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Tribune News Network
Doha
The Tobacco Control Center at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) has warned about the relationship between smoking and lung infections, which may cause serious diseases such as viral and bacterial lung infections as well as tuberculosis.
This weakens the immunity of smokers’ lungs compared with non-smokers, increasing the risk of COVID-19 complications in them.
The warning was issued as part of marking the International Day for Lung Disease Awareness.
According to Dr Ahmad Al Mulla, head of HMC’s Smoking Cessation Clinic, the second most dangerous disease that may infect the lungs as a result of smoking is the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) that combines bronchitis and emphysema of lung vesicles. As many as 80–90 percent COPD patients are smokers. Studies show that negative smoking, also known as passive smoking, is a major cause of COPD among non-smokers.
Lung cancer ranks third among the most serious diseases caused by smoking, as it is responsible for more than 90 percent of lung cancer cases. Recent estimates indicate that smokers are 25 times more likely to get lung cancer than non-smokers. The risk of getting lung cancer is related to the amount and duration of smoking and can increase as the individual smokes more. However, the earlier the smoker quits the habit, the more he reduces the risk of getting lung cancer as well as many other diseases.
Dr Al Mulla explained that all kinds of tobacco products are harmful to health as they negatively impact the health of the lungs, however, smoking Shisha (hookah or waterpipe) is the causes of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease more than any other forms of smoking.
He said a single shisha session is the same as smoking 20 to 60 cigarettes. Its toxic effects come from its main ingredients, including tobacco, charcoal and fructose molasses. Shisha can also increase the amount of carbon monoxide in the air when smoked in enclosed spaces and can spread infections when shared by several smokers.
Dr Jamal Bashi, smoking cessation specialist at HMC’s Tobacco Control Center, explained that lungs are the largest and most vital organs in the body, as all other organs depend on lungs for the supply oxygen and to get rid of the carbon dioxide produced during food combustion in cells. Unfortunately, smokers expose this vital organ to many risks, he added. Tobacco Control Center has called on all smokers to take advantage of the centre’s services and to consider quitting smoking by calling 40254981 or 50800959.
Doha
The Tobacco Control Center at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) has warned about the relationship between smoking and lung infections, which may cause serious diseases such as viral and bacterial lung infections as well as tuberculosis.
This weakens the immunity of smokers’ lungs compared with non-smokers, increasing the risk of COVID-19 complications in them.
The warning was issued as part of marking the International Day for Lung Disease Awareness.
According to Dr Ahmad Al Mulla, head of HMC’s Smoking Cessation Clinic, the second most dangerous disease that may infect the lungs as a result of smoking is the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) that combines bronchitis and emphysema of lung vesicles. As many as 80–90 percent COPD patients are smokers. Studies show that negative smoking, also known as passive smoking, is a major cause of COPD among non-smokers.
Lung cancer ranks third among the most serious diseases caused by smoking, as it is responsible for more than 90 percent of lung cancer cases. Recent estimates indicate that smokers are 25 times more likely to get lung cancer than non-smokers. The risk of getting lung cancer is related to the amount and duration of smoking and can increase as the individual smokes more. However, the earlier the smoker quits the habit, the more he reduces the risk of getting lung cancer as well as many other diseases.
Dr Al Mulla explained that all kinds of tobacco products are harmful to health as they negatively impact the health of the lungs, however, smoking Shisha (hookah or waterpipe) is the causes of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease more than any other forms of smoking.
He said a single shisha session is the same as smoking 20 to 60 cigarettes. Its toxic effects come from its main ingredients, including tobacco, charcoal and fructose molasses. Shisha can also increase the amount of carbon monoxide in the air when smoked in enclosed spaces and can spread infections when shared by several smokers.
Dr Jamal Bashi, smoking cessation specialist at HMC’s Tobacco Control Center, explained that lungs are the largest and most vital organs in the body, as all other organs depend on lungs for the supply oxygen and to get rid of the carbon dioxide produced during food combustion in cells. Unfortunately, smokers expose this vital organ to many risks, he added. Tobacco Control Center has called on all smokers to take advantage of the centre’s services and to consider quitting smoking by calling 40254981 or 50800959.
