Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
Tobacco smoke can harm people even when they are not the ones holding a cigarette. A new study published in The Lancet Public Health has highlighted the enormous health burden linked to exposure to smoke from other people’s tobacco use in India. The study estimates that 325,600 deaths in India were attributable to second-hand smoke in 2023, a sharp increase from 217,700 deaths in 1990.
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The findings are particularly concerning because the number of Indians exposed to tobacco smoke has increased even though the overall percentage of the population exposed has fallen. According to the study, around 444 million people in India were exposed in 2023, compared with 375 million in 1990. This represents an increase of about 18.4% in the absolute number of people exposed over the period.
The research shows that even when the proportion of people exposed declines, population growth can result in a larger number of people being affected. This has contributed to a substantial health burden linked to tobacco smoke exposure in India.
DEATHS HAVE RISEN BY ALMOST 50% SINCE 1990
The study found that deaths linked to second-hand smoke increased from 217,700 in 1990 to 325,600 in 2023, representing a rise of almost 50% over 33 years.
The increase was seen among both men and women. Deaths among women rose from 113,400 in 1990 to 156,900 in 2023. Among men, deaths increased from 104,300 to 168,700 during the same period.
The study also estimated that exposure to second-hand smoke was responsible for 9.28 million disability adjusted life years in India in 2023. Disability adjusted life years, or DALYs, measure the amount of healthy life lost because of premature death, illness or disability.
These figures show that the impact of exposure is not limited to deaths. Millions of healthy years are also lost because of diseases and health problems associated with tobacco smoke exposure.
HOW TOBACCO SMOKE CAN AFFECT THE HEART AND BRAIN
The health effects associated with exposure were linked to several serious conditions, including ischaemic heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, breast cancer, type 2 diabetes, asthma and lower respiratory infections.
Dr KK Talwar, Cardiologist and Chairman of PSRI Heart Institute, New Delhi, explained that exposure to tobacco smoke can affect the inner lining of blood vessels.
“Passive smoking is as bad as active smoking. When you inhale nicotine, it affects the inner layer of the arteries that go to the brain and the heart. Because of the damage to the endothelium and inner layer of the vessel, there is inflammation and then a plaque forms, which can be a source of blockages that can cause a stroke,” he said.
He also pointed to concerns around stroke among younger people exposed to cigarette smoke, saying, “Heart stroke in young people has been on the rise in the last seven years by 2 per cent every year.”
SECOND HAND SMOKE CAN ALSO AFFECT THE LUNGS
The effects of exposure are not limited to the cardiovascular system. The study linked second-hand smoke to lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma and lower respiratory infections.
Dr Udgeath Dhir, Director and Head of Cardio Thoracic Vascular Surgery at Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurugram, said people exposed to second-hand smoke face a higher risk of cardiovascular problems.
“People exposed to second-hand smoking have a 20 to 25 per cent higher chance of cardiovascular death, heart attack, brain stroke and other related diseases than those who aren’t exposed to it,” he said.
“Smoke has particulate matter and nicotine, which can affect cardiovascular health, the heart and its arteries. Passive smoking can lead to chronic changes which can affect their neurodevelopment. It is specifically bad for pregnant women as they’re nurturing two lives,” Dhir added.
He also warned that smoking can have serious consequences even when it is viewed as a social activity. “In society, it appears that smoking is a status symbol in different circles. However, one should remember that it is so harmful that it can even lead to sudden cardiac death, in some cases,” he said.
CHILDREN FACE A SIGNIFICANT HEALTH BURDEN
Children were also significantly affected. According to the study, lower respiratory infections were the leading contributor to the disease burden among children associated with second-hand smoke exposure.
Children can be exposed to smoke in homes and other indoor environments, making repeated exposure a concern. Their developing lungs can also make them particularly vulnerable to respiratory problems.
Dr Praveen Bansal, Oncologist at Asian Hospital, Faridabad, advised people to take steps to reduce exposure.
“People need to avoid sitting in front of someone when smoking because they’re inhaling all the smoke, which can create deposits in the lungs that also increase the chances of cancer,” he said.
He added that pregnant women and children should not be exposed to cigarette smoke and advised people to avoid smoking in crowded places.
INDIA HAD THE SECOND-HIGHEST NUMBER OF EXPOSED PEOPLE
India had the second-highest number of people exposed to second-hand smoke globally in 2023, behind China.
The study estimated that China had around 664 million exposed people, while India had approximately 444 million. Indonesia was also among the countries with the largest exposed populations.
Together, China, India and Indonesia accounted for nearly half of the world’s population exposed to second-hand smoke in 2023.
Globally, the study estimated that 2.71 billion people were exposed to second-hand smoke in 2023. The exposure was associated with approximately 1.66 million deaths and 44.8 million disability-adjusted life years worldwide.
EXPOSURE RATE HAS FALLEN, BUT THE NUMBER HAS RISEN
One of the key findings from India is the difference between the exposure rate and the actual number of people exposed.
The study found that India’s age-standardised exposure prevalence declined from 43.2% in 1990 to 30.6% in 2023. This means the proportion of the population exposed became lower over the period.
However, the absolute number of people exposed increased from 375 million to 444 million. The rise means that a larger number of people were exposed despite the decline in the overall prevalence.
The findings highlight the continuing scale of tobacco smoke exposure in India and its impact on public health. The study shows that exposure is associated with millions of lost healthy years and hundreds of thousands of deaths every year.
The research also demonstrates that the effects of tobacco use can extend beyond people who smoke. Reducing exposure, particularly among children and pregnant women, can therefore be an important part of reducing the health burden linked to tobacco smoke.
As Dr Dhir put it, “One should, anyway, quit smoking at any point in time.”
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
