Smoking: Its Health Effects and Cessation

Abstract

Cigarette smoke is linked to increased frequency of pulmonary infection, airway hyper-reactivity and chronic inflammation. It is a cause of death which can be prevented. Smoking prevention and cessation are the vital intervention which health care workers especially Doctors can achieve in improving the health of their patients. Worldwide about 4million people die annually from tobacco related illnesses and by 2030 it is estimated that this value will rise to 10million deaths each year and that 70% of these deaths will be in the developing world due to its increasing rate of smoking. Smoking cessation reduces mortality and morbidity. Its benefit starts from the time a smoker stops smoking and this depends on the duration of cessation. Outright cigarette prohibition may not be feasible but the examples of parents, teachers, sports men and women, politicians and the general public is vital in the cessation of smoking. The epidemics of smoking related mortality and morbidity should therefore be the concern of all levels of the society. We hereby advocate that health care workers should play a leading role in providing and creating a tobacco free society.