Tobacco – An addiction forming drug and its implications

A doctor who smokes today must be a fool. There are many medical men who have not made much effort to give up smoking habit though they full knowledge of harmful effects and consequences of smoking. The role of tobacco in producing morbidity and mortality is well known. It is we proved that cigarette smoking is related with higher risk of lung cancer, ischemic heart disease, emphysema and chronic bronchitis. The risk of young one suffering from pneumonia and bronchitis is much higher if the parents smoke. The children of smoking parents also develop the habit of smoking.

Cigarette smoking carries special risks for women. Smoking during pregnancy has been observed to retard fetal growth. The habit may also lead to genetic disorders in babies born to smoker mothers. Spontaneous abortion rate is higher in women who smoke. However, outcome of pregnancy is not affected if smoking is given up as early as possible after conception. Smokers are more susceptible to infectious diseases also. There are many chemical substances in the smoke of cigarette and biri, but nicotine, carbon monoxide and tar are most harmful and hazardous for health. The tobacco that is not smoked but chewed or left in the mouth or snuffed is called smokeless tobacco. Smokeless tobacco is no alternative to smoking and is equally harmful. Chewable tobacco leads to tooth decay and mouth cancer.

A smoker who can not quit smoking is essentially an addict. Youngsters develop tobacco addiction during pre-teen years as they are not aware of its harmful effects and consequences. Youngsters fall prey to seductive advertising and sales promotion drives. More than one billion kilograms of tobacco is produced and consumed world wide every year. Around 40% of males above the age of 15 years smoke cigarettes or chew or eat tobacco. Around 3 million people die of tobacco-related diseases, worldwide yearly. The incidence of cancer of mouth, esophagus and the pharynx is 10 times higher in smokers as compared to non-smokers. Biri smoking carries a higher risk of lung cancer than cigarette smoking due to higher amount of tar sucked by the smokers.

Tobacco reduces the effectiveness/efficiency of a wide range of drugs used for the treatment of various ailments. The efficiency of analgesics, anti-asthmatic and anti-coagulants has been found to be reduced. Cigarette smoking increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases in women taking oral contraceptives. Female smokers are at higher risk if their blood pressure and cholesterol levels are high. Be determined to quit smoking for the sake of your own health and for the health of your family. Smoking is a slow-motion suicide attempt. If you are not able to quit smoking through determined will power, consult your physician and take de-addiction therapy and counseling.