- It is estimated that there are 1.1 billion smokers in the world.
- Smoking is listed as the addiction that causes more deaths on the planet.
- Every May 31, World No Tobacco Day is commemorated to call on the population to become aware of the dangers of this habit.
There are health problems that can be avoided and the smoking is one of the main ones because it is about the addiction that causes more deaths in the world. Each year it is responsible for 8 million deaths and that is why this habit is considered the first preventable cause of death. It is estimated that there are more than 1.1 billion smokers.
Regarding the national panorama, it is estimated that every day 135 people die in Mexico due to problems related to smoking. The list ranges from cardiovascular, respiratory and chronic problems to various types of cancer.
According to Dr. Miguel Sierra Miranda, Scientific Advisor for Immuno-Oncology at Bristol Myers Squibb Mexico (BMS), smoking has a strong economic and social burden. In our country, for example, care for diseases attributable to it represents an annual health cost of more than 80 billion pesos. Of them, more than 8 billion are for lung cancer care.
Given this, he pointed out the need to intensify actions focused on tobacco control, to continue studying the effects of exposure to the smoke it generates (it contains thousands of chemical substances or carcinogens, including at least 70 that are known to cause cancer). Also provide a timely diagnosis through the annual performance of a chest computed tomography to adults with risk factors for the development of lung tumors.
He noted that while the primary benefit of screening is a lower chance of dying from lung cancer, which claims the lives of approximately 1.8 million people in the worldthe reality is that there are still those who believe that they are guilty of suffering from it for having smoked at some point in their lives.
Not all cases of lung cancer are caused by smoking
Although 80% of cases are directly related to tobacco use, Dr. Sierra Miranda specified that there are other risk factors that can contribute to its development. These include having a family history, drinking water contaminated with arsenic or prolonged exposure to asbestos, radon gas or cooking with firewood inside the home.
He indicated that the lack of knowledge about lung cancer is one of the barriers that delays timely treatment. It is also the fact that it is a “silent” condition that does not give symptoms in its early stages or is often confused with pneumonia, tuberculosis or other lung diseases. Hence, 7 out of 10 patients are diagnosed late, that is, when the tumor is advanced or has invaded other parts of the body such as the brain, bones and liver.
In Mexico, lung cancer is located in seventh place due to its frequency; however, it is the most lethal tumor, which is why it is considered the leading cause of death from cancer. In 2020 alone, more than 7,000 new cases and the same number of deaths from their cause were detected.
Therefore, every May 31, the WHO commemorates the world no tobacco day, a date that makes it possible to call on society, but especially decision makers, to promote effective policies to reduce this habit. The risk of severe illness and death from lung cancer is increased by more than 71% of smokers. Similarly, it invites to demystify smoking as the only cause for its development, while implementing prevention actions, timely detection and access to innovative treatments.