‘Smoking affects skin adversely’

“Recent research has shown that smoking increases the production of a certain enzyme that breaks down collagen in the skin and adversely affects it.”

He explained that collagen is the main structural protein of the skin which maintains its elasticity.

Doctors of the hospital also highlighted the link between smoking and wrinkled skin in their 2007-08 annual report.

The report noted that smokers’ skin can undergo premature ageing by 10 to 20 years and,although the damaging effects of cigarette smoke on the skin are irreversible,further deterioration can be avoided by quitting smoking.

“Along with sun damage and stressful lifestyle,nicotine can add years to your appearance. The effects of smoking in terms of ageing are significant. When we inhale just one puff of cigarette smoke,more than a trillion free radicals are produced in our lungs,which then trigger an inflammatory response that circulates throughout the body,” he said.

It can lead to
* Lines or wrinkles on the face,particularly radiating at right angles from the upper and lower lips or corners of the eyes,deep lines on the cheeks or numerous shallow lines on the cheeks and lower jaw.
* A subtle gauntness of the features,with prominence of the underlying bony contours.
* A grey pallor

‘One of every five men in India will die of tobacco-induced diseases by 2010’
Ambala: One of every five men in India will die of smoking by 2010 and smoking will cause one million deaths worldwide,stated noted cardiologist Dr Manoj Aggarwal while talking to mediapersons on the occasion of ‘World No-Tobacco Day’ in Ambala on Sunday. He said that the studies found smoking already accounted for nine lakh deaths a year in the country. He said that smoking could soon account for 20 per cent of all male deaths and five per cent of female between the age groups of 30 and 69. Dr Manoj added,“Smoking increases the risk not only of lung cancer but also of breast,colon,head and neck,cervix and bladder.” The function was presided over by district child welfare council president Neelam Srow,who is also wife of deputy commissioner S P Srow.

NGO spreads message against drug abuse
Members of an NGO,Kalgidhar Sewak Jatha,pasted pictorial messages against the use of tobacco in Mohali on Sunday. The NGO president Jatinder Pal Singh said that they have been spearheading a drive against use of tobacco products.

Campaign to help people quit smoking
LiveLifeMore Foundation launched a campaign at Sukhna Lake to urge people to quit tobacco use. Dr Sandeep Jassal of the foundation and also a lifestyle consultant said,“According to a WHO study,of the top eight causes of premature deaths globally,six causes are directly related to tobacco use.” Dr Jassal further said,“If anybody enrolls himself or a relative in the program by sending us a mobile number through SMS on 56677 by typing ‘my life mobile number’,we will send free SMS tips how and why to quit smoking for 6 weeks.”