Combating A Silent Killer

Initiatives like “Advise Quit Tobacco” campaign emphasises the ethical duty of healthcare professionals to promote tobacco cessation in their medical practice. Despite such efforts, challenges persist, including ongoing exposure to tobacco advertising, necessitating continued collective vigilance and action in addressing tobacco use for public health.…
By Abhigyan/Abhinav

Tobacco use is a significant global public health concern, attributed to a multitude of diseases and premature deaths. Despite extensive public health efforts to raise awareness about the dangers of tobacco, its consumption remains a prevalent habit, leading to a plethora of health issues.

Dr Pawan Gupta, Founder Director of ICanCaRe and Senior Director of Surgical Oncology at MAX Institute of Cancer Care, has made remarkable contributions to the field of healthcare by pioneering Tobacco Cessation Intervention. With extensive expertise as a master trainer of this intervention in India, he emphasises the importance of incorporating tobacco cessation into medical practice to combat the root cause of numerous diseases.

A Gateway to Disease: Tobacco consumption is a leading cause of various chronic and fatal health conditions, including heart disease, stroke, respiratory diseases, and multiple types of cancer. The detrimental effects of tobacco are not limited to the smoker alone; second-hand smoke exposure is equally harmful, affecting non-smokers in proximity.

The Clear Connection Between Tobacco and Disease: Dr Pawan Gupta, a distinguished expert in Surgical Oncology, emphasises that true disease management cannot be achieved if a patient continues to use tobacco. Scientific evidence unequivocally links tobacco use to the development and exacerbation of various diseases. Nicotine, the addictive component in tobacco, constricts blood vessels, raises blood pressure, and increases the heart rate, putting a strain on the cardiovascular system. Furthermore, the toxins in tobacco smoke cause severe damage to the lungs and have been linked to lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and other respiratory ailments.

A Vital Intervention: Tobacco cessation is a critical step toward reducing the burden of disease and improving public health outcomes. Dr Pawan Gupta’s advocacy for integrating tobacco cessation into medical practice underscores the ethical and moral responsibility of healthcare professionals to address this pressing issue. The campaign “Advise Quit Tobacco” seeks to motivate healthcare professionals to engage their patients in conversations about tobacco cessation – asking, advising, and referring them to specialists when needed.

The Ethical Imperative: It is paramount for healthcare professionals to recognise their ethical duty to promote tobacco cessation. Continuing medical education on the harmful effects of tobacco and effective cessation strategies is crucial in enabling healthcare practitioners to deliver comprehensive care to their patients. By integrating tobacco cessation into their practice, healthcare professionals can significantly contribute to disease prevention and improved overall health in the population.

A Blueprint for Success: An ICanCaRe-certified tobacco cessation specialist follows the ABCD of tobacco cessation to achieve a 100% quit rate. The approach includes continuous intervention and active follow-up, ensuring a pleasant quit journey. Tobacco cessation is possible, feasible, and specialists are available for the purpose. ICanCaRe academy has trained doctors across 25 states of India as Certified Tobacco Cessation Specialists.

The campaign – #ADVISEQUITTOBACCO
No disease is cured if the patient continues to take tobacco. It is the moral responsibility and also ethical practice to include tobacco cessation in practice by all healthcare professionals!
The campaign “Advise Quit Tobacco” among healthcare providers (HCPs) seeks to address the root cause of many diseases. The campaign motivates HCPs to engage in tobacco cessation with their patients through the ASK, ADVISE, and REFER approach to Tobacco Cessation specialists.