Nearly one billion men in the world smoke. This figure includes 35 per cent of men in developed countries and 50 per cent of men in poorer countries. Men have been duped by the portrayal of smoking as a manly habit. It is sold as a link to wealth, power, fitness, and sexual prowess. In reality, smoking leads to illness, impotence, premature ageing and death.

Cigarette consumption

In the Caribbean, annual cigarette consumption is anywhere from 500 to 1,500 cigarettes per person (according to The Tobacco Atlas, 2002, World Health Organisation). Fortunately, male smoking worldwide appears to be declining, albeit very slowly. In general, the more educated man has given up the smoking habit, recognising that smoking puts its victims at risk for early heart attacks, bronchitis and lung cancer. Smoking is more common among the poorer, less-educated man.

Youth smoking

The majority of smokers have their first cigarette before age 19. If younger adults turned away from cigarettes, the industry would die within a generation. Unfortunately, tobacco-industry advertisements are aimed at young men. The youth are easy prey to cigarette addiction because of low prices and easy access to tobacco products, and young men and women perceive tobacco use as 'cool' rather than a dangerous path to ill health. Parental smoking is also associated with youth smoking.

Passive smoking

What the smoker does to himself is lethal; but what he does to the non-smokers around him is catastrophic. The non-smoker passively inhales 'sidestream' smoke from the burning tip of the cigarette as well as 'mainstream' smoke that has been inhaled and exhaled by the smoker. Non-smoking women who are married to smokers are more likely to die from lung cancer or heart attacks. The children of smokers are more likely to wheeze and develop ear infections and pneumonia. It is also documented that the foetuses of pregnant women exposed to smokers suffer from low birth weight.

Smoking is an addiction

Smoking is not just an unhealthy habit, it is an addiction. This is evidenced by the difficulty a tobacco smoker experiences when he decides to stop. There is evidence that marijuana and tobacco cause similar withdrawal symptoms. Users of these drugs experience the withdrawal symptoms of craving, frustration, nervousness, poor concentration and sleeplessness.

Smoking causes deaths

Tobacco smoke contains over 4,000 chemicals, many with marked irritant properties. More than 60 are believed to cause cancers. Besides lung cancer, tobacco is associated with cancer of the liver, kidneys and bladder. When chewed, tobacco causes cancer of the lips, tongue and mouth. Each cigarette takes away seven minutes of the user's life.

Dr Pauline Williams-Green is a family physician and president of the Caribbean College of Family Physicians; email: yourhealth@ gleanerjm.com.