On the eve of World No Tobacco Day (WNTD), the organisations working against tobacco consumption have claimed that over 10% adults consume tobacco.
“Total 19.0% of men, 0.8% of women and overall 10.2% of all adults currently smoke tobacco in Madhya Pradesh,” suggest figures from Global Adults Tobacco Survey 2017. The report says that as many as 38.7% of men, 16.8% of women and 28.1% of all adults currently use smokeless tobacco in the state.
In regard to Second Hand Smoke (SHS) in Madhya Pradesh, 65% adults are exposed to SHS at home including 66.8% male and 63.2% female; overall 38% adults are exposed to SHS at workplace including 41% males and 23.7% females; overall 6.3% adults exposed to SHS at government buildings/offices; 6.5% at health care facilities; 8.7% at restaurants and 12.6% at public transportation including males and females, added the report.
Apart from lung cancer, smoking tobacco also causes chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In this disease, there is build-up of pus filled mucus in lungs resulting in a painful cough and agonising breathing difficulties.
Speaking on the WNTD Dr TP Sahoo, Voice of Tobacco Victims (VoTV) Patron in Madhya Pradesh, said smoking or exposure to SHS by pregnant woman can reduce the lung growth and its function in foetus, can lead to miscarriage, premature birth of the baby, the new born can be of low birth weight and even sudden infant death syndrome. Tobacco, consumed in any form smoking or smokeless, is extremely dangerous. It has no use except death or disability.
