Electronic or e-cigarettes, that vapourise nicotine, are being increasingly used all over the world even though information about their effects is very sketchy. However, following the UAE example, number of GCC countries is considering a ban on the electronic cigarette citing health concerns .Read about the fact related to smoking and benefits of quitting it.
Recently the members of the GCC anti tobacco committee, part of the executive office of the GCC health ministers, emphasized that the e-cigarette is considered tobacco product or a way of promotion for smoking but not a solution to control smoking.
During the 20th meeting of the committee Dr. Wedad Al Maydoor, the chair of the tobacco control committee at the UAE Ministry of Health said, ‘ The members assured that a number of GCC countries are considering a ban on the electronic cigarette citing health concerns and coinciding with the directives of the World Health Organization.
Various Health studies had warned that the smokeless stick that burns up to provide a kick to smokers is as harmful to health as the tobacco-filled cigarette”.
The e-cigarettes, resembling a real cigarette, are made of stainless steel and have a chamber to store liquid nicotine. It is a battery-powered device that allows nicotine to be vaporised and absorbed by the “smoker”.
The Food and Drug Administration in the USA had recently warned against its use since they contain carcinogens and toxic chemicals.
The e-cigarette was banned in the UAE two years ago after consulting with the relevant authorities, though in some GCC countries, it is available on prescription, she informed.
Facts about smoking
- Forty per cent of UAE school students in their early teens are in the country’s ever-growing list of smokers
- The Smoking was the second major cause of death in the UAE where a total of 19 per cent of the population smoke according to a WHO study. This places the country second only to Qatar – where 37 per cent of the people smoke – in the GCC region.
- Prevalence of smoking within the UAE – Adult male 27.2 (21.9-32.5) / Adolescent 16.0 (12.2-19.8) / Female 2.4 (0.5-4.4)
- 4.5 million Children between the ages of 12 and 17 are currently tobacco users.
- Each day, 3,000 kids become regular smokers and one-third eventually die from tobacco – related diseases
- $50 billion is spent annually on direct medical cost associated with smoking or 7% of the nation’s health care cost.
It is believed that many smokers reach for a cigarette to help ease their anxiety during stressful periods.
However, American researchers have found that quitting smoking makes people happier, and the effect lasts for as long as they manage to kick the habit. The researchers concluded after study that even if some people report using tobacco to ease stress and boost their mood; it is likely to have the opposite effect.
Benefits of quitting Smoking
Within 1st week
- Your breath smells better
- Better food taste
2 weeks to 3 months
- Lung function increases
- Risk of heart attack decreases
1 to 9 months
- Coughing and shortness of breath decrease
1 year after quitting
- Risk of being affected by coronary heart disease is halved to that of smoker
Controlling cigarettes in all forms is one of the main priorities for GCC countries as it seeks to increase its awareness campaigns especially among younger generations.
Reference:
http://www.moh.gov.ae/en/NewsDetails617.aspx
http://www.e-cigarette.hk/en/node/1582
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle09.asp?xfile=data/theuae/2010/November/theuae_November581.xml§ion=theuae