 |
|
India caught in catastrophic smoking epidemic
February 14, 2008Researchers predict 1M tobacco deaths a year during the 2010s
India is in the midst of a catastrophic epidemic of smoking deaths, which is expected to cause about one million (10 lakh) deaths a year during the 2010s - including one in five of all male deaths and one in 20 of all female deaths at ages 30-69. On average, male bidi smokers lose about six years of life, female bidi smokers lose about eight years and male cigarette smokers lose about ten years.
The findings are from the first nationally representative study of smoking in India as a whole. The research, led by a team from India, Canada and the UK, is published online today (February 13, 2008)[1] in the New England Journal of Medicine.
About 900 field workers surveyed all adult deaths during 2001-2003 in a nationally representative sample of 1.1 million (11 lakh) homes in all parts of India. Researchers compared smoking histories of 74,000 adults who had died with 78,000 living controls.
Among men in the study who died at ages 30-69, smoking caused about:
* 38% of all deaths from tuberculosis (1,174 out of 3,119 deaths)
* 31% of all deaths from respiratory disease (1,078 out of 3,487)
* 20% of all deaths from vascular disease (1,102 out of 5,409)
* 32% of all deaths from cancer (709 out of 2,248)
* 23% of all deaths from disease (5,651 out of 25,290)
Lead author Professor Prabhat Jha of the Centre for Global Health Research (CGHR), St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Canada, said: "The extreme risks from smoking that we found surprised us, as smokers in India start at a later age than those in Europe or America and smoke less. And, smoking kills not only from diseases like cancer and lung diseases but also from tuberculosis and heart attacks.
In India, there are about 120 million (12 crore) smokers. More than one-third of men and about five per cent of women aged 30-69 smoke either cigarettes or bidis (which contain only about a quarter as much tobacco as a cigarette, wrapped in the leaf of another plant - temburni).
The study found that, among men, about 61% of those who smoke can expect to die at ages 30-69 compared with only 41% of otherwise similar non-smokers. Among women, 62% of those who smoke can expect to die at ages 30-69 compared with only 38% of non-smokers.
I am alarmed by the results of this study," said India's Health Minister Dr Abumani Ramadoss. "The government of India is trying to take all steps to control tobacco use - in particular by informing the many poor and illiterate of smoke risks".
"It is truly remarkable that one single factor, namely smoking, which is entirely preventable, accounts for nearly one in ten of all deaths in India. The study brings out forcefully the need for immediate public action in this much neglected field", states Professor Amartya Sen, Nobel Laureate in Economics, 2001.
The study found there were no safe levels of smoking, but while the hazards of smoking even a few bidis a day were substantial, the dangers of cigarette smoking were even greater, corresponding to more than a doubling of the risk of death in middle age. This suggests that cigarette smokers lose about 10 years of life compared to non-smokers - risks similar to those seen in the West.
"Smoking kills, but stopping works - about a quarter of all smokers will be killed by tobacco in middle age, unless they stop," said co-author Professor Sir Richard Peto of Oxford University. "British studies show that stopping smoking is remarkably effective."
Summary of key findings:
* This is the first nationally representative study of smoking in India as a whole;
* During the 2010s there will be about one million (10 lakh) tobacco deaths a year in India;
* About 70% of these one million deaths will be before old age; meaning 700,000 (7 lakh) per year killed at ages 30-69 (600,000 men and 100,000 women);
* Tobacco is responsible for 1 in 5 of all male deaths and 1 in 20 of all female deaths in middle age (i.e., at ages 30-69);
* Men who smoke bidis lose on average six years of expected life, women who smoke bidis lose about eight years and men who smoke cigarette smokers lose ten years;
* Smoking kills mainly by tuberculosis, respiratory and heart disease, but also by cancer;
* Even smoking only a few (1-7) bidis a day raised mortality risks by one-third, and smoking only a few (1-7) cigarettes a day nearly doubled the risk;
* Most of the gap between male and female mortality rates in middle age is due to smoking;
* Substantial hazards were found both among educated and among illiterate adults and were found both in urban and in rural areas;
* Stopping smoking works - but, only 2% of adults have quit in India, and often only after falling ill.
Centre for Global Health Research, Toronto University
About 900 field workers surveyed all adult deaths during 2001-2003 in a nationally representative sample of 1.1 million (11 lakh) homes in all parts of India. Researchers compared smoking histories of 74,000 adults who had died with 78,000 living controls.
Among men in the study who died at ages 30-69, smoking caused about:
* 38% of all deaths from tuberculosis (1,174 out of 3,119 deaths)
* 31% of all deaths from respiratory disease (1,078 out of 3,487)
* 20% of all deaths from vascular disease (1,102 out of 5,409)
* 32% of all deaths from cancer (709 out of 2,248)
* 23% of all deaths from disease (5,651 out of 25,290)
Lead author Professor Prabhat Jha of the Centre for Global Health Research (CGHR), St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Canada, said: "The extreme risks from smoking that we found surprised us, as smokers in India start at a later age than those in Europe or America and smoke less. And, smoking kills not only from diseases like cancer and lung diseases but also from tuberculosis and heart attacks.
