The Harmful Effects of Smoking

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Family Physician, discusses the harmful health effects of smoking.

Family Physician, discusses the harmful health effects of smoking.

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Video transcript

The Harmful Effects of Smoking Featuring Dr. Milan Khara, MBChB, CCFP, ABAM,

Duration: 2:00

The numbers that relate to tobacco use are actually staggering. This still is the number one preventable cause of death and disease globally. And if you look at the number of people who died worldwide today, that's 5 million per year, tobacco attributable deaths, and then very soon, probably by around 2030, there will be around 10 million tobacco attributable deaths worldwide. The number of deaths are rising, particularly in the developing world.

Most smokers understand that tobacco use is harmful, but they often underestimate the magnitude of risk. We all know about lung cancer. Those who smoke have a 20 fold increased risk of lung cancer. We know that lung cancer not the number one cancer killer in the world, 90% of lung cancer cases are attributable to tobacco smoke. So it's not just about lung cancer. A whole variety malignancies we know are linked to tabaco use. We know those who smoke are at a significantly increased risk of cardiovascular events, stroke and heart attack three to four times more likely smokers. And we also know that smokers are at a vastly increased risk of developing COPD or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

One in two of all smokers will die prematurely as a consequence of their tobacco use. And the average loss of life is thought to be something in the region of 10 to 15 years. There's a variety of places that you can go to get support and advice for smoking cessation. Whether you see a pharmacist, the practice nurse or your family doctor. The kinds of support that are out there will increase the likelihood of success. And whether that help is using a smoking cessation medication, for example, a patch or a gum or one of the prescription medications or, whether it's receiving some counseling support, some advice some strategic planning around a quit attempt, or best of all, a combination of both. That approach will be beneficial in terms of increasing the likelihood of success.

Presenter: Dr. Milan Khara, Family Doctor, Vancouver, BC

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97-100 People got two or more of these video questions wrong... ( 14 participated.)

Quiz: Do You Understand Smoking Cessation?

Questions
 
True
False
1

Smoking is solely a physical addiction.

Explanation:

Smoking is both a physical and a psychological addiction, and many people use it to cope with stress, depression or anger.

2

Your body goes through withdrawal symptoms when you quit smoking.

Explanation:

When you remove the nicotine fix, your body begins to experience withdrawal symptoms and cravings.

3

You don't need a prescription for all types of smoking cessation aids.

Explanation:

Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) products can be helpful. These are non-prescription medications that contain nicotine to reduce withdrawal symptoms.

4

Smoking is an appetite suppressant.

Explanation:

Many people who quit smoking gain weight. Smoking is an appetite suppressant, so it’s important to be mindful of your eating habits while you’re quitting smoking.

5

Prescription drugs can help with cravings but not withdrawal symptoms.

Explanation:

Prescription drugs can help you manage cravings and withdrawal symptoms.

This content is for informational purposes only, and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare professional with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

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