Not cancer, but TB is the major cause of smoking-related deaths in India

Not cancer, but TB is the major cause of smoking-related deaths in India

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Contrary to the popular belief, it is not cancer but tuberculosis which is the major cause of smoking-related deaths in India. 38 per cent of deaths are due to TB, cancer is second at 32 per cent in India. The new study by the Centre for Global Health Research at the University of Toronto is the most comprehensive study ever done on the impact of smoking in India.

Currently about 104 deaths are attributed to smoking every hour in India. If the smoking levels continue to rise as today, by 2010, 114 people will be dieing every hour in India due to smoking.

Another major finding of this study is that 70% of people who will die due to smoking will be between the ages of 30 and 69 years - the most productive age group in any population.

In India the smoking quit rate remains the lowest in the world. Only two per cent adults have quit smoking often only after falling ill.

Experts say it's even more critical to use pictures in India given that 50 per cent of those smoking can't read and many are unaware of the harmful effects of tobacco.

In the age group of 13-15 years, 17.3 per cent are male smokers and 9.7 per cent are female smokers in India.

# But in the age group of 18 to 49, 32.7 per cent are male smokers whereas only 1.4 per cent of women contribute to smoking in India.

To read the study in english, click here

To read the study in hindi, click here

To read this posting in hindi language, click here

Photo credit: NDTV