Smoking kills. If you're killed, you've lost a very important part of your life' said Brooke Shields. With yet another 'World No Tobacco Day' here, Bengalureans talk about the dangers of tobacco products and the need to kick the habit.
For Akash Negi, a young IT professional, smoking around three packs was a daily affair. "I tried stopping many times. Apart from being determined, one also needs to be away from things that
remind you of smoking" he says.
His friend Venu encouraged him to hit the gym. Other have tried the fitness route when they wanted to break the habit. Bharath Ganapathy, a financial consultant, plans to ride from Kanyakumari to Mount Everest — which is what inspired him to quit smoking.
"Whenever I went to the higher altitudes, I was short of breath, which convinced me to stay fit. I started running which gave me a healthy high," he narrates.
But he found it a challenging journey. "Quitting is a move one has to decide for themselves. It's best to not opt for alternatives. One should search for healthy options," he adds.
Dr Vivek A Padegal, director of pulmonary medicine, Fortis Hospitals says, "Unfortunately, when one is young and reckless, they are more vulnerable to such habits. When addicted, financial penalties don't do much to deter them from the habit."
Many continue to smoke despite the awareness that smoking could lead to different types of cancers, worsen preexisting conditions like asthma and cause cardiovascular diseases. "People in IT, sales and other such challenging jobs often reach out for a smoke when stressed," he adds.
A good way to educate and create awareness about the harmful effects of smoking is through schools. This should not only be confined to textbooks but also through interactive sessions.
"Trying to figure out what is causing one to reach for a cigarette helps to deal with the habit efficiently," he adds.
In the past one year, bigger pictorial warnings on the packs have deterred smokers but there's more to be done, feels Dr (Prof) Vishal Rao U S, consultant oncologist - head and neck surgeon,
HealthCare Global Cancer Centre.
"A monumental change was the extensive pack warnings which made India a global example. Earlier, advertising on a cigarette packet was 160 % and the warning was about 40%. This has gone up to 85% on each side, which communicates our society's priorities," he says.
The state has successfully implemented Cigarette and Other Tobacco Product Act (COPTA) now, which has set a great example, he vouches. "This means enforcing a ban on public smoking, on direct and indirect advertisement of tobacco products at the point of sale and on selling tobacco products within 100 yards of schools as well as display of an awareness note with a cancer patient's photograph at selling points," he says.
Dr Vishal says that this move also protects people from second and third hand smoking. "When someone smokes, particles settle down on clothes and food and also enter A/C vents, where they continue to harm others," he says.
"Encouraging responses from a recent report also shows that we are progressing in the right direction.
From 2005 to 2015, smoking among men (from 15 to 49 years) has dropped from 44% to 34%. We are hopeful that 1 to 2 % of dip can be seen every year. People are increasingly becoming fitness conscious which is also helping," he says.
![]( "for a better life Identifying the cause that makes one reach for a cigarette will help break the habit.")
Smoking kills. If you’re killed, you’ve lost a very important part of your life’ said Brooke Shields. With yet another 'World No Tobacco Day’ here, Bengalureans talk about the dangers of tobacco products and the need to kick the habit.
For Akash Negi, a young IT professional, smoking around three packs was a daily affair. "I tried stopping many times. Apart from being determined, one also needs to be away from things that
remind you of smoking” he says.
His friend Venu encouraged him to hit the gym. Other have tried the fitness route when they wanted to break the habit. Bharath Ganapathy, a financial consultant, plans to ride from Kanyakumari to Mount Everest — which is what inspired him to quit smoking.
"Whenever I went to the higher altitudes, I was short of breath, which convinced me to stay fit. I started running which gave me a healthy high,” he narrates.
But he found it a challenging journey. "Quitting is a move one has to decide for themselves. It’s best to not opt for alternatives. One should search for healthy options,” he adds.
Dr Vivek A Padegal, director of pulmonary medicine, Fortis Hospitals says, "Unfortunately, when one is young and reckless, they are more vulnerable to such habits. When addicted, financial penalties don’t do much to deter them from the habit.”
Many continue to smoke despite the awareness that smoking could lead to different types of cancers, worsen preexisting conditions like asthma and cause cardiovascular diseases. "People in IT, sales and other such challenging jobs often reach out for a smoke when stressed,” he adds.
A good way to educate and create awareness about the harmful effects of smoking is through schools. This should not only be confined to textbooks but also through interactive sessions.
"Trying to figure out what is causing one to reach for a cigarette helps to deal with the habit efficiently,” he adds.
In the past one year, bigger pictorial warnings on the packs have deterred smokers but there’s more to be done, feels Dr (Prof) Vishal Rao U S, consultant oncologist - head and neck surgeon,
HealthCare Global Cancer Centre.
"A monumental change was the extensive pack warnings which made India a global example. Earlier, advertising on a cigarette packet was 160 % and the warning was about 40%. This has gone up to 85% on each side, which communicates our society’s priorities,” he says.
The state has successfully implemented Cigarette and Other Tobacco Product Act (COPTA) now, which has set a great example, he vouches. "This means enforcing a ban on public smoking, on direct and indirect advertisement of tobacco products at the point of sale and on selling tobacco products within 100 yards of schools as well as display of an awareness note with a cancer patient’s photograph at selling points,” he says.
Dr Vishal says that this move also protects people from second and third hand smoking. "When someone smokes, particles settle down on clothes and food and also enter A/C vents, where they continue to harm others,” he says.
"Encouraging responses from a recent report also shows that we are progressing in the right direction.
