Canadian Specialist Hospital (CSH), a major private hospital in Dubai, along with Emirates Post, the region’s leading postal corporation, held an awareness event to mark the World No Tobacco Day (May 31).

Employees at Emirates Post’s head office in Deira attended a seminar on the hazards of smoking by Dr Ahmed Gabroun, specialist cardiologist at Canadian Specialist Hospital, as a part of the programme.

Close to 6 million people die each year from conditions caused by tobacco use or exposure to tobacco, and more than 600,000 non-smokers are exposed to second-hand smoking according to the WHO (World Health Organisation).

After high blood pressure, tobacco use is the leading cause of non-communicable diseases, which accounts for 63 per cent of deaths globally. World No Tobacco Day is observed to raise awareness and draw people’s attention to the negative effects of tobacco on one’s health and the health of those around them.

“No consumer product needlessly kills as many people as tobacco. Smoking is a leading cause of heart diseases, pulmonary diseases, as well as various cancers,” said Dr Gabroun.

“When you smoke, nicotine goes right to your brain and releases feel good chemicals. The body doesn’t want that feeling to stop, and craves more nicotine, so you continue smoking. According to WHO, it has caused 100 million deaths worldwide in the 20th century.”

“Unless we act now, it is projected kill up to one billion people in the 21st century. Counseling and medication can more than double success rates for smokers try to quit. We at CSH are trying to draw attention to the widespread prevalence of tobacco use and to its negative health effects, and we want to provide people the help they may require to kick the habit,” he added.

Dr Ahmed also highlighted a few ways to quit the habit, including going public with the decision and seeking help from family, reducing stress level, regular exercise, counseling and medication.

Nurses from CSH also conducted several tests including blood pressure and blood sugar checks, SPO2 Test (spot oxygen saturation) and the PEFM test (peak flow meter), a test to check the status of the individual’s lungs.

Ibrahim Bin Karam, chief commercial officer, Emirates Post Group, said, “We consider it our duty to support causes like the ‘World No Tobacco Day’ because smoking leads to serious health problems not only to the smoker but also to his family and society.”

“We encourage all our employees to shun smoking through regular campaigns and programs, for the sake of community health and better environment,” he added. – TradeArabia News Service