Beware: For the umpteenth time, smoking kills!

Dubai - On World No Tobacco Day that is marked today, Khaleej Times speaks to smokers on why they can't kick the butt despite knowing its risks

What's in a cigarette? Smoke for sure, maybe nicotine and tar, say many smokers Khaleej Times spoke to. They admit to knowing the risks of smoking but continue to do so despite efforts by authorities to deter them by putting up strong warning messages each year on World No Tobacco Day on May 31.

Between 20 to 22 per cent of the men smoke in the UAE, a number considered on the higher side when compared to average figures worldwide.
Also, on average, men and women in Dubai consume 12 cigarettes a day, as per a survey carried out by the Dubai Health Authority (DHA). Data also shows that one-third of the nearly two million people living in Dubai are exposed to tobacco smoke, either directly or as passive smokers, with each resident being exposed to passive smoking for about five hours daily.

About 67 per cent of them are exposed to passive smoking in public places.
Shocking figures from a 2011 Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS) show that over 80 per cent of students in the UAE tried their first cigarette before the age of 14.
So, what actually is there in a cigarette that keeps people hooked? Khaleej Times spoke to a few smokers and asked them if they knew what and why they continued to smoke.
British national Alex Brown, 39, smokes 20 cigarettes a day. "I know it's not good for me but people do bad things," he said when asked if he knew what was in a cigarette. "It is not easy to stop because I enjoy it ... but I may consider stopping smoking in future."
Indian national H.U smokes seven cigarettes a day. When asked if he knew what was in a cigarette, he said: "Tar, nicotine, carbon dioxide ... I know the disadvantages, but it has become a habit."
Just how bad is smoking?
Smoking has proven ill effects on the health of a smoker and those around him. While cigarette smoking harms every organ of the body, the most harmful effect is on the lungs, and lung cancer continues to be among the top five cancers in the UAE.
Speaking at the Lung Cancer Summit in the GCC that was held over the weekend, Dr Mohanad Diab, Consultant Medical Oncologist at NMC Specialty Hospital, said that "although lung cancer incidence rates are still low in the Arab world compared to Europe or the USA, it is gradually increasing in the region and we need to continue dialogue to improve detection and treatment."
Anti-smoking measures
The UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention has been active in implementing anti-smoking legislation which began in 2008, when smoke-free laws were introduced in public places and made designated smoking rooms a requirement.
This was followed by the Federal anti-tobacco law in 2014 which made it illegal to smoke in a vehicle in the presence of a minor, restricted tobacco purchases to those over 18, banned shisha cafes and tobacco supply stores from operating close to schools, mosques or residential areas, and prohibited tobacco advertising of any kind.
The Ministry has other plans in place too. "In the context of reducing the demand for tobacco, the UAE has acted on this in two ways," Dr Hussain Al Rand, Assistant Under-Secretary for Health Centres and Clinics at the ministry, told Khaleej Times. "One is raising the awareness about hazards of using tobacco and second is offering help to smokers to quit."
6 new cessation clinics
The Ministry also announced that it had launched six new fixed smoking cessation clinics in primary healthcare centres in the Northern Emirates.
The Ministry will also provide help and support to smokers through mobile cessation clinics that will be placed in previously selected and agreed locations according to an announced schedule.
"The mobile clinics will be located within the ministry premises for three days between May until June 2," said Dr Abdulaziz Al Zarouni, head of the National Anti-Tobacco Committee.
The clinics will pass through different emirates according to the schedule and will stop on different locations including malls, airports as well as police and court facilities.
"In the clinic, we will educate the smoker about hazards of smoking and encourage him to quit. Simple tests will also be conducted that will evaluate the health condition of the smoker as well as passive smokers," he added.
The ministry has also launched a social media campaign under the slogan "I had quit; it is your turn", that includes short videos and info graphics to raise awareness.
Smoking makes you age faster, causes impotence
Heart attacks, strokes, respiratory disease, cancers (especially lung) and many other health conditions. Smoking also affects your skin appearance, making you look older than you are. In addition, it affects the taste of food, and can cause impotence in men.
"There has been increase evidence that smoking decreases the fertility of both men and women. This is especially true of cigarette smoking and, importantly for this region, shisha," said Dr David Robertson, Medical Director & IVF Consultant at Bourn Hall Fertility Clinic, Dubai.
Smoking shisha for an hour or so is equivalent to smoking a full pack of cigarettes, he said.
"With each cigarette, over 7,000 chemicals are inhaled into the body, many of which are highly toxic. In women, this leads to ovulation problems, genetic damage to eggs and, over time, a reduced egg supply. In men, it is well established that smoking causes significant damage to sperm and leads to an increase in genetic abnormalities."
Couples seeking fertility treatment should stop smoking at least three months before undergoing treatment - this is the time taken for sperm to develop and will allow new, healthier sperm to predominate. "It's also important to remember that passive smoking can affect fertility too."
Alternatives to ciggies are not as bad, right? Wrong! .Shisha smoking poses a serious risk to your health just as cigarettes do. Filtering the smoke through water does not make it healthier. Shisha is equivalent to 40+ cigarettes. .Dokha is the tobacco blend that is smoked in a pipe called a 'midwakh' which is very popular among youngsters. Recent research shows that dokha has a high nicotine content containing up to five times as much as a normal cigarette. .E-cigarettes are not safe either. Public health experts warned of several health risks that may result from use of electronic cigarettes.
What's in a cigarette?

Cigarette smoke contains over 4,000 chemicals, including 43 known cancer-causing (carcinogenic) compounds and 400 other toxins
These cigarette ingredients include nicotine, tar, and carbon monoxide, as well as formaldehyde, ammonia, hydrogen cyanide, arsenic, and DDT
Smoke containing nicotine is inhaled into the lungs, and the nicotine reaches your brain in just six seconds