It’s Never too Late to Quit

Health Hazards | May 29, 2011 | Share

Hookah parlours are proliferating in every city and the rise in cigarette smokers among college-goers is inescapable. Notwithstanding the numerous laws prohibiting smoking, the popularity of such cafes and hookah bars that are ubiquitous, densely concentrated near college campuses to cater to their loyal customer base of youngsters, is very disturbing. Majority of the smoking populace start smoking early in their lives. Erroneous information of hookah smoking being nontoxic measured up to the effects of cigarette smoking is a misconception among the youth. A good number of hookah consumers have not smoked cigarettes but it nonetheless indicates the beginning of their relationship with tobacco products.

The fragrant smell and flavours of mint, jasmine and rose intoxicates the consumers with a mild smoke in contrast to the cigarettes’ harsh smoke since the smoke is cooled by water prior to entering the mouthpiece via a rubber hose, thus, inhaling the scented smoke profoundly and consuming higher volume of tobacco than 1-2 mgs of tobacco inhaled during cigarette smoking. Originated in India, it’s a multi-stemmed smoking device using charcoal to heat molasses-soaked tobacco.

Various societal and environmental factors are inextricably linked to being the cause for youngsters to take up hookah and smoking. Susceptibility to peer pressure, influence by observing their close ones, easy availability and affordability gets youngsters gradually addicted to hookahs. Nicotine generated in its smoke is a psychoactive chemical absorbed in the blood that reaches the brain within 7 seconds of its inhalation (faster than after an intravenous injection) possessing stimulant properties that has a tranquilising effect on heightened nerves. The varied reasons for one to continue with the tobacco products like cigarettes knowing its adverse health effects are pleasurable sensations, anxiety reduction and stress relief, continuation of habit and addiction, weight management by suppressing the appetite, social smoking, and enticing advertisements by celebrities and merchandising by tobacco industry by portraying it to be in vogue.

The tobacco smoke generated due to burning of the cigarettes and even from the smoke generated through hookahs contains a mixture of toxic gases like carbon monoxides, oxides of nitrogen, hydrogen cyanide along with a host of other chemicals like tar, nicotine, some of which are carcinogenic. The environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) from cigarettes, pipes, beedies is inhaled involuntarily by the people in its vicinity along with the smoker, adversely affecting the non-smokers significantly due to their exposure to considerable quantities of noxious products which enter their body.

The detrimental effects attributable to hookah smoking (also called as “narghile” or “shisha”) and cigarette smoking on one’s health is lung and bladder cancer, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), emphysema, coronary heart disease, reduces women’s fertility, increases the risk of miscarriage and premature birth, and impairs cognitive abilities. The World Health Organisation (WHO) predicts 10 million deaths by 2030 as a consequence of smoking-related diseases, spearheading as the leading cause of deaths globally.

Immediate intervention is essential from an individual’s perspective and at the state level so as to prevent exacerbation of one’s health and population as a whole. Escalation of excise taxes on such tobacco products can assist in the marginal reduction of its consumption. Implementing campus-wide bans on these products and enforcing smoke-free policies (including hookahs) in public places and residential complexes should be checked with strict vigilance. Criticizing media for endorsing smoking in public and discouraging this habit as immoral. Health oriented programs to promote the advantages to abstinence from smoking and improve the environment.

Smoking cessation or quitting can preserve one’s body from further deleteriousness. One can select any approach according to one’s preference and requirement from among: nicotine replacement therapy which includes nicotine lozenge, inhalers and gums, antidepressants, hypnosis, rehabilitation centres and support groups, and last but not the least, self-help. On abrupt quitting one can experience withdrawal symptoms like insomnia, fatigue, depression, constant cravings, petulance, weight gain, giddiness, indigestion and sore throats, as one’s body is accustomed to enduring high doses of nicotine. Such effects should not deter someone to abandon; instead one should remind oneself of the benefits of quitting versus that of smoking, that being within two days of stopping, chances of a heart attack reduces and oxygen level in the blood returns to normal. Lackadaisical efforts won’t be sufficient to overcome this addiction. One should resist temptation by commitment and motivation by reminding oneself that such urges and symptoms would be temporary. So, Happy
Breathing Fresh Air!

Radhika Saraf