World Health Organisation observes World No Tobacco Day 2019 with the theme “Tobacco and Lung Health”. Tobacco affects many systems in our body like respiratory system, cardiovascular system, oral cavity, genitourinary system and so on. Tobacco use in any form whether smoking version like ciarettes, beedis etc or in the form of smokeless version like chewable zarda, masheri, gutka etc has found to have devastating effect on the oral tissues.
In India as per recent statistics the most common cancer affecting males is oral cancer which include cancer of oral mucosa, cheeks, tongue, floor of mouth and jaw bones itself. The oral cancer outnumbered even lung cancer. Oral cancer and lung cancer can be considered as two children of a common parent. Tobacco is being most common culprit in both of these cancers.Its an alarming trend that we read news like cigarettes and zarda pan etc are being found in the school bag of a fifth standard boy. Also smoking have adverse effects on the periodontium or supporting tissues of the teeth. Even poor periodontal status in turn leads to or aggravates many systemic complications like Diabetes, COPD or Respiratory Disease, low birth weight babies etc.
Children have a tendency to imitate the superhero in films and sports. So our heroes should try to abstain from the advertisements of tobacco products. The usual Statuotory warning given in cigarettes and other tobacco products just seems funny only. Even the Advertisement regar-ding “Your Lung is like a sponge” has tend to evoke laughter after being shown as part of every movies in our theatres. Better modalities of education like including the illegal effects of tobacco with the pictures showing the dangerous situation of cancers and the crippled patient after surgery which requires removal of whole or partial jaw bones even, should be included as a chapter in curriculum.
The focus of World No Tobacco Day 2019 is on “tobacco and lung health”. The campaign will increase awareness on:
1. The negative impact that tobacco has on people’s lung health, from cancer to chronic respiratory disease,
2. The fundamental role lungs play for the health and well-being of all people.
The campaign also serves as a call to action, advocating for effective policies to reduce tobacco consumption and engaging stakeholders across multiple sectors in the fight for tobacco control.
The World No Tobacco Day 2019 campaign will raise awareness on the:
1. Risks posed by tobacco smoking and second-hand smoke exposure;
2. Awareness on the particular dangers of tobacco smoking to lung health;
3 Magnitude of death and illness globally from lung diseases caused by tobacco, including chronic respiratory diseases and lung cancer;
4. Emerging evidence on the link between tobacco smoking and tuberculosis deaths;
5. Implications of second-hand exposure for lung health of people across age groups;
6. Importance of lung health to achieving overall health and well-being;
7 Feasible actions and measures that key audiences, including the public and governments, can take to reduce the risks to lung health posed by tobacco.
Tobacco control can break the cycle of poverty, contribute to ending hunger, promote sustainable agriculture and economic growth, and combat climate change. It is not only governments who can step up tobacco control efforts: people can contribute on an individual level to making a sustainable, tobacco-free world. People can commit to never take up tobacco products. Those who do use tobacco can quit the habit, or seek help in doing so, which will in turn protect their health as well as people exposed to second-hand smoke, including children, other family members and friends. Money not spent on tobacco can be, in turn, used for other essential uses, including the purchase of healthy food, healthcare and education.Thus more wise usage of money can be diverted to the development channels and can wash off this catastrophe from the universe.
We can hope for a brighter tobacco free smile in our coming generations.We can pass them a smoke free environment.
(The author is Consultant Periodontist Trivandrum
Email : bellrings4u@gmail.com
Contact : 9496815829)
