*Smokeless tobacco is one of the major causes of cancer*

January 29, 2018
*Smokeless tobacco is one of the major causes of cancer*

*It can also lead to heart diseases and other associated health issues over time*
*New Delhi, January 29, 2018:* According to the recent Global Adult Tobacco Survey India Report, 2017, one in every five Indian is hooked to smokeless tobacco (SLT). Among men, two most commonly used tobacco products are SLT, that is,*khaini* (8.5 crore) and *gutka* (5.1 crore). Amongst women, the three most commonly used are SLT, that is, betel quid (2 crore), oral
application (2 crore), and *khaini* (1.9 crore).

Use of SLT can cause oral precancerous lesions such as oral submucous fibrosis, which can put the user at risk of developing oral cancer. Apart from this it can predispose the user to other infections in the mouth and also heart disease. In India, the use of SLT remains the dominant cause of tobacco-attributable diseases, including cancer of the oral cavity (mouth), esophagus (food pipe) and pancreas. SLT not only causes adverse health effects but also accounts for a huge economic burden.

Speaking about this, *Padma Shri Awardee Dr K K Aggarwal, President Heart Care Foundation of India (HCFI) and **Immediate Past* *National President Indian Medical Association (IMA), *said “Any form of tobacco like snuff, chewing, and dipping varieties which are not burnt can be termed as smokeless. Sheesha is a form of fruit-flavored tobacco, which is roasted in a foil along with charcoal and passed into a small chamber of water through a glass-bottomed pipe. It is then inhaled slowly. Of late, there has been a drastic increase in the number of teenage sheesha users with the majority of them using it mainly as a form of recreation in groups. It is a common misconception that sheesha is less damaging to the body as compared to
cigarettes and hookahs since it is flavored and passed through water. However, the substance inhaled still contains nicotine and other carcinogens which can cause a lot of damage.”

SLT also contains sugar. Therefore, prolonged chewing of tobacco and inhalation of sheesha can adversely affect control of blood sugar levels in patients with diabetes. Adding further, *Dr Aggarwal, who is also the Vice President of Confederation of Medical Associations in Asia and Oceania*, said, “Use of SLT mixed with areca nut is a common practice in India and as stated in the beginning, betel quid and gutka, the two most commonly used forms of SLT have areca nut as a common ingredient. Areca nut itself is classified as a class one carcinogenic i.e. having cancer-causing properties, besides other
adverse health effects.”

Here are some ways in which one can quit this habit.
– Try short-acting nicotine replacement therapies such as nicotine gum,  lozenges, nasal sprays, or inhalers. These can help overcome intense cravings.

– Identify the trigger situation, which makes you smoke. Have a plan in place to avoid these or get through them alternatively.

– Chew on sugarless gum or hard candy, or munch raw carrots, celery, nuts or sunflower seeds instead of tobacco.

– Get physically active. Short bursts of physical activity such as running up and down the stairs a few times can make a tobacco craving go away.

Stay informed with the latest news from HealthySoch. Sign up today for exclusive insights and updates!

We promise we never spam!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Health Tips

Dr. T S Kler Padma Bhushan Awardee
MD, DM, MRCP, FRCP(U.K), FACC, D.Sc
Chairman – Fortis Heart Institute Gurugram

Precautions to avoid Corona Virus:

  1. Stay home as far as possible.
  2. Wash hands with soap and water frequently.
  3. Keep distance from people even your home members.
  4. Keep atleast 1-2 metres away from anybody coughing.
  5. Don’t touch your face, nose and mouth.

 

Dr. K.K Says

Archives

MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
    123
45678910
18192021222324
25262728293031
       
   1234
567891011
12131415161718
26272829   
       
891011121314
293031    
       
    123
45678910
11121314151617
25262728293031
       
  12345
6789101112
13141516171819
27282930   
       
      1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
3031     
     12
17181920212223
24252627282930
31      
   1234
567891011
12131415161718
2627282930  
       
1234567
891011121314
22232425262728
293031    
       
     12
3456789
17181920212223
24252627282930
       
  12345
6789101112
       
  12345
13141516171819
2728     
       
      1
9101112131415
3031     
   1234
567891011
       
282930    
       
    123
45678910
       
  12345
27282930   
       
      1
3031     
    123
11121314151617
       
28      
       
2930     
       
    123
       
       
       
      1
9101112131415
3031     
     12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
242526272829 
       
  12345
13141516171819
2728293031  
       
      1
23242526272829
3031     
    123
       
    123
25262728   
       
78910111213
28293031   
       
293031    
       
14151617181920
28293031   
       
   1234
567891011
       
   1234
567891011
262728    
       
891011121314
293031    
       
    123
18192021222324
25262728293031
       
  12345
27282930   
       
      1
2345678
16171819202122
3031     
    123
45678910
18192021222324
       
28293031   
       
     12
31      
   1234
       
  12345
6789101112
       
HealthySoch

Don't Miss

On the occasion of International Day of Yoga, PM leads Mass Yoga Demonstration at Ranchi

Caption :The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi practising Yoga in

Keep cool and don’t let the sun’s heat strike you down

Author : Dr.  Mohan Kumar, Columbia Asia Hospital Sarjapur Road,