Chennai: Tobacco use is one of the major risk factors for multiplechronic diseases, including lung disease.
In India, use of tobacco accounts for approx. 1.35 million deaths every year and is one of the major causes of death and disease. According to the Global Adult Tobacco Survey India (2016-17) nearly 267 million adults (15 years and above) i.e., 29 per cent of all adults in India use tobacco.
GATS-2 data showed that 1of every 8 young (age group of 15 to 24 years) Indian uses some form of tobacco.
The most prevalent form of tobacco use in India is smokeless tobacco, commonly used products for same include khaini, gutkha, betel quid with tobacco and zarda. The smoking forms of tobacco used in India include bidi, cigarette and hookah.
Smoking is a major risk factor for COPD, both active and passive. In fact, exposure to passive smoking in early childhood could pave path for chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) in future.
On the occasion of the World No Tobacco Day, Dr Prasanna Kumar Thomas, MD, CHEST Jeevanandam Clinic, Chennai, emphasised on connection between tobacco use and risk of respiratory disease.
“The earlier the exposure to risk factor like smoking, the greater is the level of decline in lung function. Continuing to smoke when you have respiratory disease like COPD furtherworsens lung function. Fortunately, quitting to smoke or use tobacco in any form and following all instructions given by your doctor can reduce the number of hospitalisations and the decline of lung function. The earlier the quitting, better you manage the disease and save your lungs from more damage.”