The National Health Portal of India has designated the 2nd Wednesday of March as the No-Smoking Day. It has been done to urge people to give up smoking and be aware of its harmful effects. Today, thanks to extensive awareness programmes, the world is waking up to the terrible dangers of smoking. But despite that, the number of smokers is hardly declining. That is why a No-Smoking Day is important- it acts as a reminder for smokers to give up this habit that can claim their life.
Most of us know that smoking destroys your lungs and can severely damage your heart. Tobacco particles can lead to pneumonia, emphysema, cardiovascular diseases and cancer.
Is that all that smoking does? No! Here are a few other health hazards associated with smoking you may not have heard about.
Macular degeneration sets in as we grow older and can trigger blindness. Smoking speeds it up.
Tobacco particles can make your body immune to insulin (regulates the use of blood in your body) which causes a build-up of sugar and makes your blood sugar level inch upwards.
Smoking constricts your blood vessels. That means blood will not be able to pass through them with ease. This is how smoking can give you hypertension.
Also Read: What Causes Yellow Teeth: Unpacking Oral Health Misconceptions
Seamless blood flow is crucial to maintain an erection. But since smoking narrows blood vessels, the blood supply to the penis is disrupted and this triggers erectile dysfunction.
What is an ectopic pregnancy? This is a life-endangering pregnancy and it happens when the fertilized egg implants itself outside the uterus. According to surveys, smokers are more likely to develop this kind of pregnancy than non-smokers.
Smoking will lower your bone density. What does that translate to? It means you will be more vulnerable to fractures and osteoporosis.
If a pregnant woman smokes or is exposed to tobacco smoke, then she is likely to give birth to a baby with a cleft lip or cleft palate.
There are immediate benefits to smoking cessation, which occur only hours, weeks, and months after a person stops smoking. These primary benefits included lowering of blood pressure, decreased cough and phlegm production, increased lung capacity. In the long term, quitting smoking reduces a patient’s risk of developing cancer, heart disease, and chronic lung disease. The earlier a person stops smoking, the more their risk of developing lung cancer is reduced
Dr. M.G. Kartheeka, MBBS, MD
If you are a habitual smoker, giving it up can be hard. But ask yourself, is it worth the pain that may follow? A little bit of reflection can convince most people to give up smoking.
Every cigarette smoked damages the lungs in a way that may not show until later in life. After the age of 35-40 years, for every year of continued smoking, a person loses about 3 months of life expectancy. Quitting Smoking is always beneficial.
Dr. Ashish Bajaj, M.B.B.S., M.D.
Smoking is disastrous. The sooner you quit, the better. Take all the help you need to quit smoking and enjoy good health.
Also Read: How Does Smoking Affect the Brain?
Disclaimer: The information included at this site is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional. Because of unique individual needs, the reader should consult their physician to determine the appropriateness of the information for the reader’s situation.
Traditionally, people associated with all the respiratory problems with the smoking of traditional cigarettes or even second-hand smoking (passive smoking).
But, recent research suggests that inhalation of tobacco vapour when you puff on e-cigarettes can also increase the risk of contracting asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)!
The American Journal of Preventive Medicine has published research data that states an alarming fact – people who vape (use e-cigarettes) are 6 times more likely to develop asthma and COPD than people who do not smoke at all!
Researchers from John Hopkins University in the United States also concluded that vaping is very dangerous for one’s health.
When e-cigarettes first came to the market, they were claimed to be better than regular tobacco cigarettes. Because instead of inhaling tobacco smoke, people would be taking in vapour or a mist of tobacco. It was even touted to help kick out the habit of smoking.
But have these claims been backed by science? No, they haven’t. Vaping actually causes a lot of damage to your lungs. How do you wonder? Well, Studies have found that e-cigarettes can cause inflammation of the lungs and airways, which eventually progresses to COPD.
The main chemicals in e-cigarettes, such as propylene glycol and vegetable glycerine, have been linked to increased cough, mucus secretions, chest tightness and reduced lung function, all of which can make asthma worse. Vaping can irritate the lung’s airways, making asthma attacks and also lead to COPD more likely.
Dr. M.G. Kartheeka, MBBS, MD
Studies have found that e-cigarettes not only increase your chances of getting COPD and asthma but also aggravate the existing symptoms of COPD and asthma.
To shed more light on the link between COPD and vaping, the Behavioural Risk Factor Surveillance System carried out extensive research and collected data from 4 lakh people, both smokers and non-smokers. What did they find? They found that a large percentage of smokers have COPD compared to non-smokers!
The study also found that those who vaped every day were 73% more likely to come down with respiratory illnesses and those who used e-cigarettes infrequently had 31% higher chances of getting these illnesses.
Also Read: Does Vaping Cause Cancer? Exploring The Health Implications
Vaping is very addictive. This habit is almost as difficult to kick as regular smoking. But is it unconquerable? Absolutely not! All you need is consistent effort and a little bit of guidance.
Vaping can ruin your life and bring untold misery. It is as harmful as smoking traditional cigarettes. Kick out this habit and don’t let it be a part of your life so that you can stay fit and fine always!
Read More: 7 Health Effects of Smoking
Disclaimer: The above information has been prepared by a qualified medical professional and may not represent the practices followed universally. The suggestions listed in this article constitute relatively common advice given to patients and since every patient is different, you are advised to consult your physician, if in doubt, before acting upon this information. Lupin Limited has only facilitated the distribution of this information to you in the interest of patient education and welfare.
