Tobacco.org

• 1bn cigarettes smoked in Qatar 

At least one billion cigarettes are smoked in Qatar each year, averaging 12,000 per individual, according to a recent study by Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar (WCMC-Q).

The study also shows that $65m is spent on cigarettes annually, while $150m is spent to cover the healthcare costs of patients affected by smoking-related diseases, according to the study, which was reported by a local daily.

Smoking shisha, a leisure activity in Qatar, is the most hazardous, according to the study. In the absence of a filter, it is a hundred times more dangerous than a cigarette as it allows fumes to pass directly to the smoker’s lungs.

“Smokers, who have psychological and other problems when they plan to quit the habit should follow the periodic medical and consulting follow–up,” said Dr Mohammed Ferjy, teaching assistant in Family Medicine and manager of the Primary Care and Clinical Skills Department of WCMC-Q.

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