Chacko Anthony SJ
Tobacco is a killer. It comes in many forms to befriend you. It smothers, chokes or drags you to death. It comes as cigarette, cigar, beedi, khaini, tobacco with betel nut and pan leaf, plain tobacco for chewing, tobacco dust as snuff or stuffing between the lip and the tongue,and products made with jelly and sweetners.
Tobacco use causes many chronic diseases such as cancer, lung infection, cardio-vascular ailments and stroke. India claims 1.35 million deaths every year due to tobacco use. Incidentally, India is the second largest consumer and producer of tobacco. About 20 million children between 10–14 ages are estimated to be tobacco-addicted according to a survey done by the National Sample Survey Organization of the Indian Government.
About 80% of all COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) is caused by cigarette smoking. Smoking can cause blockages and narrowing in your arteries causing heavy damage to the heart.
Cigarette smoke irritates air passage; it can trigger sudden and severe attacks of asthma. Smoking affects your arteries; it can trigger stroke.
In women it can cause ectopic pregnancy. (Fertilised egg gets implanted outside the uterus). Smoking also causes reduced fertility. In pregnant women smoking during pregnancy can cause premature births and/or with a low birth-weight. Babies can run the risk of health complications and even death.
The effects of smoking not only impact mother’s health, and alos of hr child.
The risk of developing type 2 diabetes is 30 to 40% higher for smokers than non-smokers. Smoking can make you go blind. Tobacco use in any form can cause cancer affecting colon, cervix, liver, stomach, mouth, skin and pancreas.
The business world wants to amass wealth by peddling tobacco products in many forms and shapes. Their advertisements allure people, particularly the young. It is hypocritical to print on the killer tobacco product, ‘Warning: injurious to health.’ Then, why not ban it wholesale?