Dr. Gündüz: ‘Every day, 22,000 people worldwide die from diseases related to tobacco use’

Pulmonologist Uzm. Dr. Gazi Gündüz from Manisa City Hospital stated on May 31st, World No Tobacco Day, ‘80% of tobacco product users generally reside in low and middle-income countries, which are the main target of intense tobacco industry intervention and marketing. These countries are also where the burden of diseases and deaths related to tobacco product use is the highest.’ Dr. Gündüz emphasized that out of 1.3 billion tobacco users worldwide, 80% live in low and middle-income countries targeted by the tobacco industry. These countries also bear the highest burden of diseases and deaths related to tobacco product use. Tobacco consumption contributes to impoverishment by diverting household expenditures from basic needs such as food and shelter to tobacco. In our country, non-users of tobacco products make up about 70% of the population above 15 years old. Despite non-users being the majority in society, the prevalence and visibility of tobacco product use are high.
“Killing 8 million people annually” Pulmonologist Uzm. Dr. Gündüz pointed out that 8 million people die each year worldwide due to diseases related to tobacco use, stating, ‘Every day, 22,000 people die due to tobacco-related diseases, totaling more than 8 million deaths annually. More than 7 million of these deaths are directly attributable to tobacco use, while over 1.2 million people die not because they use tobacco products, but because they are exposed to tobacco smoke.’ “Half of the world’s children breathe air contaminated with tobacco smoke” Gündüz added that tobacco use also negatively affects children, stating, ‘According to the World Health Organization’s estimates, half of the world’s children breathe air contaminated with tobacco smoke, and every year, 65,000 children die from diseases caused by passive exposure. Using tobacco products during pregnancy leads to various health problems that will last a lifetime for babies. In short, tobacco products cause lethal harm through passive exposure, even for non-users. All forms of tobacco are harmful, and there is no safe level of exposure to tobacco smoke.’ Gündüz emphasized that tobacco use brings many diseases along with it, stating, ‘Tobacco products, the most commonly used addictive substance both globally and in our country, rank first among the preventable diseases and causes of premature death, such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, COPD, among many others. Tobacco use causes many cancers in many parts of the body, including lung cancer, as well as oral and laryngeal, tracheal, esophageal, stomach, intestinal, liver, pancreas, kidney, bladder, prostate in men, breast, and cervical cancer in women.’