Smoking kills — in India too

[prasad1]

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The India Human Development Survey (IHDS) was first conducted in 2004-05. In this survey, 41,554 households were surveyed in both urban and rural areas in all States and Union Territories with the exception of Andaman-Nicobar and Lakshadweep. At this time, extensive information about the lifestyles of over two lakh individuals residing in these households was collected. In 2011-12, these same households were surveyed again. We were able to re-interview about 83 per cent of the original households. At the time of the re-interview, information on current location of the individuals from the original household was obtained, including whether they are still alive. Thus, we have access to a prospective data set, which contains both information on smoking tobacco products and whether the individual has died in the seven years between the two interviews. The results unambiguously show that even after we take into account individuals’ age, gender, education and household wealth, those who are reported to be daily smokers are more likely to die.


This debate is reminiscent of similar battles fought in other countries. In the U.S., for decades cigarette companies tried to throw a smoke screen over research results that unambiguously showed that smoking caused cancer and increased mortality. In France, even in the late 20th century, the legislature argued that controlling public smoking was pitting non-smokers’ rights against smokers’ rights. Financial interests played an important role in the French debate too. Constance Nathanson notes that by 1990, French tobacco market had been captured by multinationals, leading a smoking proponent to grumble that anti-smoking advertising would selectively weaken French tobacco industry and, “there will no less smoking or drinking in sweet France but smoking and drinking will be less French and more American.” These delays in anti-smoking legislations have led to slower decline in smoking in France than in other high income countries; as World Atlas of Smoking shows, today 34 per cent French men smoke compared to 23 per cent in neighbouring Switzerland.
Let us not give mixed messages to our young men and increasingly, young women; smoking is not harmless, smoking is not cool. Smoking kills, even in India.

Smoking kills ? in India too - The Hindu

http://www.tamilbrahmins.com/politi...proof-smoking-causes-cancer-3.html#post294721

 

[sarang]

Very interesting article, but if raw data is available, different conclusions can be drawn for indian population. A poor man smokes to deaden feeling of hunger, but a well to do does after a good meal. Almost all of my college mates who smoked daily but in moderation are still alive, though many may have stopped over a period.

Smoking in moderation, otherwise leading a normal healthy life will not send one to heaven earlier than non smokers.

Increasing the area of warning to 80% definitely not influence poor smokers, but education and decrease in poverty will.

those who are reported to be daily smokers are more likely to die.

Death rates are higher for daily smokers than for non-smokers or occasional smokers. About 11.3 per cent of men aged 30 and above and who smoke daily died in the seven years following our initial survey; only 10.2 per cent of the non-smokers and occasional smokers died. However, as we noted above, smokers come from lower socio-economic strata. Hence, it is difficult to know if these characteristics, rather than smoking, may be the cause of higher death rates among smokers.

we find that smokers have a higher death rate than non-smokers. Among men, daily smokers are 1.14 times as likely to die between the two interviews as the non-smokers and occasional smokers.

Although men from all walks of life smoke, smoking is disproportionately concentrated among Dalit, Adivasi and Muslim men. Among this group, about 45 per cent men smoke; 37 per cent smoke daily. Lack of education also plays a role. About 46 per cent of illiterate men smoke, while only 16 per cent of the college graduates smoke. Moreover, smoking is concentrated among the lowest income group.

 

[Raji Ram]

Reminds me of this:

A middle aged man was sitting opposite to a palatial house and smoking continuously. Watching this, an elderly gentleman came to him

and asked him for how much money he smokes everyday. After getting a reply, he multiplied that amount by the number of days, right

from the day he started smoking and told him that he would have bought that palatial house with the money he had wasted on cigarettes!

The man coolly replied, 'Very true, Sir! But I am the owner of that house!'.

BTW, smoking will kill wherever that smoker lives. Does India have some special spiritual power of healing?

 

[CHANDRU1849]

Despite knowing full well smoking is extremely injurious, Govts. are not taking any action to restrict production of cigarettes due to corporate pressure.

I think, Myanmar has totally banned cigarettes in the country.