Every April 5 marks the National Lung Cancer Day, a condition that is among the first ten causes of death in the country and among deaths from cancer, it ranks first.
With about 10,000 new cases each year, lung cancer is a disease of public health importance. During 2015, this cancer caused 1.7 million deaths worldwide.
The majority of lung cancer cases, about 71%, are related to smoking. The tobacco smoke exposure second-hand, radon gas and smoke from wood and solid fuels are other important factors that increase the risk of developing this disease.
exist two types of lung cancers: small cell and non-small cell, the latter representing between 85% and 90% of cases.
Between the symptoms of this condition Persistent, worsening or bloody cough, chest pain, shortness of breath are found. As well as wheezing (sound that occurs when breathing), loss of weight or appetite.
WHAT RISKS AND CONSEQUENCES DOES TOBACCO USE HAVE?
According to World Health Organization (WHO), tobacco is the leading preventable cause of disease, disability and premature death in the world. In Europe, smoking causes 1.2 million deaths each year. It is directly related to the appearance of 29 diseases (of which 10 are different types of cancer). And is the leading cause of most deaths from lung cancer and more than 50% of cardiovascular diseases.
Between the diseases related to tobacco include the following:
- Chronic bronchitis.
- Pulmonary emphysema.
- Lung cancer.
- Arterial hypertension.
- Coronary heart disease (angina or myocardial infarction).
- Cerebrovascular accidents (thrombosis, hemorrhages or embolisms).
- Gastrointestinal ulcer.
- Chronic gastritis.
- Laryngeal cancer.
- oropharyngeal cancer.
- Kidney or urinary tract cancer.
- Male sexual impotence.
Additional risks in women:
The probability of having a heart attack it is multiplied by 10 in women who smoke and use oral contraceptives.
Among female smokers, menopause is early an average of between 2 and 3 years compared to women who have never smoked. Increases the risk of osteoporosis.
tobacco use increases by 70% the risk of dying prematurely from various diseases derived from tobacco consumption. This increased risk is directly proportional to the length of time smoked, the number of cigarettes smoked daily, the depth of smoke inhalation, and the nicotine and tar content of the brand smoked.
How to get smokers to quit
To reduce the number of smokers, various strategies have been implemented in many countries. The best known are the incorporation of legends and warning images on packs. An additional tax is also applied and mass dissemination campaigns have been carried out to raise awareness among the population.
Now, one aspect that you must remind your patients who are smokers at all times is that it’s never too late to give up vice. It is not easy because of the sense of dependency that addiction provokes; however, it’s worth a try
On the occasion of the National Day Against Lung Cancer, we share with you a infographic with all the short and long term effects experienced by smokers when they quit tobacco. The list is quite extensive and you can share it with your patients to get them on track to adopt a healthy lifestyle.
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