About Authors:
Chinedu Enegide*, Mr. Kennedy I. Amagon
Department of Science Lab. Tech.
(Physiology/Pharmacology Tech.),
University of Jos, Nigeria
chinex.snow@gmail.com
Abstact
The use of tobacco have been in existence for long and have also been widely abused. Tobacco is now the leading cause of preventable death in the world today. An estimate of more than 5 million deaths are recorded world-wide, yearly. Prediction also shows that deaths caused by tobacco may escalate to about 8 million by 2030. Statistics have shown that one out of every five deaths annually is caused by cigarette smoking. This statistics reveals about 440,000 smoking-related deaths yearly, and about 49,000 of these deaths are due to passive smoking. Both voluntary and involuntary (passive) smokers are at risk of the effects of tobacco. The effects of tobacco includes increased stress, alteration of brain cells chemistry, alteration of lipid profile, facilitation of atherosclerosis, increase in heart-rate and blood pressure, gastroesophageal reflux disease, peptic ulcer disease, micro-nutrient disorders, oxidtive damage, bronchospasm, chronic mucus hypersecretion and chronic obstructive lung disease. But however, chronic mucus hypersecretion and chronic obstructive lung disease stands out to be the most disabling effect of tobacco. As these effects are known to reduce one's physical performance, breathing capacity as well as fitness (both present and future). It is therefore advised that better measures for controlling tobacco usage especially in public places should be employed. As this will help to reduce the treat it currently posess on public health (especially the high rate of chronic mucus hypersecretion and chronic obstructive lung disease occurrence caused by tobacco).
