Dr. Suresh Goyal, a senior consultant of pulmonary medicine at Ivy Hospital, said that in India over 10 million people die each year due to tobacco. In an online awareness session he mentioned the different types of conditions promoted by smoking, including various cancers, such as mouth, lungs, food pipe, kidney and pancreas. He also mentioned other conditions such as heart and lung conditions, as well as aesthetic concerns.
“It causes various types of cancer, like mouth, lungs, food pipe, kidney and pancreas etc. It leads to heart diseases, stroke, lung diseases (asthma and COPD) and various eye problems. There is an increased risk of gum disease, stained teeth and tooth loss. It also lowers the immune system and leads to increased incidence of pneumonia. Smoking increases risk of type 2 diabetes, decreases sense of smell and taste, causes bad breath and premature aging of the skin,” he said.
With regards to skin and other appearance concerns, Dr Goyal explained how smoking cessation improves one’s blood flow to the skin, hence increasing the amount of oxygen and nutrients that reaches the area. “This directly gives you a healthier complexion and improves your appearance. Smoking increases anxiety and tension. Quitting can lower your blood pressure, heart rate, there will be less shortness of breath and can be a low risk of cancer.”
Vaping products banned
Sadly, a bill banning vaping products, the most effective smoking cessation tools to date, was passed in January 2020. The latter had officially banned the production, trade, transport, storage and advertisement of electronic cigarettes across India. As a result, violators now face imprisonment of up to one year, or a fine of up to one lakh rupees, or both to a first time violator, and an imprisonment of up to three years, along with a fine of up to five lakh rupees, for any subsequent offence.
Data from India following the ban, have consistently shown that since the measure went into effect, people are still able to purchase vaping products from any paan (local tobacco) shop or online. The only difference is that the official and high quality brands can no longer be found, so young vapers are resorting to cheap and low quality versions.
Moreover, rightly highlighted a recent article on BT, as with any other ban, the market always finds a way. Data from any country following any ban has always indicated that such strict measures only lead to “thriving underground or black markets for all of these substances banned by the government and it is no different with e-cigarettes.”
Read Further: The Tribune
