Million deaths among Indian smokers expected in 2010

Starting 2010, it is predicted that at least one million Indians will die soon due to tobacco use. As this happens, it is tantamount to mass killing caused by the complications of tobacco intake.

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In this case, what could be best measures that the Indian government can impose to reduce the number of deaths in the country among smokers?

Deterioration of the respiratory system and the prevalence of lung diseases are the primary results of too much smoking. The usual diseases contacted by the dying smokers are tuberculosis, lung cancer and heart problems.

Recently, the New England Journal of Medicine published that 900,000 deaths annually are recorded among Indian smoking patients.

Are these not enough to give caution to the Indian population to reduce smoking if not totally eradicate the habit? As the prevalence of smoking continues in New Delhi, more than the deaths among smokers, the nation’s air pollution problem will climb higher.

Harvard University Professor Amartya Sen said smoking is one of the 10 risk factors causing numerous Indian deaths. As predicted in the years to come, smoking will be the culprit in 20 percent of male deaths and 5 percent in females, respectively among adults aged 30 and 69.

Bidi are the usual small cigarettes used by Indian smokers. Men who frequently use them lose six years in their life expectancy as compared to women who take away eight years for their survival. But males who habitually smoke full-sized cigarettes are anticipated to die 10 years earlier than those who don’t.

Such figures were backed by a thorough survey participated by 1.1 million homes in India with 900 field researchers.

According to lead researcher Professor Prabhat Jha of the University of Toronto, Indian smokers are mostly older when they start the habit as compared to European and American smokers. It was found that there are 120 million Indian smokers.

Certainly, the statistics among Indian smokers is alarming and needs immediate plan of action. Whatever India will do can be a good example to the world as to how the country will solve its smoking crisis, especially to other Asian nations experiencing the same problem.

Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss, India’s health minister, said all efforts will be considered to reduce tobacco use. Information dissemination among smokers, particularly those belonging in the marginalized sector is the first step.

Perhaps, banning smoking in public places and reducing commercial advertisements on cigarettes can help.

Director Jean King of tobacco control of Cancer Research UK recommended India to study about the best practices in Europe that made an impact in the reduction of lung cancer cases in the past 30 years.

BBC News