PESHAWAR: The use of tobacco is a leading preventable cause of death in the world as it causes several fatal diseases including lung cancer, heart diseases, bronchitis, emphysema, high blood pressure, stroke and asthma, according to health expert.

Addressing a press conference here on Monday, Pakistan Chest Society (PCS) president Dr Arshad Javed said that they would observe ‘No Tobacco Day’ on May 31by highlighting smoking related health hazards to create awareness among people.

He said that smoking was not only dangerous for the smoker’s health but also for others as the second hand smoke led to lung cancer, heart diseases, bronchitis, emphysema, high blood pressure, risk of stroke, heart attack, exacerbation of asthma and cancer of tongue, gum pharynx, esophagus, bladder and kidneys etc. Flanked by Dr Sadia Ashraf and Dr Taj Mohammad, Dr Javed said that use of tobacco was a leading preventable cause of death in the world. In the 20th century, more than 100 million people died globally due to use of tobacco and its related products. “About 70 per cent of these deaths occurred in the developing countries, estimating more than tuberculosis, HIV/Aids and malaria combined,” he added.

Dr Javed said that in Pakistan tobacco was used in the shape of cigarettes, cigar, Sheesha, Bidi, Naswar, Paan, Gutka and Chaalia. In most of the developed countries, use of tobacco was on the decline and so was tobacco related diseases, he added.

PCS observes ‘No Tobacco Day’ today to create awareness among people

“Unfortunately use of tobacco is on the rise in developing countries like Pakistan,” said Dr Javed. He said that major challenge for tobacco control in the country was high prevalence of smoking among the medical doctors. Use of smokeless tobacco in various forms was also high in the country as a recent study showed that 21.5 per cent students used tobacco in some forms (smoke or smokeless) in their lifetime, he said.

The PCS chief said that observing “No Tobacco Day” was aimed at creating awareness among people to protect the present and future generation from devastating health, social, environmental and economic consequences of tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke.

“Almost half of children are breathing air polluted by tobacco smoke in public places, the smoke that fills restaurants, offices and other closed spaces,” he said.

Dr Javed said that PCS developed a clinical practice guideline on causes, treatment and prevention of tobacco. “It is a useful tool for the doctors and other health professionals in the country to treat tobacco dependence in various settings including hospitals and clinics,” he added.

“There should be effective alliance against smoking and sue of tobacco by government, health department, civil society and religious leaders coupled with mass awareness including effective communication and social mobilisation by the print and electronic media and effective implementation of laws,” said Dr Javed.

Published in Dawn, May 31st, 2016