By Robert Egbe
Which habit is common to some men, women and sadly, minors, but damages the heart and lungs, among other organs of the body?
The significance of this question became even more apparent as Nigeria joined the rest of the world in marking World Lung Day (WLD) on September 25 and World Heart Day (WHD) on September 29.
World Lung Day emphasises healthy lungs, the pressing need to identify, prevent and treat several lung conditions, increase awareness regarding lung illnesses, promote lung and respiratory health, and support improved healthcare access. This year’s theme is ‘Clean Air and Healthy Lungs for All’, according to the Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS).
Similarly, World Heart Day raises awareness about heart (or cardiovascular) diseases and how to prevent or manage them. From 2024-2026, the World Heart Federation will campaign under the theme of “Use Heart for Action” to support individuals in caring for their hearts and empowering them to urge leaders to take cardiovascular health seriously by providing a global platform for action.
Lungs are the essential organs for exchanging gases, including oxygen and carbon dioxide, in the human body.
Its “next door” neighbour, the heart, continuously pumps oxygen and nutrient-rich blood throughout the body to sustain life.
Both organs are increasingly under threat from multiple factors. But, perhaps, the single most common risk factor – and the answer to the riddle – is smoking.
Smoking is harmful to the entire body, but the lungs are particularly susceptible. The chemicals and toxins in tobacco smoke affect respiratory health by damaging the lungs’ delicate tissues, leading to inflammation, irritation, and narrowing of the airways.
Over time, this can cause permanent damage to the airways in the lungs, increasing one’s risk of developing serious lung diseases. Some of the most gruesome diseases caused by smoking include lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) – an obstructive lung disease that makes it hard to breathe – and heart disease.
More people die from lung cancer than any other type of cancer. Cigarette smoking is the number one risk factor for lung cancer; it is responsible for close to 90 per cent of lung cancer cases.
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COPD causes serious long-term disability and early death. COPD starts by making it hard to be active, such as playing with a grandchild, then usually gets worse, until climbing a short set of stairs is exhausting or impossible. It can leave people stuck in their homes. About 85 to 90 per cent of all COPD is caused by cigarette smoking.
Smoking can also cause blockages and narrowing in the arteries, which means less blood and oxygen flow to the heart, eventually leading to heart or cardiovascular disease (CVD).
CVD is the world’s number one killer, causing over 20.5 million deaths per year, approximately one-third of all global deaths, according to the World Heart Foundation (WHF). These deaths mostly affect low- and middle-income countries including Nigeria. The heart is the strongest muscle in the body, but it is vulnerable to habitual risk factors like cigarette smoking.
While public health advocates continue the fight against traditional cigarette smoking, the tobacco industry is relentlessly pushing out newer forms of tobacco products, including electronic cigarettes, herbal cigarettes and heat-not-burn cigarettes. All these are packaged to attract a wider market of consumers, luring children and young people into the deadly habit of smoking or vaping. Evidence is growing that these newer tobacco products constitute gateways to nicotine addiction and the initiation of smoking among youth, giving high odds of turning youngsters into chronic smokers. In Nigeria for instance, five million young Nigerians are said to be addicted to cigarette smoking. Of this number, more than 25, 000 children between 10 and 14 years are daily tobacco users, according to the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA)’s Director, Public Health Department, Dr. Doris John in a Vanguard newspaper publication on June 11, 2024.
To counter the tobacco industry’s expanding propaganda targeting mostly young people and to promote respiratory health for all, there is an urgent need for Nigeria to step up its anti-smoking campaign. Stopping both traditional cigarette smoking and newer forms of tobacco smoking, imposing necessary regulatory and taxation policies against tobacco products and providing firm education on the harmful effects of all tobacco are essential to protect the next generation and enable clean air for all.
As the leading preventable cause of death and diseases, tobacco kills half of its regular users. No fewer than 26,800 persons die in Nigeria each year from tobacco or tobacco-linked diseases. Additionally, for every person who dies because of smoking, at least 30 others live with a serious smoking-related illness, including cancer, heart disease, stroke, lung disease, diabetes, and COPD. Thus, thousands of other tobacco consumers in Nigeria are racked with costly, debilitating non-communicable diseases (NCDS).
Second-hand smokers are not also spared from the lethal effects of tobacco. Non-smokers who are exposed to tobacco smoke or spend time around smokers also face significant health risks. Children and infants, in particular, are more likely to suffer health issues from secondhand smoke because their bodies are still developing and very much susceptible to infections.
To show that the WLD and WHD have any meaning to them, the federal and state governments must, among others, recognize the urgency of substantially increasing their allocations to the tobacco control fund in the next budget cycle, commensurate with the scale of the problem. This would significantly empower relevant agencies to wage powerful campaigns and interventions against tobacco consumption. This proactive investment in public health will also yield dividends in the form of reduced healthcare costs, a healthier population and workforce, and a cleaner environment for future generations.
Egbe is a public health enthusiast at Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA).