From 2005 to 2015, smoking among men (from 15 to 49 years) has dropped from 44% to 34%. We are hopeful that 1 to 2 % of dip can be seen every year. People are increasingly becoming fitness conscious which is also helping,” he says.
For Akash Negi, a young IT professional, smoking around three packs was a daily affair. "I tried stopping many times. Apart from being determined, one also needs to be away from things that
remind you of smoking" he says.
His friend Venu encouraged him to hit the gym. Other have tried the fitness route when they wanted to break the habit. Bharath Ganapathy, a financial consultant, plans to ride from Kanyakumari to Mount Everest — which is what inspired him to quit smoking.
"Whenever I went to the higher altitudes, I was short of breath, which convinced me to stay fit. I started running which gave me a healthy high," he narrates.
But he found it a challenging journey. "Quitting is a move one has to decide for themselves. It's best to not opt for alternatives. One should search for healthy options," he adds.
Dr Vivek A Padegal, director of pulmonary medicine, Fortis Hospitals says, "Unfortunately, when one is young and reckless, they are more vulnerable to such habits. When addicted, financial penalties don't do much to deter them from the habit."
Many continue to smoke despite the awareness that smoking could lead to different types of cancers, worsen preexisting conditions like asthma and cause cardiovascular diseases. "People in IT, sales and other such challenging jobs often reach out for a smoke when stressed," he adds.
A good way to educate and create awareness about the harmful effects of smoking is through schools. This should not only be confined to textbooks but also through interactive sessions.
"Trying to figure out what is causing one to reach for a cigarette helps to deal with the habit efficiently," he adds.
In the past one year, bigger pictorial warnings on the packs have deterred smokers but there's more to be done, feels Dr (Prof) Vishal Rao U S, consultant oncologist - head and neck surgeon,
HealthCare Global Cancer Centre.
"A monumental change was the extensive pack warnings which made India a global example. Earlier, advertising on a cigarette packet was 160 % and the warning was about 40%. This has gone up to 85% on each side, which communicates our society's priorities," he says.
The state has successfully implemented Cigarette and Other Tobacco Product Act (COPTA) now, which has set a great example, he vouches. "This means enforcing a ban on public smoking, on direct and indirect advertisement of tobacco products at the point of sale and on selling tobacco products within 100 yards of schools as well as display of an awareness note with a cancer patient's photograph at selling points," he says.
Dr Vishal says that this move also protects people from second and third hand smoking. "When someone smokes, particles settle down on clothes and food and also enter A/C vents, where they continue to harm others," he says.
"Encouraging responses from a recent report also shows that we are progressing in the right direction.
From 2005 to 2015, smoking among men (from 15 to 49 years) has dropped from 44% to 34%. We are hopeful that 1 to 2 % of dip can be seen every year. People are increasingly becoming fitness conscious which is also helping," he says.
Smoking kills. If you’re killed, you’ve lost a very important part of your life’ said Brooke Shields. With yet another 'World No Tobacco Day’ here, Bengalureans talk about the dangers of tobacco products and the need to kick the habit. For Akash Negi, a young IT professional, smoking around three packs was a daily affair. "I tried stopping many times. Apart from being determined, one also needs to be away from things that
remind you of smoking” he says.
His friend Venu encouraged him to hit the gym. Other have tried the fitness route when they wanted to break the habit. Bharath Ganapathy, a financial consultant, plans to ride from Kanyakumari to Mount Everest — which is what inspired him to quit smoking.
"Whenever I went to the higher altitudes, I was short of breath, which convinced me to stay fit. I started running which gave me a healthy high,” he narrates.
But he found it a challenging journey. "Quitting is a move one has to decide for themselves. It’s best to not opt for alternatives. One should search for healthy options,” he adds.
Dr Vivek A Padegal, director of pulmonary medicine, Fortis Hospitals says, "Unfortunately, when one is young and reckless, they are more vulnerable to such habits. When addicted, financial penalties don’t do much to deter them from the habit.”
Many continue to smoke despite the awareness that smoking could lead to different types of cancers, worsen preexisting conditions like asthma and cause cardiovascular diseases. "People in IT, sales and other such challenging jobs often reach out for a smoke when stressed,” he adds.
A good way to educate and create awareness about the harmful effects of smoking is through schools. This should not only be confined to textbooks but also through interactive sessions.
"Trying to figure out what is causing one to reach for a cigarette helps to deal with the habit efficiently,” he adds.
In the past one year, bigger pictorial warnings on the packs have deterred smokers but there’s more to be done, feels Dr (Prof) Vishal Rao U S, consultant oncologist - head and neck surgeon,
HealthCare Global Cancer Centre.
"A monumental change was the extensive pack warnings which made India a global example. Earlier, advertising on a cigarette packet was 160 % and the warning was about 40%. This has gone up to 85% on each side, which communicates our society’s priorities,” he says.
The state has successfully implemented Cigarette and Other Tobacco Product Act (COPTA) now, which has set a great example, he vouches. "This means enforcing a ban on public smoking, on direct and indirect advertisement of tobacco products at the point of sale and on selling tobacco products within 100 yards of schools as well as display of an awareness note with a cancer patient’s photograph at selling points,” he says.
Dr Vishal says that this move also protects people from second and third hand smoking. "When someone smokes, particles settle down on clothes and food and also enter A/C vents, where they continue to harm others,” he says.
"Encouraging responses from a recent report also shows that we are progressing in the right direction.
From 2005 to 2015, smoking among men (from 15 to 49 years) has dropped from 44% to 34%. We are hopeful that 1 to 2 % of dip can be seen every year. People are increasingly becoming fitness conscious which is also helping,” he says.