Tobacco use is the leading cause of head & neck cancers in India: Doctor

Every year, the world observes World No Tobacco Day on May 131, and this year, the theme is "Unmasking the Appeal: Exposing Exposing Industry Tactics on Tobacco and Nicotine Products." "This year's campaign targets young people-Millenniais, Gen Z, and Gen Alpha-who are increasingly falling prey to modern, flavoured, and "cool-looking" tobacco products. However, the harsh reality is that tobacco kills," says Dr Sumant Gupta.

He adds, "Over 8 million people die globally each year due to tobac co-related illnesses. In India alone, 1.35 million deaths are attributed to tobacco use annually, making it a leading cause of preventable death."

Dr Sumant further says, "Tobacco use is the leading cause of head and neck cancers in India, especially cancers of the oral cavity and throat. Alarmingly, 80 per cent of oral cancers in India are linked di rectly to the use of smokeless tobacco, gutka, or pan masala. India records over 200.000 new cases of head and neck cancers every year, and most of these patients are under the age of 50

Dr Sumant Gupta, Director, Metro Cancer Institute, Faridabad -a stark warning to young users. Meanwhile, lung cancer is not just a smoker's disease anymore. With ris ing air pollution and passive smoke exposure, even non-smokers are being diagnosed, but the risk increases up to 30 times for regular smokers. Once symptoms appear, the disease is of ten in an advanced stage, making treatment more difficult and surviv al rates lower"

He shares, "It's never too late to quit. Quitting tobacco before the age of 40 reduces the risk of dying from tobacco-related disease by up to 90 per cent. Even quitting at 50 can sig nificantly extend life expectancy and improve quality of life. Within weeks of quitting, your lung func tion improves; within a year, the risk of heart disease drops dramati cally, and over time, your risk of cancer plummets."

The doctor concludes, "To Millen nials, Gen Z, and Gen Alpha: Don't let flashy branding fool you. The short-term buzz comes with long-term pain. Choose health, choose awareness, and choose to unmask the deadly appeal of tobacco. The power to stop the epidemic lies in in formed choices and that choice starts with you." Disclaimer: The views/suggestions