Source: Associated Press of Pakistan (www.app.com.pk)
Author: staff

Smoking can ripe over 50 kinds of cancer diseases as if spreading 4700 chemical substances from a smothered cigarette and if prompt action is not initiated, the death rate would be increased up to ten million people by the year 2020 as result of the use of tobacco.

Eminent cardiologist and Medical Superintendent Red Crescent Hospital Latifabad Dr. Fazal-ur-Rehman made this forecast while talking here on Tuesday.

He said smoking is the single largest cause of many of diseases including cancer of different kinds, cardiac, tuberculosis, asthma, shrinking of mouth tissues and arteries and foot infections.

With the smoking of 20 cigarettes, the user reduces his life of 5 hours and 40 minutes and its continuous use can diminish eight to ten years life of addict, he said. Dr. Rehman stated that according to statistics about five million people of the world have lost their lives in the year 2002 as a result of smoking.

He said smoking enhances 25 percent more threat of lung cancer, which at present is on top as compared to other kinds of cancer. Smoking can also cause threat of ten percent more of oral cancer such as tongue, mouth and buckle cavity and 15 percent of other diseases including cardiac, tuberculosis, asthma, shrinking of mouth tissues and arteries, respiratory system and foot infections, he added.

The cardiologist said 90 percent patients suffering lungs and oral cancer are the addicts of smoking, which he said is alarming for the society.

Dr. Fazal-ur-Rehman said smoking is not only injurious for the users, but passive smoking is also a great threat to those who associate with the smokers as inhaling of cigarettes’ smoke could cause more complications.

He said alternate use of smoking like anti-smoking chewing, Gutka, leaf with chewing tobacco and betel- nut are more dangerous for those who leave smoking. Only the strong will power can bring them back towards a healthy life, he added.

Dr. Rehman said despite promulgation of Anti-Smoking Ordinance, the smoking is frequent in public places. It is because of no serious action initiated by the promulgators of law in this direction, he added.

Dr. Fazal-ur-Rehman was critical over the display of advertisement of cigarette companies on government owned television chanells adding that cigarette manufacturing companies are spending million of rupees on publicity of their products, but no one can stop them from this practice.

He also emphasised the need for effective implementation of Anti-Smoking Ordinance so that the smokers could leave such injurious habit, which is not only causing great threat to their lives, but also affecting their will power and judgement.

He called upon the government to pressurise the cigarette manufacturing companies to stop their business and start manufacturing of other products for the larger interest of people of the country.

He said smoking is an artificial source of intoxication, which also enhances the rate of paralysis and different kinds of bone disease including foot infections.

He emphasised the need for community-based efforts with a massive awareness campaign about the hazards of the use of smoking so that the people could stop such addiction for their own health and the health of their relatives and friends.