The harmful chemicals in cigarettes directly affect health. Even non-smokers can suffer from various diseases by being exposed to cigarette smoke. Stating that carcinogenic substances in cigarettes are more in hookah and electronic cigarettes, Chest Diseases Specialist Dr. Esra Ekbiç Kadıoğlu said, “People think hookah and electronic cigarettes are more innocent, but it is definitely not true. Hookah causes 50 times more damage than cigarettes. Smoking a hookah for 1 hour is the same as smoking 50 cigarettes, there are many chemicals in electronic cigarettes,” he said.
MOST CLEAR DAMAGE LUNG CANCER
Emphasizing that smoking will cause a number of harmful chemicals to enter the body, which can lead to many serious diseases, Dr. Esra Ekbiç Kadıoğlu said, “One of the most obvious damages is that it causes lung diseases. Cigarette smoke irritates the airways of the lungs and damages lung tissue. Long-term smoking can lead to decreased lung function and respiratory failure. Exposure to tobacco smoke through passive smoking can also cause respiratory diseases and many other health problems.
“Smoking 10 cigarettes a day increases the risk of lung cancer 20 times”
Saying that smoking is one of the biggest threats to health, Dr. Kadıoğlu said, “The risk of lung cancer increases 20 times in those who smoke 10 or less cigarettes a day, and 5 times in those who smoke less than 4 cigarettes. Smoking causes many lung diseases. Smoking is a major cause of serious health problems such as lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), bronchitis and emphysema. Compared to non-smokers, the incidence of these diseases in smokers is quite high. COPD is one of the most common causes of smoking and is a progressive disease. It manifests itself with symptoms such as shortness of breath, cough and sputum and significantly affects the quality of life. Lung cancer is one of the most serious consequences of smoking. Chemicals in cigarette smoke trigger the formation of cancer cells by damaging DNA. Lung cancer usually has no symptoms in the early stages, and treatment options may be limited as the disease progresses. Therefore, quitting smoking can significantly reduce the risk of lung cancer. Apart from respiratory tract cancers, smoking can also cause bladder, pancreatic, esophageal, cervical cancer and acute leukemia. It can also increase the risk of breast and colon cancer,” he said.
NON-SMOKERS CAN ALSO BE AFFECTED BY SMOKING
Stating that smoking is dangerous not only for users but also for those around him, Dr. Kadıoğlu, “Passive smoking increases the risks of respiratory tract infections, asthma, COPD and lung cancer in people exposed to cigarette smoke. Especially children, pregnant women and people with chronic diseases are more affected by cigarette smoke. It has been shown to cause brain tumors and liver cancer, especially cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma in children. Even if the mother does not smoke while pregnant, even the father’s cigarettes can increase the risk of the unborn child developing brain tumors and leukemia. For this reason, non-smokers should also take care not to be exposed to cigarette smoke.
“THE SMOKING RATE UNDER 15 AGE INCREASES”
Stating that the smoking age is gradually increasing in young people under the age of 15, especially the use of hookah and electronic cigarettes has become widespread. Kadıoğlu said, “The carcinogenic substances in cigarettes cause more damage in hookahs and cigars, and 50 times more damage than hookah cigarettes. People think that hookah and electronic cigarettes are more innocent, but it is definitely not true. Smoking a hookah for 1 hour is the same as smoking 50 cigarettes, and electronic cigarettes contain many chemicals. After October 2019, there were many hospital admissions, intensive care admissions and deaths, 70 percent of whom were men and 80 percent were 35 years old, due to acute respiratory failure due to electronic cigarette use in the United States. This disease, which is called acute lung injury due to electronic cigarettes, has caused the death of many young people.
“CIGARETTE IS THE BASIC RISK FACTOR IN ALMOST EVERY HEALTH PROBLEM”
Stating that it is vital to quit smoking, Dr. Dr. Kadıoğlu said, “Quitting smoking not only improves lung health, but also positively affects general health. During the smoking cessation process, smoking cessation programs, nicotine replacement therapy, drug treatments and psychological support can be obtained. These are very helpful in the smoking cessation process. Smoking is the main risk factor for almost every health problem. He ended his speech by saying that quitting smoking for a smoker is more important and beneficial than any other treatment.
(DHA)