In India, there are about 120 million (12 crore) smokers. More than one-third of men and about five per cent of women aged 30-69 smoke either cigarettes or bidis (which contain only about a quarter as much tobacco as a cigarette, wrapped in the leaf of another plant - temburni).
The study found that, among men, about 61% of those who smoke can expect to die at ages 30-69 compared with only 41% of otherwise similar non-smokers. Among women, 62% of those who smoke can expect to die at ages 30-69 compared with only 38% of non-smokers.
I am alarmed by the results of this study," said India's Health Minister Dr Abumani Ramadoss. "The government of India is trying to take all steps to control tobacco use - in particular by informing the many poor and illiterate of smoke risks".
"It is truly remarkable that one single factor, namely smoking, which is entirely preventable, accounts for nearly one in ten of all deaths in India. The study brings out forcefully the need for immediate public action in this much neglected field", states Professor Amartya Sen, Nobel Laureate in Economics, 2001.
The study found there were no safe levels of smoking, but while the hazards of smoking even a few bidis a day were substantial, the dangers of cigarette smoking were even greater, corresponding to more than a doubling of the risk of death in middle age. This suggests that cigarette smokers lose about 10 years of life compared to non-smokers - risks similar to those seen in the West.
"Smoking kills, but stopping works - about a quarter of all smokers will be killed by tobacco in middle age, unless they stop," said co-author Professor Sir Richard Peto of Oxford University. "British studies show that stopping smoking is remarkably effective."
Summary of key findings:
* This is the first nationally representative study of smoking in India as a whole;
* During the 2010s there will be about one million (10 lakh) tobacco deaths a year in India;
* About 70% of these one million deaths will be before old age; meaning 700,000 (7 lakh) per year killed at ages 30-69 (600,000 men and 100,000 women);
* Tobacco is responsible for 1 in 5 of all male deaths and 1 in 20 of all female deaths in middle age (i.e., at ages 30-69);
* Men who smoke bidis lose on average six years of expected life, women who smoke bidis lose about eight years and men who smoke cigarette smokers lose ten years;
* Smoking kills mainly by tuberculosis, respiratory and heart disease, but also by cancer;
* Even smoking only a few (1-7) bidis a day raised mortality risks by one-third, and smoking only a few (1-7) cigarettes a day nearly doubled the risk;
* Most of the gap between male and female mortality rates in middle age is due to smoking;
* Substantial hazards were found both among educated and among illiterate adults and were found both in urban and in rural areas;
* Stopping smoking works - but, only 2% of adults have quit in India, and often only after falling ill.
Centre for Global Health Research, Toronto University
Smoking Current Events and Smoking News RSSResearch reveals exactly how coughing is triggered by environmental irritants
Scientists have revealed how environmental irritants such as air pollution and cigarette smoke cause people to cough, in research published today in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
Women Can Quit Smoking and Control Weight Gain
Many women don't quit smoking because they are afraid of gaining weight. That's because nicotine suppresses the appetite and boosts a smoker's metabolism.
Cigarettes Harbor Many Bacteria Harmful to Human Health
Cigarettes are "widely contaminated" with bacteria, including some known to cause disease in people, concludes a new international study conducted by a University of Maryland environmental health researcher and microbial ecologists at the Ecole Centrale de Lyon in France.
Study raises concerns about outdoor second-hand smoke
Indoor smoking bans have forced smokers at bars and restaurants onto outdoor patios, but a new University of Georgia study in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests that these outdoor smoking areas might be creating a new health hazard.
Early end to key study on benefits of niacin, a B vitamin, in keeping arteries open was premature
Heart experts at Johns Hopkins are calling premature the early halt of a study by researchers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and Washington Hospital Center on the benefits of combining extended-release niacin, a B vitamin, with cholesterol-lowering statin medications to prevent blood vessel narrowing.
Athletes on performance enhancers more likely to abuse alcohol, other drugs
College athletes who use performance-enhancing substances may be at heightened risk of misusing alcohol and using recreational drugs as well, according to new research in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs.
90 percent of Africans are not protected by smoke-free laws
As African nations are poised to undergo the highest increase in the rate of tobacco use among developing countries, nearly 90 percent of people on the continent remain without meaningful protection from secondhand smoke, according to a new report released at a regional cancer conference today.
Workplace BPA exposure increases risk of male sexual dysfunction
High levels of workplace exposure to Bisphenol-A may increase the risk of reduced sexual function in men, according to a Kaiser Permanente study appearing in the journal Human Reproduction, published by Oxford Journals.
Exposure to several common infections over time may be associated with risk of stroke
Cumulative exposure to five common infection-causing pathogens may be associated with an increased risk of stroke, according to a report posted online today that will appear in the January 2010 print issue of Archives of Neurology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.
