Success in sports comes is a result of a combination of factors such as regimented training and strict adherence to diet. More importantly it calls for total abstinence for vices that have a harmful effect on the body such as tobacco use.
How does smoking affect the life of a sportsperson? Dr. George Mathews, Medical Officer, Sports Authority of India, Trivandrum explains, “One of the most important factors determining the stamina of the athlete is the ability of the lungs to absorb oxygen from the atmosphere. In smokers, this is impaired and they find themselves out of breath quicker than non-smokers.”
“Smoke being an irritant could lead to chronic cough and respiratory infections. Nicotine narrows blood vessels and affects cardiac function,” Dr. Mathews added.
Injury is the greatest bane of a sportsperson. Dr Mathews said, "Smoking results in weaker bones and tendons with an increased susceptibility to injuries. Once injured, a smoker would find it tougher to recover. Calcium and other nutrient absorption are also reduced.”
Shri U Vimal Kumar, National, French Open and Welsh International Open badminton champion from Kerala said, “At an impressionable age, children quickly imbibe whatever is done by parents and elders. A child gets the wrong message when seeing an elder person spit out tobacco from a car, bus or an auto rickshaw.”
“The lifestyle of parents and their mentors have a direct impact on children. It is important that parents keep away from smoking and use of other forms of tobacco if they have sporting aspirations for their child,” said Shri Kumar who is the Co-Founder, Director and Chief Coach of Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy.
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One of the Millennium Developments Goals of the United Nations is to reduce TB mortality by half between 1999 and 2015. But as we are fast approaching this deadline and there is a serious threat of not being able to meet the target.
The reason - Smoking
A research study using a mathematical model to determine the effect of smoking on future TB cases found that there will 40 million excess deaths worldwide between 2010 and 2050.
The research, conducted by the University of California under the leadership of Dr. Sanjay Basu, also concluded that if current smoking trends continue, the number of excess TB cases could rise 256 to 274 million – 18 million new cases in total.
That smoking is a major risk factor for this infectious disease is widely established. According to World Health Organisation, nearly 61 per cent of TB deaths are attributable to smoking.
Smoking increases the risk of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, the risk of progression from infection to disease, and the risk of death among TB patients. Passive smoking also accelerates the development of TB.
India has the highest burden of Tuberculosis (TB) in the world and accounts for 21 per cent of the global incidence. An estimated 2 million cases strike India annually.
Equally worrisome is the fact that 8.7 per cent of adult population in India use smoking tobacco; another 5.3 per cent use smoking in conjunction with smokeless tobacco.
The prevalence rate of TB for 1000 population in Kerala was 0.52. Nearly 13.4 per cent of adults in the state use smoking tobacco products.
Original research published in British Medical Journal
Image courtesy: http://sitemaker.umich.edu/medchem13/files/tb.htm
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The Kerala High Court, in a welcome ruling, has upheld the ban on pan masala and gutkha containing tobacco or nicotine in Kerala, imposed by the Government under the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
Responding to the petition of the All Kerala Tobacco Dealers' Association to stay the ban, the Court declined to interfere with the Government's decision. The judgement bears significance as it has direct link in safeguarding and protecting the health of nearly 4.9 lakh users of pan masala and gutkha in Kerala.
Countless studies have proven the toxic impacts of smokeless tobacco (ST) products, also known as non-combusted tobacco. A recent study on smokeless tobacco called 'Toxicology of smokeless tobacco: implications for immune, reproductive, and cardiovascular systems,' draws light on the adverse health outcomes owing to ST use.
The researchers Willis D, Popovech M, Gany F and Zelikoff J. surmise that there exists evidence of reproductive outcomes, such as perinatal mortality, preterm birth, and reduced sperm viability, in conjunction with ST use. Cardiovascular health may also be impacted by ST use, resulting in increased blood pressure and endothelial dysfunction, both of which may potentially lead to cardiovascular diseases, they point out.
Tobacco Free Kerala joins thousands of crusaders of public health across the world in hailing the Kerala High Court's verdict.
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Success in sports comes is a result of a combination of factors such as regimented training and strict adherence to diet. More importantly it calls for total abstinence for vices that have a harmful effect on the body such as tobacco use. 
