Mumbai: Tobacco consumption is one of the major causes of death and illness worldwide. While the recent Indian Council for Medical research (ICMR) study states that it is one of the leading causes for 30 % of all cancers in India, another Abnormality Report put together by Indus Health Plus, pioneer in preventive health check-up from January 2015 to April 2016, revealed that 20-25 % of population in Mumbai are under the risk of oral cancer due to the consumption of Tobacco. The sample size for the study was 35,662 people.
The report suggests that one in three adults in Mumbai consumes tobacco on a regular basis. Experts shared that one in ten is likely to die of premature death if the current pattern continues. More than 30% of the population consumes tobacco in the form of cigarettes or gutka.
Population in the age group of 35-45 years, are at higher risk of suffering from heart diseases by 25 – 30% and lung cancer by 12 – 18%. Not just chewing gutka and smoking, but passive smoking is also increasing in Mumbai.
| Abnormality Report | Mumbai | |||
| Indus Health Plus | ||||
| Jan 2015 – April 2016 | ||||
| Male | Female | |||
| Total no. of people tested | 19675 | 15987 | ||
| List of diseases | In Numbers | In Percentage | In Numbers | In Percentage |
| CT Brain / neck vessels | 1180 | 6.5 | 862 | 5.42 |
| Heart Problem | 1357 | 6.9 | 1023 | 6.48 |
| Hypertension | 1170 | 8.9 | 1165 | 7.33 |
| Obesity | 1495 | 7.9 | 1151 | 7.28 |
| Diabetes | 1042 | 5.3 | 783 | 4.91 |
| PFT | 1652 | 8.4 | 1055 | 6.65 |
Mr Amol Naikawadi, Preventive Healthcare Specialist, Indus Health Plus says, “Overall 80% of COPD cases are due to tobacco smoking and is one of the leading cause of deaths in Maharashtra. xx% of males in the age group of 30-35 years are more prone to COPD as compared to females in Delhi. Consumption of tobacco is an emerging social and public health problem and there is a need to sensitize masses towards the ill-effects of tobacco. Therefore, we strongly believe public awareness campaign will make people conscious and create a positive impact in quitting tobacco.”
It has been observed that those from semi urban and rural parts of Mumbai, both males and females, 20-25% of them consume tobacco, many of them started with early age.It was shared by more than 35-40% of those who came for checkups are in a habit of smoking because of the pan shops outside school/colleges. There has been an increase in initial smokers and tobacco consumers amongst younger population by 7-8%. In India 15% of cancer patients are children and young adults, compared to the global average of 0.5 %.There has been an increase in first time smokers and tobacco consumers amongst younger population by 7-8%.
WHO’s recommendation of plain packaging initiative will limit the consumption of Tobacco. Experts are of the opinion that a strong will power and medical counselling helps to overcome smoking. Consumption of Tobacco in any form increases the risk of COPD, Brain Stroke, Heart Attack, Asthma, Lung Cancer, Interspatial Lung Disease – respiratory disease and Diabetes. It can be controlled if people will quit tobacco, be physically active and eat healthy diet.
