According to the data provided by the Spanish Society of Pneumology and Thoracic Surgery (Separ), 23 percent of the Spanish population over 16 years old is a smoker. Chronologically and in general terms, at the age of 13, cigarettes are tested for the first time; At age 14, smoked regularly, and between 15 and 24, 15.5 percent of women and 21.6 percent of men are smokers.
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Nicotine has an addictive capacity that exceeds cocaine five times, so quitting is not impossible, but not easy either. It requires not only the help and support of the family environment, but also of experts, because few people manage to leave it at first. "The importance of attending specialized programs lies in the personalization and monitoring of treatment to stop smoking, because not all people have the same degree of dependence on nicotine or metabolize it in the same way," explains the expert. "In smoking cessation programs you will find professionals who will advise you, support you and, if necessary, indicate the appropriate pharmacological treatment."
The beginning of a new year is a good time to set goals. These are five reasons why quitting tobacco should be one of them:
1. It contains a high toxicity
In the world, 15,000 million cigarettes a day are consumed. A single cigarette contains more than 35,000 toxic products, among which are, according to the Spanish Association Against Cancer (AECC), nicotine (responsible for the physical dependence of the smoker), carbon monoxide (reduces the blood oxygen of smokers ) and irritants (which can cause chronic bronchitis and pulmonary emphysema). In addition, the cigar contains other substances such as tar, which decomposes into hydrocarbons that are carcinogenic. According to the AECC, tobacco carcinogens also act in the different phases of carcinogenesis or transformation process of normal cells in tumors.
2. It is more addictive than cocaine
According to the Ministry of Health, tobacco is considered an addictive drug. It produces more dependence on those who consume it than heroin or cocaine, which means that the smoker continues to be so for an average of 30 years. "Smokers are not aware that a cigarette is a product designed to create and maintain addiction, nicotine has an addictive capacity that exceeds 5 times cocaine and its sole purpose is to produce a false sense of pleasure that engages", exposes Juan Antonio Riesco, coordinator of the Separ Year 2015-2016 of COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease).
3. Kill 6 million people per year
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), tobacco is one of the greatest threats to public health: it kills almost 6 million people a year, of which, more than 5 million are direct consumers and more than 600,000 are non-smokers exposed to second-hand smoke (passive smoking). In addition, smokers live less: from the age of 35, for every year smoked, a loss of 3 months of life is estimated. But also, smokers have a higher risk of getting sick.
4. It is the direct cause of 25 diseases
Tobacco produces 25 known diseases divided into three major groups of diseases: tumoral, cardiovascular and chronic respiratory diseases. Specified in percentages, it is considered that tobacco is responsible for 30 percent of deaths from cancer, 20 percent of those caused by cardiovascular diseases, and 80 percent of those caused by COPD.
"If we focus on respiratory diseases, the close relationship between snuff and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is proven and we know that 1 in 4 people smokers suffer from COPD. We also know that smokers have up to 5 times more risk of pneumonia than non-smokers in the general healthy population, "Riesco warns.
5. Kill innocent people
According to the WHO, there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke. In adults, second-hand smoke causes serious cardiovascular and respiratory disorders, particularly coronary heart disease and lung cancer. Among infants it can cause sudden death, while in pregnant women it causes low birth weight of the newborn.
The total results are about 600,000 premature deaths per year caused by secondhand smoke.