History of Smoking

Smoking is the act of inhaling and exhaling the fumes of burning plant material like marijuana and hashish. But it is most commonly associated with tobacco as a cigarette, cigar, or pipe. Smoking has a long and complex history. It began as a ceremonial and ritualistic practice among the Native Americans. But in the late 15th century, when Christopher Columbus and the other European explorers arrived in Americas, they observed the practice of smoking and brought tobacco back to Europe. By the early 1600, tobacco use had spread across Europe and Asia. However, by the mid 20th century, scientific research began revealing the health hazards associated with smoking.

Epidemiology of Smoking in India

India positions 2nd globally and 1st in the Southeast Asia region in terms of tobacco users. In India, more than 1 million adults die every year due to tobacco use, accounting for 9.5% of overall deaths. According to the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) conducted in 2016-17, the overall prevalence of smoking tobacco is 10.38%, and the prevalence of smokeless tobacco use is 21.38%. The prevalence among the adults is 28.6%, either in smoked or smokeless form, including 42.4% of men and 14.2% of women. According to National Family Health Survey 2019-21, use of tobacco was highest in males aged 50-64 with 52.8%, and among prevalence rate was 18.6% for the age group above 65. In 2019,8.5% of youths(9.6% boys & 7.4% girls) aged 13-15 years were current tobacco users. About 2.6% of youth (3.5% boys, 1.6% girls) aged 13-15 years were current cigarette smokers, while 4.1% of youths used smokeless tobacco.

What causes Smoking?

Nicotine addiction is the main cause of smoking. Nicotine is the main addictive substance in cigarettes and other forms of tobacco. As soon as it enters the body, it reaches the brain within 10 seconds and releases dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and motivation. This dopamine surge leads to the craving of nicotine, causing smokers to feel tired and fatigued, and making them crave that sensation again. Its regular use builds up a high tolerance to nicotine, so to get the same buzz again, you need to smoke a larger number of cigarettes. And this causes addiction to smoking.
Many people smoke to relieve stress, anxiety, PTSD, negative moods, and loneliness.
Many people start smoking under peer pressure to fit in with their friends and social groups.
Some are not aware of the health-related hazards and the addictive nature of nicotine.
Some smokers smoke for the enjoyment. They enjoy its smell and taste as it can be perceived as stimulating or relaxing.

Health hazards of smoking

Smoking significantly harms health, leading to numerous diseases and a decrease in lifespan. It can cause long-term effects on the body, including respiratory symptoms, the cardiovascular system, etc.

Smoking & Respiratory system

The risk of lung disease from smoking includes nonmalignant Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD). COPD encompasses disease such as chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and small airway disease. The patient presents with the symptoms of shortness of breath, cough, with sputum. It affects the alveoli in the lungs. In long-standing cases, it leads to sleep deprivation, heart problems, weight loss, and depression. In high-income countries, 70% of COPD cases are due to smoking, whereas in low-income countries, 30-40% of cases are due to household air pollution. Therefore, COPD due to tobacco smoking has become a major health concern.

Smoking and Heart

Smoking has a negative impact on blood vessels and the heart, thus increasing the risk of coronary heart disease and peripheral vascular disease. Nicotine decreases HDL(good cholesterol), increases LDL (bad cholesterol ) and triglycerides, which accelerate atherosclerosis, enhancing the risk of coronary artery disease and stroke. Nicotine stimulates the sympathetic nervous system, causing hypertension(raised BP). It also damages the endothelium of blood vessels making them more prone to plaque buildup, consequently narrowing and hardening of the arteries, reducing the blood flow. Thus causing the peripheral vascular disease.

Smoking and Cancer

Smoking tobacco is a leading cause of cancer. Nicotine damages the DNA and interferes with normal cell function. Other chemicals with the tobacco, like benzene, formaldehyde, tobacco-sp nitrosamines(TSNAs), aromatic hydrocarbons, etc., are the carcinogens causing lung cancer, bladder carcinoma, oral cancer, cervical cancer,etc.

Who are Secondhand Smokers?

Secondhand smokers, also known as passive smokers, environmental tobacco smokers are individuals who inhale smoke from the burning tobacco products and exhaled smoke from smokers. Even passive smokers are at increased risk of lung cancer by 20-30%. Wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath are common symptoms among the exposed person. Among passive smokers,62.6% were exposed to cigarette smoking for more than six days a week. This figure was higher in women as compared to men. And such exposure had a decreasing trend with age. Women aged 45-54 years reported the highest exposure to passive smoking.

Benefits of Quitting Smoking

Quitting smoking is quite beneficial for people to improve their health. This can be done irrespective of age and duration of smoking. Quitting improves life expectancy, reduces the risk of coronary artery disease, stroke, Chronic obstructive lung disease, cancer, and poor reproductive health outcomes. Quitting smoking is the single most effective way to protect yourself, family members, co-workers, friends, and others from the health risk associated with passive smoking.

Is Smoking A Nature’s Way Of Thinning The Herd??