Wu Jun, Director of Thoracic Surgery Department, Hainan Cancer Hospital
Smoking is hazardous to health
According to the data from the National Cancer Center in 2022, there are approximately 828,100 new cases of lung cancer and about 657,000 deaths from lung cancer each year, both of which rank first among malignant tumors in China.
As we all know, smoking is closely related to lung cancer, which has been verified by many studies and clinical evidence. Tobacco smoke contains over 7,000 compounds and hundreds of harmful substances, including carcinogens and cancer promoters. Therefore, smoking induces malignant mutations in genes, but more frighteningly, the compounds and harmful substances in tobacco smoke also accelerate gene damage and prevent gene repair, thus inducing cancer.
Wu Jun stated that not only lung cancer, but nearly all common cancers are related to smoking. The heavier and longer a smoker smokes, the higher the risk of developing malignant tumors.
The harm of secondhand smoke and thirdhand smoke should not be underestimated
Smoking is harmful to the smokers body, and the harm of secondhand smoke and thirdhand smoke should not be underestimated.
Wu Jun explained that secondhand smoke, also known as passive smoking, refers to the mixture of smoke exhaled by smokers and the smoke emitted when cigarettes are burned. It is one of the top ten pollutants.
Secondhand smoke contains approximately 250 toxic substances, of which at least 69 are carcinogenic. Studies have shown that China has a smoking population of 350 million, with 740 million people suffering from the harm of secondhand smoke. Every year, about 100,000 non-smokers die from secondhand smoke exposure, and 182 million children are exposed to the harm of secondhand smoke every day. The harm caused by secondhand smoke in children continues even into middle age and includes: increased risk of fatty liver, heart failure and arthritis.
"Thirdhand smoke, which is often overlooked, is also worthy of vigilance." Wu Jun pointed out that thirdhand smoke refers to the residual tobacco smoke that attaches to surfaces such as clothes, walls, carpets, furniture, and even hair and skin. These residues may react with other indoor pollutants to form a toxic mixture.
Third-hand smoke is harmful to health through three main routes: inhalation through the respiratory tract, absorption through the digestive tract, and skin contact, and the harm is caused by invisible, long-term, cumulative, and unknowingly passive smoking.
“Children, adolescents and infants are more likely to be victims of secondhand and thirdhand smoke.” Wu Jun explained that due to the immune function of children and adolescents is not sound, the ability to resist tobacco damage is not as good as adults, coupled with their trachea, bronchial tubes are shorter, smoke is more likely to reach the deeper part of the alveoli, affecting the function of the lungs, leading to the occurrence of respiratory diseases such as bronchitis and asthma. Furthermore, seconhand smoke and thirdhand smoke also have damage to the nervous and circulatory systems, and seriously cause genetic mutations, increasing the risk of cancer.
Quitting smoking, the only way to deal with the dangers of tobacco
In the face of the harm caused by tobacco use, quitting smoking is the only solution, which not only protects the health of smokers themselves, but also reduces the harm of secondhand and thirdhand smoke to others.
Wu Jun emphasized that its never too late to quit smoking. Within 20 minutes of quitting smoking, the increased heart rate and blood pressure will drop; after 12 hours, the concentration of carbon monoxide in the blood will return to normal; in 2 to 12 weeks, the circulatory system will improve and lung function will increase; after 1 to 9 months, symptoms of coughing and shortness of breath will be reduced.
Quitting smoking at 50 and 60 years old can still gain an expected lifespan of 6 and 3 years respectively. After one year of quitting smoking, the risk of coronary heart disease for smokers who quit can be reduced by approximately 50%; after 10 years, the risk of lung cancer for those who quit smoking can be reduced to 30% to 50% of that for continuous smokers; and after 15 years, the risk of coronary heart disease can be reduced to the same level as those who have never smoked.
Wu Jun reminds that if one cannot avoid being frequently exposed to secondhand or thirdhand smoke, one can minimize the harm to oneself by taking the following measures.
Firstly, pay attention to ventilation. Indoor areas should be kept ventilated frequently, especially after someone has smoked. Besides opening windows for ventilation, indoor plants can also be placed, and air purifiers can be used if necessary.
Secondly, wash clothes promptly. If you are exposed to secondhand smoke outdoors or are constantly in a secondhand smoke environment, you should immediately change your clothes and take a shower after returning home.
Thirdly, eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables rich in carotenoids and vitamin C. These foods can help eliminate free radicals produced in the body after smoking, reducing the harm to the body.
Fourth, stay away from smokers and minimize contact with people who smoke. When going out, try to stay in non-smoking areas; choose non-smoking carriages when taking public transportation; and select non-smoking rooms when staying in hotels.
Reject firsthand smoke, pay attention to secondhand smoke, and be vigilant to thirdhand smoke. If you have any questions related to quitting smoking, you can go to the smoking cessation clinic at Hainan Cancer Hospital for consultation.
Introduction of the expert
Text from Huang Fei