Nearly 6 million Mumbaikars consume tobacco in some or the other form, according to statistics collected by Tata Memorial Hospital as part of its ongoing studies on tobacco use.
The hospital has estimated that of these, 2 million, or one out of every seven, will die prematurely of tobacco-consumption related complications, like heart and lung disease, cancer or stroke.
Hence, for the first time, doctors from the hospital have joined hands with the Association of Medical Consultants (AMC) to spearhead the anti-tobacco campaign and counsel users they meet.
Dr Pankaj Chaturvedi, associate professor, surgical oncology, Tata hospital, said, “Despite interventional strategies to dissuade youth and others from falling prey to tobacco, city children are taking to the habit in droves. While the government is taking initiative, doctors need to step up too. We only need to devote two minutes of our time for each patient.”
Experts say, a tobacco user reduces his/her life expectancy by eight to 10 years. “The World Health Organisation figures show that a third of the users die prematurely. The worrying factor is that most of these start consuming tobacco at the ages of 12-13,” added Chaturvedi.
Dr Kishore Adyanthaya, AMC vice-president, said, “Non-communicable diseases have outpaced infectious diseases in wrecking the health of millions of Mumbaikars. The biggest cause of most of these diseases is preventable by stopping tobacco consumption.”
Tobacco alone is the leading cause of 90% of the diseases affecting the mouth, 80% of the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, 60% of heart diseases, 50% of cancers and 20% of all deaths. According to the Tata Memorial Centre data, tobacco use is linked to 85% of head and neck squamous cell cancer cases.
While doctors say a fast-paced and changing lifestyle leads to people taking to tobacco, like smoking, they are also worried because of the increase in number of women smokers.
“More and more people 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, because they believe it to be the only outlet for stress,” said Adyanthaya.
Dr Reena Wani, professor, obstretics and gynaecology department at Nair hospital, said, “Earlier, smoking was believed to be a way of shedding weight and slimming. This, in particular, has had a detrimental effect on women. Sensitising a woman is the need of the hour.”
Explaining why doctors need to be at the forefront of spreading awareness on tobacco usage, Chaturvedi said, “We have been fighting with the tobacco industries, government authorities on various platforms. A study, however, shows that physicians can be effective advocates in tobacco control efforts. Advice from doctors helps people quit smoking. According to the study, when a doctor gives a brief talk to a person on quitting, the likelihood of him doing so within a year increases.”
The AMC plans to aggressively start the drive from their clinics from Monday. It will send a directive to its members in Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai to have banners advertising the drive and the ill effects of tobacco. These will be strategically displayed at the clinics.
Tobacco is the leading cause of...
90% of the diseases affecting the mouth
80% of the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease cases
60% of heart diseases
50% of cancers
20% of all deaths
The hospital has estimated that of these, 2 million, or one out of every seven, will die prematurely of tobacco-consumption related complications, like heart and lung disease, cancer or stroke.
Hence, for the first time, doctors from the hospital have joined hands with the Association of Medical Consultants (AMC) to spearhead the anti-tobacco campaign and counsel users they meet.
Dr Pankaj Chaturvedi, associate professor, surgical oncology, Tata hospital, said, “Despite interventional strategies to dissuade youth and others from falling prey to tobacco, city children are taking to the habit in droves. While the government is taking initiative, doctors need to step up too. We only need to devote two minutes of our time for each patient.”
Experts say, a tobacco user reduces his/her life expectancy by eight to 10 years. “The World Health Organisation figures show that a third of the users die prematurely. The worrying factor is that most of these start consuming tobacco at the ages of 12-13,” added Chaturvedi.
Dr Kishore Adyanthaya, AMC vice-president, said, “Non-communicable diseases have outpaced infectious diseases in wrecking the health of millions of Mumbaikars. The biggest cause of most of these diseases is preventable by stopping tobacco consumption.”
Tobacco alone is the leading cause of 90% of the diseases affecting the mouth, 80% of the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, 60% of heart diseases, 50% of cancers and 20% of all deaths. According to the Tata Memorial Centre data, tobacco use is linked to 85% of head and neck squamous cell cancer cases.
While doctors say a fast-paced and changing lifestyle leads to people taking to tobacco, like smoking, they are also worried because of the increase in number of women smokers.
“More and more people 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, because they believe it to be the only outlet for stress,” said Adyanthaya.
Dr Reena Wani, professor, obstretics and gynaecology department at Nair hospital, said, “Earlier, smoking was believed to be a way of shedding weight and slimming. This, in particular, has had a detrimental effect on women. Sensitising a woman is the need of the hour.”
Explaining why doctors need to be at the forefront of spreading awareness on tobacco usage, Chaturvedi said, “We have been fighting with the tobacco industries, government authorities on various platforms. A study, however, shows that physicians can be effective advocates in tobacco control efforts. Advice from doctors helps people quit smoking. According to the study, when a doctor gives a brief talk to a person on quitting, the likelihood of him doing so within a year increases.”
The AMC plans to aggressively start the drive from their clinics from Monday. It will send a directive to its members in Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai to have banners advertising the drive and the ill effects of tobacco. These will be strategically displayed at the clinics.
Tobacco is the leading cause of...
90% of the diseases affecting the mouth
80% of the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease cases
60% of heart diseases
50% of cancers
20% of all deaths