Spiritual
Wednesday, 27th November…
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Tobacco production harms the environment through pesticide use and deforestation.
mso-fareast-language:EN-IN">Digital Desk:
"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-language:EN-IN">Every year, World No-Tobacco Day
is celebrated on May 31st all over the world in order to create
awareness of the ill effects of tobacco consumption, the diseases that are
caused by it, and to urge people to quit the habit through prevention measures.
mso-fareast-language:EN-IN">Theme:
mso-fareast-language:EN-IN">
EN-IN">The theme of World No-Tobacco Day this year is "Tobacco: A Threat
to our Environment," as mentioned on the UNEP website. Tobacco impacts
both the health of countless people across the planet as well as the
environment at large.
EN-IN">Smoke coming out of cigarettes and cigars doesn’t just stain people’s
teeth; chewing tobacco, the highly addictive substance contains nicotine, which
is known to cause cancer and diseases of the heart, lungs, and liver. Tobacco
production harms the environment through pesticide use and deforestation.
EN-IN">Quitting smoking and tobacco consumption is a long journey of
determination and dedication that requires a lot of convincing. Dr. Deepak
Namjoshi, Pulmonologist and Director, CritiCare Asia Multispecialty Hospital,
Mumbai said, "Active smoking is way worse as it affects almost every
organ, from the lungs, heart, mouth, kidney, liver, and evens the reproductive
system." Passive Smoking is no better. He further spoke of
the reasons for smoking, one of them being social influence.
"Social influence is one of the root causes of addiction and often forces
women to take it up since their teenage times. Proper medical guidance and
counselling are, therefore, needed for maximum cure, "he added.
EN-IN">Addressing the issues faced by women due to smoking, Deepak
Namjoshi noted down seven ways in which
women are affected. They are:
EN-IN">Reproductive Health: Excessive smoking in women leads to
irregular, painful periods and they face difficulty in conceiving. Premature
menopause is also caused by nicotine.
mso-fareast-language:EN-IN">Pregnancy:
mso-fareast-language:EN-IN">During pregnancy, smoking leads to miscarriages, ectopic
pregnancy, still births, premature births, sudden infant death syndrome, and
negative health outcomes.
EN-IN">Hormone production: Smoking leads to hormone-related
diseases as well. It often leads to a drop in estrogen production, which
further leads to interference with sexual development, sexual functioning, and
delayed puberty.
EN-IN">Cancer: cervical cancer, lung cancer, bladder cancer,
throat cancer, oesophagus cancer, and rectal cancer are some types of cancer
that are caused due to smoking.
EN-IN">Respiratory System: Compared to men, women are more prone
to developing severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The harmful
chemicals clog the airways and harm the lining of the lungs. It can also lead
to emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and several other conditions.
EN-IN">Rheumatoid Arthritis: "Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an
autoimmune, inflammatory disease that is more commonly diagnosed in women.
"Smoking can increase RA progression and deteriorate the patient’s
response to medication and treatments," Deepak Namjoshi added.
EN-IN">Women who smoke and
who take birth-control pills after 35 years of age are at a higher risk of
developing heart diseases.
EN-IN;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">Suggesting steps to quit smoking and start
living a healthier life, Dr Prarthana Jagtap advised:
Divulging the approach to quit smoking, Dr Sanket Jain recommended:
EN-IN">He also listed the non-pharmacological interventions as:
EN-IN">Dr. Sanket Jain explained the coping mechanisms which include the five
Ds, i.e., delay till the urge passes, distract yourself, drink water, deep
breaths, and discuss.
EN-IN"> 
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