Millennials more into web of tobacco, smoking: Docs

By Lokmat English Desk | Published: May 31, 2021 01:40 AM2021-05-31T01:40:01+5:302021-05-31T01:40:01+5:30

Lokmat News Network Nagpur, May 30 Every year World No Tobacco Day is observed on May 31 in an ...

Millennials more into web of tobacco, smoking: Docs | Millennials more into web of tobacco, smoking: Docs

Millennials more into web of tobacco, smoking: Docs

Lokmat News Network

Nagpur, May 30

Every year World No Tobacco Day is observed on May 31 in an attempt to dissuade people from smoking or consuming tobacco, but ironically, India is home to 12 per cent of the world’s smokers, according to WHO data. More shocking fact is around 10 million die every year due to tobacco (smoking, chewing etc).

Surprisingly the incidence of smoking is going down in western countries and growing in India and more heart-breaking is that millennials are getting addicted to the tobacco culture.

Speaking to Lokmat Times, medical oncologist, HCG NCHRI Hospital, Dr Nikhil Pande said, “Tobacco chewing is rampant in Vidarbha as well as the city and most of the school and college going students are getting into the web of tobacco and smoking, which is highly dangerous. The more shocking fact is that earlier the incidence of oral or lung cancer use to be in patients above the age of 40, but now the incidence have come down between the age group of 25-40.”

Dr Pande further added that more and more youths are getting addicted to smoking or tobacco chewing due to changing culture, more freedom and income at early age. He said, “Unlike Metro cities like Mumbai & Pune, the youth in city or Vidarbha and Madhya Pradesh are more of tobacco addict as they have easy access to kharra, guthkha, which is easily available to them. People in Mumbai, Pune have adopted the culture of late night parties and staying out of home and hence smoking is very common.” Hookah is another craze, which is taking a heavy toll on the Gen Y. Chewable tobacco is a bigger menace than smoking, he added.

Another expert and consultant Chest Physician, Hope Hospital, Dr Shashank Wankhede, while talking to Lokmat Times said, “Today people have become mentally weak and there is a lot of stress and pressure which they want to release and find solace in tobacco consumption. The Gen Y starts smoking at an early age and then it becomes part of their lifestyle, which later becomes very difficult to quit. Another factor, which is also playing a major role in smoking addiction is that nowadays people are living a virtual life due to pandemic and WFH, which is boosting tobacco consumption.”

Dr Wankhede said that, “The pandemic and Covid did not have any impact on smokers or tobacco consumption, even though smoking increases the risk of Covid patients as it is a immuno supressive.”

Dr Pande also said that the habit of chewing tobacco has led to increase in the incidence of oral cancers in millennials, as the chew it for long time. Rural youth and rural women, work through out the day under the influence of tobacco. Tobacco chewing is more dangerous than smoking. He said that there is an urgent need to create awareness on school and college level about the harmful effects of tobacco consumption.

Dr Wankhede advised that support of family and society is more important to help smokers quit smoking. Apart, counselling also plays an important role, in quitting tobacco habit.

Females at greater

risk from tobacco

Dr Pande said that female smokers are more at risk of cardiovascular ailments and the incidence is rising rapidly. The prevalence of smoking has gone up significantly during pandemic as youths are staying away from family and are confined to homes without much of recreation. Females who smoke are more malignant compared to males.

Adding further, Dr Wankhede said that women have immense risk due to tobacco consumption as it affects fertility directly. After from cancer, other infections such as COPD, respiratory track infection are more in women, who are regular smokers.

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