Ref: CHB/HB/45/15
THE HAZARDS OF SMOKING & PASSIVE SMOKING
How can smoking affect your health?
Smoking:
- Harms nearly every organ of the body
- Causes many diseases and reduces the health of smokers in general
Therefore, quitting smoking lowers your risk for smoking-related diseases and can add years to your life
Cancers:
Not only does smoking increase the risk for lung cancer, it’s also a risk factor for cancers of the:
- Mouth
- Larynx (voice box)
- Pharynx (throat)
- Nose & Sinuses
- Lips
- Esophagus (swallowing tube)
- Liver
- Bladder
- Pancreas
- Stomach
- Ovary (mucinous)
- Colon/Rectum
Smoking and Increased Health Risks:
Smokers are more likely than non-smokers to develop heart disease, stroke, and lung cancer.
- Smoking is estimated to increase the risk—
- For coronary heart disease by 2 to 4 times
- For stroke by 2 to 4 times
- Of men developing lung cancer by 25 times
- Of women developing lung cancer by 25.7 times
- Smoking causes diminished overall health, such as self-reported poor health, increased absenteeism from work, and increased health care needs and cost.
Quitting and Reduced Risks
- Quitting smoking cuts cardiovascular risks. Just 1 year after quitting smoking, your risk for a heart attack drops sharply.
- Within 2 to 5 years after quitting smoking, your risk for stroke could fall to about the same as a non-smoker’s.
- If you quit smoking, your risks for cancers of the mouth, throat, esophagus, and bladder drop by half within 5 years.
- Ten years after you quit smoking, your risk for lung cancer drops by half.
What is secondhand smoke?
When non-smokers are exposed to Secondhand Smoking (SHS) it’s called involuntary smoking or passive smoking. Non-smokers who breathe in SHS take in nicotine and toxic chemicals by the same route smokers do. The more SHS you breathe, the higher the level of these harmful chemicals in your body.
Why is secondhand smoke a problem?
Secondhand smoke causes cancer
Secondhand smoke is classified as a “known human carcinogen” (cancer-causing agent)
Where is secondhand smoke a problem?
You should be especially concerned about exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) in these places:
At work
The workplace is a major source of SHS exposure for many adults.
Among adult non-smokers, SHS in the workplace (example offices, shops) has been linked to an increased risk for heart disease and lung cancer. Smoke-free workplace policies are the only way to prevent SHS exposure at work.
In public places
Everyone can be exposed to SHS in public places, such as Mosque Compounds, Schools, Madressahs, Meeting Halls, Restaurants, Shopping Centres, Public Transport, Play Grounds etc. Make sure that your children’s Daycare Center or School is smoke-free.
At home
Making your home smoke-free may be one of the most important things you can do for the health of your family. Any family member can develop health problems related to SHS.
Children’s growing bodies are especially sensitive to the toxins in SHS. Asthma, lung infections, and ear infections are more common in children who are around smokers. Some of these problems can become serious and even life-threatening.
Think about it: we spend more time at home than anywhere else. A smoke-free home protects you, your family, and even your guests.
What can be done about secondhand smoke?
Want to avoid secondhand smoke? Try these tips:
- Don’t allow smoking in your home. If your guests smoke, ask them to do it outside.
- If your partner smokes, encourage him or her to quit.
- Don’t allow smoking in your vehicle.
- Only visit restaurants and other businesses that enforce no-smoking policies.
- Choose smoke-free care facilities for children and aging loved ones.
Reference:-
CHB Advice to Jamaats:
Following our advice to our Member Jamaats long time ago, mostly all Jamaats implemented the Policy of “No Smoking” in Jamaat’s public areas effectively, however this Policy require reinforcement from time to time as some people needs to be reminded and also sometimes to be cautioned.
“Say NO to TOBACCO”
“Community’s health – CHB’s priority”