Observing ‘World No Tobacco Day’ Tata Memorial Hospital and AMC conduct a seminar on the ill-effects of tobacco consumption that is threatening millions of lives
Mumbai, May 27: Despite interventional strategies to dissuade youth and others from falling prey to tobacco,
school-going children and kids in India’s financial capital are taking to smoking in droves, according Dr. Pankaj Chaturvedi, Associate Professor, Surgical Oncology, Tata Memorial Hospital.
Addressing a seminar on ‘Tobacco addiction and its implications’ organised by Tata Memorial Hospital and Association of Medical Consultants on the eve of ‘World No Tobacco Day’ here today, he said a whopping 6 million people in Mumbai consume tobacco and 2 million, mostly in their productive age, are expected to die due to ailments associated directly to tobacco consumption, mainly smoking. This scientific seminar was supported by an education grant provided by Merck Serono – the biopharmaceutical division of Merck KGaA, Germany, a global pharmaceutical and chemical company.
Said Dr. Chaturvedi, “Stress, Bollywood, fads and peer pressure all encourage people to take to smoking and this habit then continues due to its addictive nature. Even affluence is associated with smoking and drinking habits. Moreover, the interference posed by Tobacco industry in the form of pictorial warning, sale near schools, surrogate advertising, point of sale advertising and ministry decisions must be tackled effectively. Kids should not be exposed to such things as they are vulnerable and hence can easily fall prey to this habit.”
“Apart from 27 different diseases that are caused by tobacco, second hand smokers also are at increased risk for similar diseases,” he added.
The day-long seminar revealed some more shocking facts. Non-communicable diseases have outpaced the
infectious diseases in wrecking the health of millions of Mumbaikars. The greatest cause of most of these diseases is preventable — tobacco consumption. Tobacco alone is the leading cause of 90% of the diseases affecting the mouth, 80% of the COPD, 60% of heart diseases, 50% of cancers and 20% of all deaths. According to the National Cancer Institute, tobacco use is linked to 85% of head and neck cancer cases.
More and more individuals are working in night shifts. This has made them resort to the most easily available sources of adrenaline, smoking and coffee. Even women take to smoking as they climb the corporate ladder as it seems to be the only outlet for stress. Tobacco consumption is not only high among the general public who may be uneducated or unaware of the ill-effects of tobacco consumption but even the medical community, who is very well versed with the harm it can do to one’s life, is falling prey to this deleterious habit.
It is difficult though not impossible to de-addict onself from this life-threatening habit. Dr. Chaturvedi said: “Those trying to quit smoking or consuming tobacco in any other form have to deal with a temporary difficult phase of withdrawal, but there are advantages in the long run like increase in longevity. With a strong will power and determination along with a two-minute advice rendered by a physician are the strongest cessation tools available to quit tobacco consumption. However, one must guard against alternatives like e-cigs which are highly unsafe. They contain pure nicotine in vapour form. Nicotine alone is a poisonous and addictive substance, capable of causing cancer. Also, there are currently no good drugs available though marketed aggressively by pharma companies.”
World No Tobacco Day observed on May 31 is a good opportunity to remind everyone what they are doing to their health when they blow those few puffs to get a momentary relief from their day -to -day tensions. This year’s theme of the WHO is `tobacco industry interference.’
About Tata Memorial Hospital: The Tata Memorial Centre is the national comprehensive cancer centre for the prevention, treatment, education and research in Cancer and is recognised as one of the leading cancer centres in this part of the world. In 1952 the Indian Cancer Research Centre was established as a pioneer research institute for basic research – later called the Cancer Research Institute (CRI). In 1957 the Ministry of Health took over the Tata Memorial Hospital. The Tata Memorial Hospital and Cancer Research Institute merged as the two arms of the Tata Memorial Centre (TMC) in 1966 as a classic example of private philanthropy augmented by Government support with a mandate for Service, Education & Research in Cancer.
About AMC: AMC or Association of Medical Consultants was established in 1972 by a small group of energetic active and concerned medical consultants from distant suburbs who often assembled and animatedly discussed their common problems. It is now one of the fastest growing Associations of Specialist Doctors in Mumbai and boasts of a membership strength of 7000 Medical consultants. AMC represents Consultants practicing at corporate and non corporate Tertiary care referral Hospitals (both Government and Private) and individual Consultants practicing through their own consulting rooms, Clinics & Nursing Homes spread across Greater Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and Thane districts.
About Merck Serono: Merck Serono, a global biopharmaceutical business, is the largest division of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany which markets innovative prescription drugs of chemical and biotechnological origin. Our enduring commitment and focus in specialist indications enables us to deliver targeted medicines and innovative drug delivery systems to patients all over the world.
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