The Tobacco Epidemic

2382 Words5 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: health effects of cigarettes essay

Introduction

Tobacco epidemic killed 100 million people worldwide in the 20th Century. Tobacco epidemic could kill 1 billion in the 21st century alone. Smoking is responsible for the death of one in ten adults worldwide (about 5 million deaths per year) and, if current smoking patterns continue, by 2030 the proportion will be one in six, about 10 million deaths per year (World bank, 1999). This means that about 500 million people alive today will eventually be killed by tobacco (Peto & et al, 1994).

Since the 1950s, more than 70,000 scientific articles have left no doubt that smoking is an extraordinarily important cause of premature mortality and disability around the world. In populations where cigarette smoking has been common for several decades, about 90% of cases of lung cancer, 15–20% of cases of other cancers, 75% of cases of chronic bronchitis and emphysema and 25% of deaths from cardiovascular diseases in those 35–69 years of age are attributable to tobacco. Studies have shown that half of all long-term smokers will die of a tobacco-related disease and, of these, half will die before the age of 65 (World bank, 1999).

The 2009 Global Adult Tobacco Survey estimates that adult smoking prevalence in the Philippines is 28.3%, which is equivalent to 17.3 million Filipinos aged 15 years old and over who are cigarette smokers. 47.7% (14.6 million) and 9.0% (2.8 million) of the 15 years old and over population are male and female smokers, respectively. The 2007 Global Youth Tobacco Survey also estimates that about 17% or 4 million Philippine youths aged 13-15 years are also current smokers. (Department of Health, 2010) It is predicted that tobacco will kill over 175 million worldwide between 2005 and the year 2030 (Mathers &...

... middle of paper ...

...r 2010)

Benowitz, N.L. (1996). Pharmacology of Nicotine: Addiction and Therapeutics. Annual Review of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 36, 597-613

Kozlowski, L.T., Henningfield, J.E., Brigham, J. (2001) Cigarettes Nicotine and Health. Sage Publications Ltd. London. United Kingdom

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Annual Smoking-Attributable Mortality, Years of Potential Life Lost, and Productivity Losses—United States, 2000–2004. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 2008;57(45):1226–8 [accessed 11th of November]

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Health Consequences of Smoking: A Report of the Surgeon General. Atlanta: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Office on Smoking and Health, 2004 [accessed 11th of November]

Show More
Related

  • Smokeless Tobacco Essay

    965 Words  | 2 Pages

    The prevalent use of tobacco products among Americans is an important issue that should be brought to the surface. This issue should be raised because many of the diseases and illnesses associated with tobacco use are preventable. Most individuals are aware of the health threats associated with tobacco use, but are unable to quit. As future healthcare professionals, part of our duty is to educate the public about these health threats as well as help tobacco users quit. Throughout this paper we will inform about the various tobacco products, the effects they pose on the body, cessation options and strategies available for users, and learning outcomes.

    Read More

  • Nicotine Research Paper

    1286 Words  | 3 Pages

    Nicotine illustrates one of the most popular addictive substances in the world. Since the early colonization of the united states, nicotine has increased in popularity with the first source originating from tobacco. Unfortunately, undesired health effects are present with tobacco use as a result of additives present in the smoke such as cyanide, benzene, formaldehyde, methanol, acetylene, and ammonia. The health effects of tobacco were publicized in the 1960s with large campaigns launching to spread awareness over the risks associated with its use; however, this attempt did not prove incredibly successful as a result of the nicotine dependence that developed with continued cigarette use.

    Read More

  • A History of Tobacco and Smoking in America

    1167 Words  | 3 Pages

    Every year cigarette smoking is responsible for 500,000 premature deaths (Nugel), you do not want to be just another statistic, do you? America’s first cash crop was tobacco. That means that tobacco has been around for a really long time. It was not until 1865, though, that cigarettes were sold commercially. They were sold to soldiers at the end of the Civil War (Dowshen). From then, cigarettes spread like wildfire, and it was not until 1964 that anyone made a stand about the negative effects of tobacco and cigarettes. People start smoking for all different reasons, some to fit in and some to “escape”. Regardless, it is a horrible habit. 3900 children will try their first cigarette today. Amongst adults who currently smoke, 68% of them began at age 18 or younger, and 85% at 21 or younger (American Lung Association). And of all those people, 70% say if they were given another chance they would never have picked up that first cigarette (Tobacco Free Maine). Smoking is responsible for 1 and 5 deaths in the united states, and is the number one preventable cause of death (NLH). Smoking burns and there is no doubt about that, but before one picks up that cigarette, understand the negative effects on not only oneself, but others affected by ones poor choices, like second-hand smoke. Because of smoking cigarettes, many types of cancer, decrease of life quality, and negative health effects have become all too common in the world today.

    Read More

  • Smoking Cigarettes

    1230 Words  | 3 Pages

    Cigarette smoking stay the top preventable cause of sickness and early death in the United States because not only it asserts over 400,000 lives a year but it enhances the danger of  someone dying from illnesses such as heart disease, stroke emphysema and a diversity of cancers (Douglas E.Jorenby) . Despite information about the bad side effects of smoking on health, 25% of adults in the United States keep on smoking. One of the reason  why people seems to not easily quit smoking and continue to do it has to do with the addictive nicotine, a substance found in all types of tobacco products.

    Read More

  • Tobacco: The Negative Health Impact Of Tobacco

    1457 Words  | 3 Pages

    Smoking cigarettes is a detrimental practice not only to the smoker, but also to everyone around the smoker. According to an article from the American Lung Association, “Health Effects” (n.d.), “Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the U.S., causing over 438,000 deaths per year”. The umbrella term for tobacco use includes the use of cigarettes, cigars, e-cigs and chewing tobacco. While tobacco causes adverse health consequences, it also has been a unifying factor for change in public health. While the tobacco industries targets specific populations, public health specifically targets smokers, possible smokers, and the public to influence cessation, policies and education.

