Prime Minister, Sonia on tobacco use in India

India is the second largest consumer of tobacco products in the world. 

This post excerpts what our national leaders have said on tobacco use in India.

Dr Manmohan Singh, Hon'ble Prime Minister of India said, "It is clear that we need to heighten our concern about tobacco usage being a leading cause of death and debilitating disease in our country. The increasing prevalence of tobacco consumption among high risk groups, including women and children, and the exposure to second hand smoke, either in homes or in public places, is a matter of serious concern."   

Smt Sonia Gandhi, Chairperson, United Progressive Alliance (UPA) notes, "The consumption of tobacco in various forms is a threat to public health. There is strong evidence to link tobacco use with the incidence of cancer. A massive public awareness campaign has to be sustained at various levels to deal with this malaise."

Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad, Hon'ble Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare states, "As one of the lagest consumers of tobacco in the world, India is faced by human costs, including cancers, cardiovascular and chronic respiratory diseases, which require the urgent attention and intervention of the Government on both regional and state levels." 

"We must also consider the economic burdens that the usage of tobacco imposes on our country's health care systems. As may as one million deaths annually can be attributed to tobacco consumption forcing health facilities to spend an even greater share of their precious resources on treating largely preventable diseases."

According to Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) India 2009-10 Report, India has nearly 274.9 million tobacco users, age 15 and above, making the country the second largest consumer of tobacco products in the world. 

Among them, 197.0 million are males and 77.9 million are females; and 216.0 million tobacco users from rural areas and 58.8 million from urban areas. 

Compiled from Messages in from GATS India Report 2009-10, available here

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Knock the Cigarette Out, says Dr Siddhartha Mukherjee

"If cancer is the quintessential product of modernity, then so, too, is its principal preventable cause: tobacco," writes Siddhartha Mukherjee in his 'The Emperor of all Maladies'.

This book, which won the Indian American cancer researcher and physician the Pulitzer Prize for Non-Fiction for the year 2011, is a profound biography of cancer - a disease humans have lived with - and perished from - for more than five thousand years.

A staunch advocate of anti-tobacco movement, Dr Mukherjee goes to write, "The classification of tobacco smoke as a potent carcinogen - and the slow avalanche of forces unleashed to regulate cigarettes in the 1980s - is rightfully counted as one of cancer prevention's seminal victories."

In this embedded video, Dr Mukherjee says the first five things of preventing cancer are "Don't smoke, Don't smoke, Don't smoke, Don't smoke, Don't Smoke."

He adds, "There's a new study that makes the argument that if you take people who are high risk -- smokers that are high risk -- and you perform CAT scans, you can detect cancers. The problem is that for dollar for dollar, it's much better to knock the cigarette out of the person you see smoking outside... than to perform a 6000 dollar CAT scan."

Image courtesy http://stanmed.stanford.edu

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Fight transitory withdrawal symptoms for health

The findings of Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) conducted in Kerala brings out that a significant 70.6 per cent of male smokers in Kerala are planning or thinking about quitting.

As successful quitters will testify, breaking free from this addictive habit is not impossible. Experts say that the withdrawal symptoms can be easily managed with will and are only transitory. Mild discomfort for approximately two weeks after quitting is nothing compared to the benefits it can bring to one's health. 

Nicotine's chemical properties are addictive. If nicotine is kept away from the body, it may manifest as the following physical and mental withdrawal symptoms. 

Knowledge of the symptoms will make management of the symptoms more comfortable and help with the quitting process. 

Physical withdrawal

Nicotine obstructs the flow of oxygen and nutrients to various parts of the body. 

• Bowel discomfort: It's time to change your diet and fitness once you quit smoking. Quitting smoking can cause cramps, nausea, flatulence and constipation, therefore it is important to increase roughage and exercise your body.

• Nasal and throat problems: When you stop smoking, your nose and throat will try to clear the mucous that has accumulated over the years. You may experience coughing, dry throat and mouth. Fluids are the key to clearing this process.

• Increase in appetite: Craving for cigarettes can be confused with hunger cravings. The best way to stay healthy is to consume fluids and low calorie snacks.

• Headaches: Lack of nicotine can lead to headaches, the way out of it is with massages, plenty of water and rest. Gently massage your temple, drink water, take a hot shower and take a deep breathe.

• Lack of sleep: You may experience insomnia after you quit smoking. Take a hot shower before you hit the sack, do breathing exercises too and most importantly avoid coffee closer to bed-time.
  
• Restlessness/lack of concentration: You feel like there is energy bursting in you, transfer this energy into something constructive. In these situations smokes would calm your nerves, but now switch off that thought and cultivate a new habit. You may feel you can't concentrate too; try listening to music or take a break from your routine life.

• Weight gain: Increase in craving can lead to weight gain, especially if you indulge in unhealthy food. But don't be dejected, you can cut it out with exercise and the right diet.

• Sweating and shaky hands and feet: You will feel that your hands and feet tremble. It is a passing phase that will stop. If you experience these withdrawals you know your body is simply shedding an addiction and leading you to a much healthier life.

• Skin trouble: While quitting smoking is associated with healthier skin, the period of withdrawal will cause some skin trouble. Some people with sensitive skin might break out into a fresh acne case or suffer from some ulcers in the inner-cheeks, tongue and mouth. The reason is simply that your body is letting go of the toxins and levelling up.

Emotional withdrawal

Some of the most common symptoms are ...

• Depression: You may feel low, sad and hopeless. Hence it is important to surround yourself with people, preferably non smokers and friends who will support your decision to quit smoking.

• Angry: Emotional upheaval can make you angry. Others may not be aware of it, but you know what's happening to your body. The age-old remedy of counting till 10 isn't such a bad idea. Stop, think, regain your calm and composure before losing your cool.

• Bored: You may have noticed that when you were bored, tired or depressed you tend to smoke. Now that you are on your way to a smoke free life replace these voids with hobbies or get involved with people around you. Pay more attention to your loved ones.

• Lonely: Withdrawal of smoking can make you feel lonely, impatient and irritable. If your friends are busy, take up a dance class or cooking class. It is important to expect these feelings of loneliness, so stay prepared.

• Mood swing: Tempers will flare and tantrums will increase. These are not exactly PMS symptoms. Nicotine was once your evil friend but now you have to bear with the loss of the addiction. This will throw your emotional reactions to daily happenings into a tizzy. Most quitters will need help with these mood swings. Replace the smoking placebo with something else. Invest in some great music and strong coffee, maybe?

Instead of losing motivation, after reading these withdrawal symptoms, the one thought any quitter must focus on is this: The fact that your body is changing so much when quitting, simply showcases how much it is continuously changed and affected while you still smoke. 

Avoid poor health and dangerous diseases - and call it quits today!

Source: www.healthmeup.com

Image courtesy: http://cdn1.wn.com/vp/i/18/3468c674464d25.jpg

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