Tobacco Free Kerala: Make educational campuses tobacco free, says Padma Shri Dr G Vijayaraghavan

Wednesday 3 October 2012

Make educational campuses tobacco free, says Padma Shri Dr G Vijayaraghavan

Educational campuses and offices should be made tobacco-free to prevent the increasing incidence of tobacco-induced heart diseases in Kerala, said renowned cardiologist Padma Shri Dr G Vijayaraghavan, Vice Chairman and Director Medical Services of KIMS Hospital, on the occasion of World Heart Day.

“Nearly 60 per cent of the patients in Intensive Cardiac Care Unit of KIMS are current or old smokers. More than 30 per cent have smoked over 2 packs a day for more than 10 years,” said Dr Vijayaraghavan referring to high linkage between smoking and heart diseases.

Dr Vijayaraghavan said he had one of his most shocking experiences when he walked into a smoke-filled room at the college where his son was studying. “The staff room was stuffy with the smell of smoke and I felt compelled to walk out of the room.”

The Indian tobacco control legislation – COTPA, 2003 has spelt out the guidelines for tobacco-free educational institutions. Under Section 4 of the Act, it is mandated that educational institutions set up a board of 60 cm x 30 cm at the entrance and other conspicuous places. It should read, “No Smoking Area – Smoking Here is an Offence,” in the local language.

Also Section 6 of the Act requires that a board specifying that “sale of tobacco products in an area within a radius of 100 yards of educational institutions is strictly prohibited” be displayed at a conspicuous place outside the premises.

“In USA today, it is difficult to find a seat in the non-smoking area of a restaurant, as they always remain crowded. The smoking areas on the contrary remain empty,” said the physician who holds Fellowships of the American Heart Association and the Royal College of Physicians, UK, among others. “Stoppage of smoking has been the main factor in the decrease of deaths due to heart attack in major countries, especially USA,” he added.

“When one smokes, the heart rate jumps up and the blood pressure rises. Continuous smoke to the lungs make the smoker feels warm, but that is due to high penetration of carbon dioxide in the blood. When you shake hands with a person and if it feels too warm, you can know that he is a smoker. Smoking makes one a little alert, but that is short-lived,” said Dr Vijayaraghavan.

On the role of the media, Dr Vijayaraghavan said, “Many youngsters have been tempted to take up this addictive habit following depictions in the media. One always sees a Churchill with a cigar, Sherlock Holmes with a pipe, and a Dev Anand or a Raj Kapoor with cigarettes. Thankfully, media has reversed its gear in the last 20 years.”

“Chewing, smoking, snuffing or any form of tobacco use is harmful not only to heart but also to the lungs and intestines. Educational campuses and offices should be made tobacco-free along with strong pressure from wives to make husbands quit use at home. Public awareness is a key to this,” he said.