    Read More

  • Tobacco: Avoidable Deaths In The United States

    2959 Words  | 6 Pages

    The use of tobacco is the leading cause of preventable deaths in the United States, accounting for more than 443,000 deaths each year. More than 16 million Americans suffer from a disease caused by smoking. On average, smokers die ten years earlier than non-smokers. About 18.1% of all adults (42.1 million Americans) are currently users of tobacco. The number of people addicted to products such as tobacco is too high, and can be lowered.

    Read More

  • The Detrimental Health Impacts of Smoking

    1120 Words  | 3 Pages

    Due to a recent resurgence of consumption, the effects and health consequences of smokeless tobacco products are a major public health interest. He studied the degree course and time from the absorption of nicotine and cardiovascular effects of smokeless tobacco products (oral snuff and chewing tobacco) and in relation to smoking cigarettes and chewing nicotine gum in 10 healthy volunteers. High nicotine content was similar but, due to prolonged nicotine absorption, total exposure was twice as long after the single exposures to smokeless tobacco products compared with smoking cigarettes. All tobacco use increase in heart rate and blood pressure, with a trend toward greater influence overall cardiovascular despite evidence of growing resistance to the effects of nicotine with the use of smokeless tobacco products. Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics

    Read More

  • Our Little Smoking Problem

    618 Words  | 2 Pages

    Tobacco results in upwards of half a million American premature deaths per year. That is more deaths than by HIV, drug and alcohol abuse, automobile accidents,suicides and murders combined. For every one of those deaths, nearly 20 other Americans suffer from a tobacco-related illness.Tobacco-related illness places an enormous burden on the healthcare system, with cigarette smoking driving $193 billion in cost, and second hand smoke adding another $10 million.

    Read More

  • Smoking Cessation Methods

    1226 Words  | 3 Pages

    The development of smoking cessation drugs dates back to 1971 when Pharmacia developed the first nicotine replacement product for smoking cessation, nicotine-laced chewing gum.11 Ensuring, contemporary nicotine replacement products can help relieve so...

    Read More

  • New York Tobacco Issues

    1167 Words  | 3 Pages

    Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States, worldwide, and most importantly, in New York. Although the tobacco industry appears to be a beneficial addition to our economy, it has been a socially acceptable business in the past because it brings jobs to our people and tax money to our government; but the cost of tobacco related treatment, mortality, disability, and pollution, the government winds up having to provide the funds to programs related to these issues. If current smoking patterns continue, by 2030 the proportion of tobacco related death will be one in six, about 10 million deaths per year (World bank). There are scientific articles regarding the relation of premature mortality and disability to tobacco use. Places where tobacco use is commonly used, about ninety percent of cases of lung cancer, fifteen percent of cases of other cancers, seventy-five percent of cases of bronchitis and emphysema and twenty-five

    Read More

  • Article: Vaping Is Better Than Smoking?

    1912 Words  | 4 Pages

    Tobacco still kills six million people around the world every year. Despite huge public health efforts to help people quit and prevent young people starting, smoking remains the single greatest cause of ill health and premature death.

    Read More

  • What Is Cigarette Smoking In The United States?

    319 Words  | 1 Pages

    For this paper, I will to focus on smoking in the United States population as smoking causes a significant burden on health care systems and on the economy. Smoking negatively affects most organs, causing cancer, heart disease, stroke, lung disease, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and other diseases. Tobacco use costs more than $300 billion per year in medical care and lost productivity due to premature death and secondhand smoke in the United States. Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of preventable disease and death in the United States (US), causing more than 480,000 deaths per year in the US and contributing to smokers dying ten years earlier than nonsmokers. Additionally, nicotine, an ingredient naturally in

    Read More

  • Smoking Ban - Smoking In Public Places

    1269 Words  | 3 Pages

    Smoking is a simple process of inhaling and exhaling the fumes of burning tobacco, but it has deadly consequences. According to the American Cancer Society, smoking is the most preventable cause of death in America today (Encarta, 2002). Until the 1940?s, smoking was considered harmless. It was at this time that epidemiologists noticed a dramatic increase in the cases of lung cancer. A study was then conducted between smokers and nonsmokers to determine if cigarettes were the cause of this increase. This study, conducted by the American Cancer Society, found increased mortality among smokers. Yet it was not until 1964 that the Surgeon General put out a report acknowledging the danger of cigarettes. The first action to curb smoking was the mandate of a warning on cigarette packages by the Federal Trade Commission (Encarta, 2002). In 1971, all cigarette advertising was banned from radio and television, and cities and states passed laws requiring nonsmoking sections in public places and workplaces (Encarta, 2002). Now in some cities smoking is being completely banned from public places and workplaces and various people are striving for more of these laws against smoking.

    Read More

  • The Negative Effects of Smoking Cigarettes

    1520 Words  | 4 Pages

    “Dangers of Smoking Cigarettes for Smokers” healthliteracy.worlded.org. Copyright 1995 by Marjorie Jacobs revised 1997, n.d web 14 April 2011

    Read More

  • Tobacco and Cigarette Smoking

    1044 Words  | 3 Pages

    One person dies every six seconds due to a tobacco related disease, which results in a shocking amount of ten deaths per minute. Tobacco is one of the most heavily used addictive products in the United States. Tobacco contains over 4,000 chemicals; approximately 250 are dangerously harmful to humans. Smoking is a major public health problem. All smokers face an increased risk of lung cancer, cardiovascular problems and many other disorders. Smoking should be banned due to the many health risks to the user, second hand related smoke illness, and excessive cost.

    Read More

More about The Tobacco Epidemic

Open Document