Vol. 11 If you ask an expert for 'just one thing,' everyone will answer this.

Diet, exercise, sleep, alcohol, salt intake. There are countless factors that affect health.

However, if I were asked as a preventive medicine expert to 'name just one thing,' I would name 'tobacco' without hesitation. That is how significant the impact of smoking is on health.

First, let's talk about life expectancy. It is estimated that the lifespan of someone who starts smoking around age 20 is 8 years shorter for men and 10 years shorter for women compared to non-smokers. Even for smokers who live to age 60, their remaining life expectancy is about 4 years shorter than that of non-smokers.

There is an image that 'tobacco equals lung cancer,' but that is just the tip of the iceberg. Cancers scientifically proven to be related to smoking extend throughout the entire body, including the oral cavity, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, colon, pancreas, cervix, ovaries, kidneys, bladder, and leukemia. Beyond cancer, it also increases the risk of all kinds of diseases, such as cerebral infarction, myocardial infarction, and dementia.

Next is the economic loss. Just on cigarette costs alone, about 10 million yen disappears over a lifetime. This is equivalent to being able to eat a high-end 15,000 yen full-course meal every month for the rest of your life just by quitting smoking.

On the other hand, I do not want to blame smokers. Smoking is not continued because of 'weak willpower,' but is a medical issue called 'nicotine dependence.'

First, know exactly 'what tobacco is doing.' Just knowing that will change your next action. Nicotine dependence is not a matter of willpower, but a medical disease involving the brain's reward system. Multiple clinical trials have shown that smoking cessation aids (varenicline or nicotine replacement therapy) significantly increase the success rate compared to quitting with willpower alone. If you have 'failed many times,' I recommend consulting a respiratory department or a smoking cessation clinic.

Reference:
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare e-Health Net 'Health Effects on the Smoker Themselves'
https://www.e-healthnet.mhlw.go.jp/information/tobacco/t-02-002.html
National Cancer Center Cancer Information Service 'Tobacco and Cancer'https://ganjoho.jp/public/pre_scr/cause_prevention/smoking/index.html

*The content of this note article is the author's personal view. It has no relation to the views of the medical institution the author belongs to. While I have paid close attention to the accuracy of the content, I would appreciate it if you could point out any inappropriate content should it exist.

#AlcoholTobacco #Tobacco #SmokingCessation #CancerRisk