Ignorance about tobacco's heart risk worrying

It is a widely known fact that smoking damages the lung and causes cancer, but few tobacco users are aware that it also heightens the risk of the equally deadly cardiovascular disease and stroke, according to a new study.

Nearly half of India’s 120 million smokers do not know that their habit can cause stroke, and a third are not aware it can lead to heart disease, research commissioned by the World Heart Federation has found.

The report compiled by the International Tobacco Control (ITC) Project in collaboration with WHO’s Tobacco Free Initiative, says the awareness about the link between second-hand smoke and cardiovascular problems is even lower, among both smokers and non-smokers.

Ignorance about the harmful effects of tobacco and second hand smoke is prevalent around the world, including in countries such as China, Vietnam, Uruguay, South Korea and Poland. Even in developed nations such as the US, UK and Australia, nearly half of smokers are unaware that second-hand smoke causes heart attacks in non-smokers.

The findings are a major cause of worry, say the researchers. Out of the 17.3 million people who die of cardiovascular disease every year, 80% are in low- and middle-income group countries – nations that are increasingly being targeted by tobacco companies.

Studies show tobacco use and secondhand smoke exposure is responsible for one in 10 global deaths from cardio vascular disease. Even smoking a few cigarettes a day significantly increases the risk of heart disease.

Smokeless tobacco products, which are used by an estimated 206 million people across India, have also been linked to an increased risk of heart disease and stroke.

 Secondhand smoke exposure increases the risk of heart disease by 25–30% and more than 87% of worldwide adult deaths caused by secondhand smoke are attributable to cardio vascular disease, says the report.

Professor Geoffrey T. Fong at the University of Waterloo, Canada, and Chief Principal Investigator of the ITC Project, believes putting labels on cigarette packs warning about cardiovascular risks may be an effective way to educate the public.

“A number of countries have introduced warnings about the increased risk of heart disease or heart attack, but no country has yet implemented a label to warn people that secondhand smoke causes heart disease. Increasing knowledge of these specific health risks will help encourage smokers to quit and help non-smokers protect themselves, so raising awareness is an important step in reducing people’s exposure to tobacco smoke,” he said.

Johanna Ralston, CEO of World Heart Federation, adds: "In countries like India or China, so many people are at high risk for heart attack or stroke, and it strikes at a relatively early age: risks of CVD are far more present and immediate than most of the better-known fatal effects of tobacco use and secondhand smoke exposure.


"Knowing about cardiovascular risks of tobacco will help smokers take quitting seriously, and encourage people to demand and comply with policies that protect everyone from the harms of tobacco.”


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