World No Tobacco DayImage Credit source: boonchai wedmakawand/Moment/Getty Images
WHO report It is said that every year in India, about 13.5 lakh people die due to tobacco related diseases. It has also been told in this report that about 26.7 Indians consume tobacco in some way or the other. The risk of cancer from tobacco is always there and despite knowing this, people are addicted to it. People ignore many signs of this serious disease. World No Tobacco Day i.e. World No Tobacco Day is celebrated every year on 31 May. The purpose of this day is to make people aware of the diseases caused by tobacco.
Tobacco can cause cancer and hence some of its signs should not be ignored. TV9 on this issue Dr. Kiran Joshi (Head and Neck Onco Surgery, Action Cancer Hospital, Delhi) Had an exclusive conversation with. Actually, tobacco consumption has been a major health problem in India for a long time.
Consumption of cigarettes, beedis, gutkha, khaini, pan masala and other tobacco products is pushing millions of people towards serious diseases like cancer. The most worrying thing is that people often ignore the early signs of cancer caused by tobacco. Learn from experts…
What did the expert say?
Dr. Kiran Joshi says that due to ignoring the initial signs, a large number of patients reach the hospital. When the disease has reached advanced stage. The increasing use of smokeless tobacco i.e. Gutkha and Khaini is being considered to be the biggest reason behind the increasing cases of oral cancer in India.
Not only smoking, but products like gutkha and khaini can also cause cancer of the mouth, throat, food pipe and lungs. In such a situation, it is very important to pay attention to its signs.
Do not ignore these 10 signs of cancer even by mistake-
- Long-lasting mouth ulcers- If mouth ulcers are not healing for two to three weeks, it could be an early sign of oral cancer. Don’t make the mistake of ignoring it.
- White or red spots inside the mouth- Seeing white or red patches inside the mouth is considered a sign of pre-cancerous condition.
- Difficulty in opening mouth- Less mouth opening in tobacco users can be a sign of a serious problem like OSMF.
- Difficulty in swallowing- Pain or difficulty in swallowing food or water may be a sign of cancer related to the throat or food pipe.
- Persistent sore throat If sore throat persists for a long time and there is no relief from medicine, then investigation is necessary.
- Change in voice- Heavy voice or change in voice for a long time can also be a warning sign.
- Frequent cough- Persistent cough, especially in smokers, may be a sign of lung disease or cancer.
- Unexplained weight loss- Sudden rapid weight loss is considered a sign of serious disease in the body.
- Feeling a lump in the mouth or neck- The formation of a lump in the mouth, jaw or neck can be a sign of increasing cancer.
- Persistent pain or swelling in teeth and gums- If there is swelling, bleeding or persistent pain in the gums, it should not be ignored.
Why is the danger increasing in India?
India is among the countries with the highest number of cases of oral cancer in the world. Consumption of gutkha and khaini is quite common, especially in North India and rural areas. The use of tobacco products is also increasing rapidly among the youth. After quitting tobacco, the body slowly starts recovering and the risk of cancer can also reduce with time.
Healthy lifestyle, regular checkups and not ignoring the early symptoms are considered to be the most effective way to prevent cancer. If people quit tobacco in time and become aware, a large number of cancer cases can be prevented.
