Tobacco second major cause of death in the world: experts

'World No Tobacco Day' was observed in Pakistan like other parts of the world on Saturday in a bid to draw attention to the global health burden resulting from tobacco use. Seminars, walks and poster exhibitions were organised in order to create awareness among masses regarding health hazard effects of smoking.
With theme-Tobacco Free Youth-this year's observance focuses on creating awareness among youths so as to persuade them to lead a healthy life. The day was observed with an aim to raise awareness about the harmful health effects of all forms of tobacco like cigarettes (including light, low-tar, and mild), smokeless tobacco, bidis, kreteks, clove cigarettes, cigars, shisha (flavoured tobacco smoked in a hookah pipe) and others. Addressing various functions, speakers said: "Tobacco is the second major cause of death in the world and is responsible for approximately one in 10 premature deaths among adults world-wide (about 5 million deaths each year).
The global burden of deaths attributable to tobacco use each year is estimated to double if current smoking patterns continue. It will cause some 10 million deaths each year and half the people that smoke today -that is about 650 million people will eventually be killed by tobacco'. Pakistan Medical Society (PMS) in collaboration with the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS) on Saturday organised a seminar.
UVAS VC Professor Mohammad Nawaz, Professor Mohammad Amjad of College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan (CPSP), Professor Munir Saleemi of King Edward Medical University, Professor Azeem Jehangir of Sir Gangaram Hospital, Dr Masood Sheikh of PMS and Dr Sadeen Khalid spoke on the occasion.
Professor Nawaz said smoking beyond any doubt causes many diseases and ailments. Smoking causes heart attack, cancer of lungs of oral cavity, cancer of oesophagus, cancer of sound box (larynx), lung diseases like chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
Professor Azeem Jehangir said smoking decreases oxygen supply to the heart and enhances the process of atherosclerosis. He said that smoking increases the risk of heart disease three times as compared to a non-smokers. It greatly increases the danger to have heart attack when other risk factors like hypertension or diabetes mellitus are also present in an individual.
Dr Masood Sheikh said that smokeless tobacco causes oral cancer and might be a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, bidis increase the risk for oral, lung, and esophageal cancers while waterpipe smoking increases the risk for oral and lip cancer and obstructive lung disease. Maulana Akram Kashmiri urged the youths to follow Islamic teachings that will help overcome the bad habit of smoking. He said ban on smoking must be implemented in letter and spirit.