmonary tissue will be cleaned from heavy pitches and tobacco dust. In a year the cardiovascular system will be restored. Five years of nonsmoking will totally erase all signs of this bad habit.Everything that was told is possible only if your diseases are not chronicle yet, if it is so, then smoking cessation is the first thing you should do.Remember � it�s never late to stop smoking!
Article Source: http://articles-collections.com
About the Author
Stop-Smoke.org website is a seller of Nicocure - effective quit smoking herbal remedy. You are allowed to distribute this article with an active hyperlink to http://www.stop-smoke.org/ only.


http://quitsmoking.about.com/od/cigarspipesandsmokeless/f/CigarHlthRisks.htm

The Health Hazards of smoking cigar

Q. What are the Health Hazards from Smoking Cigars?
From Terry Martin,Your Guide to Smoking Cessation.FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now!
About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by our Medical Review Board
What are the dangers to my health from smoking cigars?
A. Cigar smoking has been linked to several smoking-related diseases and conditions.Cancer
· Oral cancer
· Esophageal Cancer
· Lung cancer
· Pancreatic cancer
· Bladder cancer
· Cervical cancer. It's suspected that the TSNA in tobacco smoke may contribute to cervical cancer. Research is ongoing. Cigar smoke is laden with TSNA.COPD / EmphysemaMost cigar smokers don't inhale, but for those who do, the damage potential to the lungs is similar to that of cigarette smoke.All About COPDEmphysema Causes and SymptomsHeart DiseaseCigar smoking has been linked to coronary artery disease.
zSB(3,3)
Sponsored Links
Quit SmokingDo You Know the Impacts of Smoking? Quit Smoking. Medical Information.Healthline.com
Stop Smoking NowAre You Ready To Quit Smoking For The Last Time? Now, You Can!www.stop-today.com/
BolivarDiscuss the world of Bolivar at the Friends of Habanos Forum.www.friendsofhabanos.com
Smoking is hard on the heart.Smoking and the Risk of AtherosclerosisErectile dysfunctionCigar smoking and exposure to second hand smoke in particular have been shown to be significant risk factors for erectile dysfunction. Erectile DysfunctionCigar smoking is unhealthy, and the toxins are every bit as abundant and damaging as those in cigarette smoke. If you smoke cigars, even occasionally, consider quitting. They offer you nothing of value. Protect your health and that of those you love. Don't smoke tobacco!Sources:
· Krall, Elizabeth et al. Alveloar Bone Loss and Tooth Loss in Male Cigar and Pipe Smokers Journal of the American Dental Association 1999 Jan;130(1):57.
· Iribarren, Carlos et al. Effect of cigar smoking on the risk of cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and cancer in men. New England Journal of Medicine 1999 Jun;340;1773-1780.
· Questions and Answers about Cigar Smoking National Cancer Institute
· Pipe and Cigar Smoking: Factsheet No. 13 Action on Smoking and Health (ASH)
FAQ Index
Updated: June 27, 2006
Chemicals in Tobacco Smoke
Carbon Monoxide in Tobacco SmokeHydrogen Cyanide in Tobacco SmokeFormaldehyde in Tobacco Smoke
The Dangers of Smoking Cigars
6 Fast Facts about Cigar SmokingThe Dangers of Smoking CigarsTSNA
Quit Smoking Help
Your Quit Smoking ToolboxDeveloping the Will to Quit SmokingUnderstanding Nicotine Addiction
Related Articles
Facts about Cigar SmokingCigarette Smoking and Cancer Questions and AnswersHealth Risks & Benefits of Smoking Cigars6 Facts You Should Know About the Dangers of Cigar Smok...Smoking: Women's Health Perspective
if(zp[12].d){w('');Dsp(zp[12],'ip');w('')}if(zp[13].d){w('');Dsp(zp[13],'ip');w('')}
zISblo=this.zISblo?this.zISblo:0;if(zSbL
Sponsored Links
Smoking law solutionsInfrared shortwave heater with IP65 to stay warm outside at any time.www.theheater.com
Smoking Costs You.Stop Smoking Forever, Fast & Easy! Top Products, Guaranteed Results.StopSmokingHowNotTo.com
Information on SmokingThe New York Times has articles on nicotine, cancer and other topicswww.nytimes.com
Free VideoWatch & Share Millions of Videos about smokingDada.net/Video
Quit Smoking In 38 Min.Buy Here The Famous Program That Helped Thousands Of Smokers To Quitwww.quit-smoking-expert.com/
About.com is accredited by the Health On the Net Foundation, which promotes reliable and trusted online health information.