30 May 2011
By Jayashree Nandi
WORLD ANTI–TOBACCO DAY
They can give men a complex in every sphere with their extraordinary performance. But women seem to be competing with men in tobacco abuse too. Doctors and health experts in Bangalore are clearly seeing a steep rise in tobacco abuse among women due to various psychosocial reasons. One of the main reasons for this increase is that they consider it to be an effective way to deal with stress.
Smoking among women in urban areas is also considered cool. Many women are not aware that there is help available for tobacco cessation," explained professor of psychiatry at Nimhans Dr Pratima Murthy, who is seeing a steady rise in women patients with tobacco abuse problems.
The Institute of Public Health (IPH), which is monitoring tobacco use in the state, has done several studies that show that socially, women and smoking are associated in a negative light. But this perception is fading and more young women are falling prey to the habit.
However, the data shows that this gap is narrowing and many factors, including the tobacco industry marketing to women and changing social mores, could be responsible."
Reverse Smoking Common
While young women today smoke cigarettes as it is also considered ‘in’ to smoke, it is still a taboo in rural areas and among middle–class families. Patients at Nimhans and Mazumdar Shaw Cancer Centre are into chewing tobacco.
Some of them reverse smoke. "Women smoke with the burning end of the cigarette in their mouths. It is very risky behaviour as it makes them vulnerable to hard palate cancer. 60% of the women who come to me with head and neck cancer are into risky habits like tobacco smoking or chewing, while 80% of my male patients have risky habits," said Dr Moni Abraham Kuriakose, director of surgical oncology, Mazumdar Shaw Cancer Centre.
What is Reverse Smoking?
This form of smoking is also used among people who dope, and it’s generally called ‘nose puff’. The burning tip of the cigarette is kept inside the mouth and the smoke is blown out from the mouth, directly into the nose of an individual who inhales it. This destroys the cells in the mouth palate and damages the nerves; the entire area becomes insensitive. This form of smoking is on the rise and is a risk factor. It is seen mostly in the rural parts, where women use this method to hide the reality of smoking.
Dr Jagannath Dixit | SURGICAL ONCOLOGIST, HEALTHCARE GLOBAL ENTERPRISES
Impact on Health
- Women smokers suffer all the consequences of smoking that men do
- Increases risk of various cancers – lung, mouth, larynx, pharynx, oesophagus, kidney, pancreas, kidney, and bladder – heart disease and respiratory diseases
- Increases risk of breast and cervical cancer
- Leads to menstrual disturbances, infertility, pregnancy–related complications and pelvic inflammatory disorders
A study done by IPH in 19 PU colleges in Bangalore shows: - 11.4% of girls had tried tobacco at least once compared to 21.7% male students
- 1.9% girls were tobacco users, compared to 5.3% male students
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