As much as 28.6% of the Indian population uses tobacco products, and 1.35 million people die due to tobacco use every year, according to Dr G.C. Khilnani, chairman of Delhi's PSRI Institute of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine.
Worldwide, tobacco use causes more than eight million deaths per year predominantly from cancer, heart disease, and lung diseases.
India Becoming Hub for Tobacco Use
Of these eight million, 1.2 million are due to second-hand smoke or passive smoking, says Dr Khilnani, quoting a recent study, adding that unfortunately, 80% of tobacco users live in low and middle-income countries.
"It is distressing to see India becoming the capital for tobacco use (besides being capital for diabetes) as people tend to consume it not just by smoking but also chewing Indian forms of tobacco products such as gutka, khaini, and others", Dr Khilnani told Sputnik.
Tobacco consumption increases the risk of cancer, heart disease, stroke, lung diseases, diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) like emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
Smoking also increases the risk of tuberculosis, certain eye diseases, and problems of the immune system, including rheumatoid arthritis.
Passive smoking can also cause stroke, lung cancer, and coronary heart disease in adults, while children can be at increased risk for sudden infant death syndrome, acute respiratory infections, asthma and other respiratory issues, and slowed lung growth.
Sudarshan Patnaik, a famous sand artist from India, who created stunning sculpture to raise awareness about the dangers of smoking
© Photo : Sudarsan Pattnaik
While many people start consuming tobacco in their teenage years or earlier, Dr Khilnani explained that most of them don't have any idea about the harmful effects of it on the quality of life and longevity.
However, he emphasized that if people quit tobacco consumption at younger ages, there can be a substantial reduction in the excess mortality associated with continued smoking.
"Quitting smoking and tobacco use would not only lead to better health and quality of life but it can also lead to relative risk reduction of mortality from 2.8% to 1.15% which is indeed a huge benefit. Earlier the better, especially before the age of 45 years", Dr Khilnani added.
Although quitting tobacco use is not impossible, many face difficulty in ridding themselves of it.
"It's never too late. Quite often tobacco users take it as 'fait accompli' and consider it too late to try and get rid of this menace. The main reason for facing difficulty in quitting tobacco use is the addiction to nicotine. However, with willpower and assistance with various medications by doctors, one can succeed in quitting it", D. Khilnani signed off.