Indore (Madhya Pradesh): Tobacco is being used/consumed by 1.3 billion people, in one or the other form across the globe and the number would be even more if tobacco didn’t kill half of its users.
“Consuming tobacco in any form is dangerous and it becomes fatal as smokers have higher risk of severity if infected with COVID-19,” national chairman of IMA’s Tobacco Control Committee Dr Dilip Acharya said.
On the eve of World No Tobacco Day Dr Dilip Acharya said that tobacco smoke has a known immunosuppressive effect, making smokers more vulnerable to infection.
“The smokers and tobacco chewers frequent and repeated hand to-mouth contact, presents a known infection pathway and is associated with increased risk of transmission. The sharing of cigarettes, electronic cigarettes (banned) and hookah’s can contribute to SARS Cov-2 dissemination and exhalation of aerosols that may contain the virus,” he added.
Madhya Pradesh Voluntary Health Association (MPVHA)Executive Director Mukesh Sinha said, “The World No Tobacco Day 2021 campaign aims to empower and support tobacco users on their journey to quit. Quitting tobacco is challenging, especially with the added social and economic stresses that have come as a result of the pandemic. Worldwide around 780 million people say they want to quit, but only 30 percent of them have access to the tools that can help them do so.”
He said that the government must seize opportunity and invest in cessation services, more and more tobacco cessation centers need to be established in different districts, with dedicated staff so that people who want to quit can get easy counseling and advice.
Molecular Receptor theory can help in tobacco cessation
General physician Dr Vinod Jain said that the scientists of Harvard University has come up with the molecular receptor theory for tobacco cessation which is proving boon to those willing to quit tobacco.
“In chronic smokers or nicotine chewers, nicotine molecules bind to the specific receptor protein present at tongue or cheek leading to nicotine craving. But if this receptor is satisfied or filled with the equivalent molecule or the same weight as the nicotine molecule has then it leads to 100 percent nicotine cessation. It doesn’t even require nicotine chewing gum or dermal patch,” Dr Jain added.
Beneficial health changes that take place after quitting smoking
· Within 20 minutes, your heart rate and blood pressure drop.
· 12 hours, the carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal.
· 2-12 weeks, circulation improves and your lung function increases.
· 1-9 months, coughing and shortness of breath decrease.
· 1 year, the risk of coronary heart disease is about half that of a smoker.
· 5 years, stroke risk is reduced to that of a nonsmoker 5 to 15 years after quitting.
· 10 years, the risk of lung cancer falls to about half that of a smoker and the risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, cervix, and pancreas decreases.
· 15 years, the risk of coronary heart disease is that of a nonsmoker.
