Tobacco: Risk factor for Non-Communicable Diseases

Cancers, Cardiovascular Diseases and pulmonary pathologies are at the center of which tobacco is directly involved.

Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD’s), also called chronic diseases, are not transferred from one person to another. They are of long duration and evolve generally slowly. The four principal types of non-communicable diseases are cardiovascular diseases (Cardiovascular or cerebral accidents), cancers, chronic respiratory diseases (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or asthma) and diabetes.

Tobacco use, the first preventable risk factor for NCD

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the principal risk factors for NCD include tobacco use, poor eating habits, physical inactivity and the harmful use of alcohol. Among the causes of death, tobacco use is one that can be better prevented. WHO reports about it, that smoking is a risk factor common to the four main non-communicable diseases groups (Cancer, Cardiovascular diseases, chronic respiratory diseases, and diabetes), and kills more than 6 million people each year. We estimate that tobacco use is at the origin of close to 71% of deaths related to cancer of the lungs, 42% of chronic respiratory diseases and close to 10% of cardiovascular diseases respectively.

Prevention

To reduce the risk of developing non-communicable diseases, health professionals recommend for a healthier life style. This through the taking into consideration of the following.

Living in an area free from tobacco: Living in a smoke-free environment will protect the health of the smoker and the non-smoking by reducing to 50% the risk of developing a non-communicable disease like cardiovascular disease, stroke and certain cancers.

Eating Fruits and vegetables: According to the National Nutrition Health Program (France), fruits and vegetables play an important role in the prevention of numerous diseases, such as cardiac diseases, stroke, and certain cancers.

Practice sports: According to WHO, the regular practice of sports helps to reduce the risk of hypertension, coronary heart disease, stroke, diabetes, breast and colon cancer, and depression ( All Non-Communicable Diseases).

With this reality, the Cameroon coalition to Counter Tobacco, wishes during the celebration of its 10th anniversary contribute in the fight against Non-Communicable Diseasesthrough an extensive outreach and information on NCD’s.