Near East University Hospital Yeniboğaziçi Chest Diseases Specialist Assoc. Prof. Dr. Fadime Tülücü warned on World No Tobacco Day: Children of smoking parents are more likely to suffer from respiratory tract diseases such as bronchitis, pneumonia, and asthma!
Despite being preventable, smoking continues to be one of the most widespread and deadly public health problems in the world today. According to World Health Organization (WHO) data, approximately 14 thousand people die every day and 5.5 million people die every year due to smoking-related diseases. Experts predict that this number will reach 8.5 million per year by 2030.
Making statements on the occasion of May 31st “World No Tobacco Day”, Near East University Hospital Yeniboğaziçi Chest Diseases Specialist Assoc. Prof. Dr. Fadime Tülücü drew attention to the destructive effects of smoking on health. Emphasizing that smoking is not an innocent habit but a chronic disease that has fatal consequences, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tülücü said, “Smoking is a preventable cause of death and medical support should definitely be sought to quit.” Drawing attention to the fact that there are more than seven thousand chemicals in cigarettes and that at least 81 of these cause cancer, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tülücü said, “One in three children who try smoking becomes addicted.” She added that due to the differences in the genetic map of individuals, the disease-causing effects it has on individuals, such as the degree of addiction, also vary.
Stating that smoking causes permanent damage to all organs, especially the lungs, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tülücü said that smoking causes many serious health problems such as COPD, lung cancer, cardiovascular diseases. She also stated that it increases the risk of heart attack by narrowing the veins and weakens the immune system, leaving the body vulnerable to infections.
It kills not only the smoker, but also those around him!
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Fadime Tülücü drew attention to the fact that respiratory diseases such as bronchitis, pneumonia and asthma are more common in children of parents who smoke. She stated that this situation can slow down lung development in children and cause a decrease in lung capacity. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tülücü emphasized that the risk of lung cancer increases by 21 percent and the risk of cardiovascular diseases by 27 percent in adults exposed to passive smoking, and stated that if this exposure continues for many years, the risk rates can double. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tülücü stated that the risk of breast cancer increases by 70 percent in women due to passive smoking, and that the overall risk of death increases by 2 to 10 times.
Near East University Hospital Yeniboğaziçi Chest Diseases Specialist Assoc. Prof. Dr. Fadime Tülücü stated that the neurotoxic effects of smoking can cause learning disabilities, memory problems and a decrease in academic success in young people. She stated that these effects increase the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s in older ages.
7 out of every 10 people want to quit smoking!
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Fadime Tülücü emphasized that the elements of “desire, support and treatment” are extremely important in the smoking cessation process, and stated that 7 out of every 10 people want to quit smoking, but only 40 percent can do so successfully. Stating that there is no miracle in medicine and that individuals who want to quit smoking should definitely undergo a treatment process under the supervision of a doctor, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tülücü said, “Relapse is quite common during this process, therefore regular follow-up is necessary. The most effective results are obtained by applying drug treatment and behavioral therapy methods together.”