Tobacco consumption remains a major issue as even minors are getting addicted to it. According to the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS), almost one-fifth of children in the age group of 13-15 years in India are using tobacco products.
The survey revealed that 38 per cent cigarette, 47 per cent bidi and 52 per cent smokeless tobacco users have formed the habit before their 10th birthday.
Chief executive of Voluntary Health Association of India Bhavna B. Mukhopadhyay said: “The Global Adult Tobacco Survey 2016-2017 says that about 27 crore people in our country consume tobacco and about 12 lakh people die every year due to tobacco-related diseases.” The average age of initiation of tobacco use in India is 18.7 years. Men started using tobacco at a younger age than women.”
He further said that tobacco can cause 25 types of diseases and about 40 types of cancer, in which mouth cancer, throat cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer, stomach cancer and brain tumor are prominent.
Professor Suryakant, head of the Department of Respiratory Medicine, King George’s Medical University, said, ‘Tobacco smoke emits harmful gases and chemicals, of which nicotine and tar are prominent. Altogether 70 chemical substances have been found to be carcinogenic but these facts are ignored by tobacco users.”
Association of International Doctors General Secretary Dr. Abhishek Shukla said, “Smoking bidi is more harmful than cigarette. Because of the low nicotine content in bidi, nicotine addicts need it again and again. Smoking addiction in our country Is too much.” in men than in women.”
Dr Amita Shukla, senior gynaecologist, SC Trivedi Memorial Trust Hospital, explained: “Smoking is one of the causes of infertility in women, which can also lead to preterm labor if tobacco is consumed during pregnancy.”
When someone smokes, 30 percent of the bidi or cigarette goes into the smoker’s lungs and 70 percent remains in the surrounding environment, affecting passive smokers or indirect smokers, according to doctors. According.