Jump to full article: The New Times (rw), 2007-05-01
Author: Dr. Rachna Pande
Intro: Your esteemed newspaper is making appreciable efforts by publishing many articles to awaken the people against the hazards of smoking. World 'No Smoking Day' is pretty close (May 31). It is time to remind people not only of the hazards of smoking but tobacco consumption in general.
Tobacco is a cash crop grown from centuries in many parts of the world. It creates many hazards in the workers on the fields cultivating it. Hazards of musculo – skeletal strain and trauma, exposure to dust of various kinds and fumes of pesticides are the same as for other agricultural workers. But those working with tobacco are at the risk of acute nicotine poisoning or, 'green tobacco sickness.' . . .
Even the use of snuffs and cigars is harmful. They have many toxins and nicotine in high levels. Those who chew tobacco are at a high risk of developing cancers of the oral cavity. Some people keep tobacco in their mouths for long, probably to relish the taste. These persons tend to develop a condition called 'sub mucous fibrosis', where the mouth fails to open fully, thus creating problems in eating or talking.
I have seen boys barely out of their teens suffering from this condition, which has to be corrected surgically. . . .
Breathing exercises have been tried successfully in India in programmes to help individuals to give up any addictions including tobacco. There is absolutely no reason why they would not succeed elsewhere. These exercises help a person to exert greater control over self which is the prerequisite for giving up any addiction.
Let's all join in saving the world from the ills of tobacco.
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