TOBACCO and HEART disease

The magnitude of cardiovascular diseases to (CVDs) continues accelerate worldwide. There is need for increased alertness both at national and international level.

- Dr Mahantesh R. Charantimath

Use of tobacco is a major risk factor for coronary heart disease, stroke, and peripheral vascular diseases. There is less awareness among large sections of the public that tobacco is one of the leading causes of CVD, despite the overwhelming harms of tobacco to the heart health.

Key facts:

Tobacco kills half of its users, it takes above 7 million lives each year.

6 million plus deaths internationally are due to tobacco use, around 890000 are result of second-hand smoker.

As per Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) tobacco-related deaths are expected to reach 8 million by 2030. It is estimating to doubling of deaths because of the increase in smoking among young girls, the high smoking exposure of new smokers, increasing secondhand smoke and pro-tobacco indirect advertising.

Passive smoking fills smoke in restaurants, offices or other enclosed spaces. More than 34,000 passive smokers die from heart disease each year. Unfortunately, it is turning to be a leading cause of heart disease in children, partner and friends.

Passive smoking causes serious cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, including coronary heart disease and lung cancer.

Smoking during pregnancy is causing high complications during delivery. it causes low birth weight of the newborn babies. There is also high risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

Children exposed to passive smoking are more likely to have ear infections and asthma.

Third hand smoke is residual nicotine and other chemicals left on indoor surfaces by tobacco smoke. People are exposed to the chemicals by touching contaminated surfaces or breathing in the off gassing from these surfaces.