Tobacco, still a silent killer
Tobacco was discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1492. Initially, it was only smoked by high-class personalities during festivities but Columbus took it back to Europe where it gained recognition. Smoking increased dramatically during world wars, it was supplied to troops for free mainly to boost their morale but later in the 20th century, it became […]
Tobacco was discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1492. Initially, it was only smoked by high-class personalities during festivities but Columbus took it back to Europe where it gained recognition.
Smoking increased dramatically during world wars, it was supplied to troops for free mainly to boost their morale but later in the 20th century, it became less popular due to a rapid increase in its health effects. Several types of research were conducted and books published on the dangers of tobacco to health.
According to World Health Organisation (WHO), every year roughly about eight million people die from smoking-related diseases and more than seven million of those deaths are the result of non-smokers being exposed to second-hand smoke. There is no form of tobacco that is safe. The misconceptions people had about e-cigarette (Shisha) being harmless was nullified by health experts, who said it is injurious to health. They further explained that all forms of tobacco share similar health risks and contain almost 30 cancer-causing chemicals.
Some people smoke cigarettes to numb their level of depression and stress but it was proved that smoking does not lessen depression but aids in storing toxins that could lead to death.
One of the key causes of smoking is growing up in a family where everyone freely smokes; sending children on errands to buy cigarette or smoking it in their presence make them see it as good and gain the audacity to give reasons whenever they are caught in the act.
Smoking is a threat to health as it weakens the immune system because nicotine hinders its smooth function; it also leads to bad breath, stained and tooth loss. Minor sickness to other people that do not smoke becomes serious to those that smoke because their immune systems are weak and could not stand against the invading nicotine toxins.
Prolonged smoking could also lead to weight loss, the feebleness of the body, dry and wet cough, pain in the chest, back or shoulders.
Unknown to the majority is that people who closely sit when someone is smoking suffer more and have similar health problems; they usually inhale the exhaled smoke without getting it out.
Negligence by authorities concerned about imposing unbearable taxes on cigarettes or related products makes cigarettes available almost everywhere.
The Cancer Council has stated that ‘If the present weak regulations in developing countries continue, tobacco would kill approximately 10 million people annually’.
Therefore, to eliminate tobacco usage, there is a need to decrease the level of tobacco adverts, marketing and promotion in online and offline media. Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) is a milestone in the protection of public health.
Some of the measures carved out by FCTC include monitor ing tobacco use and prevention, protecting people from tobacco use, offering help to quit tobacco use, warning about the dangers of tobacco, enforcing bans on tobacco adverts, promoting or sponsorship and the last one was raise taxes on tobacco. Enforcing these measures by countries could eventually lead to tobacco-free societies.
Governments should establish centres for keeping repented smokers. This is to make them forget their past smoking life and build a greater future. Heavy tax should be imposed on tobacco, tracking and tracing devices should be made available at borders in order to detect tobacco hidden in luggage and anyone found guilty should be punished.
Researches need to be conducted on incomes and prices of cigarette should be increased so as to pass the income of smokers, which in the end would have no choice than to abandon the act.
Mukhtar Kobi, can be reached via [email protected]