Effects of smoking on your health

Smoking has a lot of negative effects on the health. It is a major risk factor for heart attacks, strokes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (including emphysema and chronic bronchitis), and cancer particularly lung cancer, cancers of the larynx and mouth, and pancreatic cancer.

Several countries have taken measures to control the consumption of tobacco with usage and sales restrictions as well as warning messages printed on packaging.

Despite the efforts made by government agencies, campaigns by non-governmental organizations, parental caution and monitoring, the number of smokers among adolescents continues to increase daily.

According to a recent Report by the World Health Organisation (WHO) six million people die from smoking each year. And if nothing is done; this figure will rise to eight million people by 2030; and eighty percent of these deaths will come from developing countries like Nigeria.

“Smoking is a major risk factor for heart attacks, strokes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,” said Doctor Ismaila Daro, a General Medical practitioner at the Gwarinpa General Hospital, Abuja.

A 35 –year-old man who doesn’t want his name published, said he smoked tobacco for ten years, and he developed liver and lungs diseases. He said his doctor told him that if he continued smoking, it would kill him in a short time.

Another person simply called Musty who spent six months in the hospital for lung disease and chest pain said he was taken to Egypt for treatment.

Mubarak who is still smoking said even though he was aware of the negative effects he couldn’t stop smoking.

“I smoke weed, Dokha, cigarette and Shisha,” he said “I can’t stop it for now. I am enjoying it. It makes me happy, and takes away all my worries. I am so addicted to smoking that there are some kind of activities I can’t perform without taking it” he explained.

Dr Daro said: “Tobacco use is also a significant factor for women having miscarriages among pregnant smokers. It also contributes to a number of other health problems for the fetus; such as premature birth, low birth weight, and increases by 1.4 to 3 times the chance of sudden infant death syndrome.”

However, experts said if someone stops smoking, then these chances gradually decreases as the damage to their bodies are repaired.