Carnegie Mellon researchers link health-care debate to risk of dying in US and Europe
The current health care debate in the United States is complicated. Trade-offs between heath care expenditures, lifestyle choices and life expectancy have been suggested but seldom clearly demonstrated.
More Smoking Current Events and Smoking News Articles
 |
The Easy Way to Stop Smoking: Join the Millions Who Have Become Non-Smokers Using Allen Carr's Easyway Method by Allen Carr (Author) A new edition of the revolutionary bestseller, with four million copies in print. Allen Carr’s innovative Easyway method—which he discovered after his own 100-cigarette-a-day habit nearly drove him to despair—has helped millions kick smoking without feeling anxious and deprived. That’s because he helps smokers discover the psychological reasons behind their dependency, explains in detail how to handle the withdrawal symptoms, shows them how to avoid situations when temptation might become too strong, and enables them to stay smoke-free. Carr discusses such issues as nicotine addiction; the social “brainwashing” that encourages smoking; the false belief that a cigarette relieves stress; the role boredom plays in sabotaging efforts to stop; and the main reasons for failure. With... |
 |
Smoking Food: A Beginner's Guide by Chris Dubbs (Author), Dave Heberle (Author) Everything you need to know about home smoking. In Smoking Food, Chris Dubbs and Dave Heberle assure us that smoking is an art, not a science, and they fearlessly reveal that art's essentials—and how simple they can be. They explain how to choose the best fuels (you can use corncobs!), how to build smokers from old refrigerators and cardboard boxes, and, of course, how to smoke everything from turkeys to turtles. Their advice is as ingenious and cost-conscious as any given by Alton Brown. Aware of the needs and wants of the modern cook, they include low-sodium preparations, alternatives to preservatives like sodium nitrite, and thoughts on safely handling meat. With more than one hundred recipes and tips for making brines, marinades, cheeses, appetizers, soups, and main dishes,... |
 |
Brand New in Box Classic Tobacco Smoking Pipe by Sandra This is a beautiful smoking pipe. It is detachable into three pieces for easy cleaning. The pipe includes replacement auxiliary rubber rings, which are used to seal the detachment and one filter. This is the perfect gift for yourself or a beloved pipe smoker. Very old style, vintage type pipe. Small holes in bowl head allow for even smoke distribution with no need for a screen. Anti clog mouth peace will ensure you are ready to smoke at a moments notice! |
 |
LifeSign QuitKey Smoking Cessation Computer by LifeSign QuitKey alters your smoking routine and eases you off cigarettes gradually. QuitKey reminds you when to smoke and when not to smoke. Step by step. Hour by hour. One day at a time. The QuitKey approach to quit smoking culminates 20 years of research. It was developed and proven effective with grants from the National Institutes of Health and builds on the enormous success of LifeSign, a first generation smoking cessation computer that uses the same gradual reduction technology. QuitKey works in two stages. Stage 1 (7 days): You smoke at your normal rate and use the QuitKey smoke button to record every cigarette you smoke. QuitKey uses this information to form your personal quit plan. Stage 2 (14 to 34 days): QuitKey helps you follow your quit plan by prompting you when to... |
 |
Mastering the Craft of Smoking Food by Warren R. Anderson (Author) Here is an exceptionally complete guide to making real smoked food at home that tastes far better than commercially made products. |
 |
Thank You for Smoking (Widescreen Edition) Starring: Joan Lunden, Eric Haberman, Aaron Eckhart, Mary Jo Smith, Todd Louiso Directed By: Jason Reitman WARNING: Thank You For Smoking "just might make you laugh your head off!" (MAXIM). Aaron Eckhart stars as Nick Naylor, a sexy, charismatic spin-doctor for Big Tobacco who'll fight to protect America's right to smoke -- even if it kills him -- while still remaining a role model for his 12-year old son. When he incurs the wrath of a senator (William H. Macy) bent on snuffing out cigarettes, Nick's powers of "filtering the truth" will be put to the test. As Nick says, "If you want an easy job, go work for the Red Cross." |
 |
Smoking (My Health) by Alvin Silverstein (Author), Virginia B. Silverstein (Author), Laura Silverstein Nunn (Author) Explains exactly how smoking harms the body and how to break the habit, or avoid it altogether. |
 |
Small Brown Shiny Wooden Pipe for Tobacco Smoking with Case by Rollingforce Shiny brown pipe. Black case included. New. About 3.5 inches. Amazing item. Free Shipping to USA |
 |
Smoking Everywhere 3.0 Gold 16mg High Mint Cartridge 5-Pack by Smoking Everywhere |
 |
Hugh Hefner Smoking Jacket Costume by Zoogster Costumes Our Hugh Hefner Costume features the classic Hugh Hefner smoking jacket with pockets, belt closure and pipe. Youve always dreamed of being him, so why not look like him? Pants not included. |
| © 2009 BrightSurf.com |