Cigarettes now leading cause of death in developing world

The Sydney Morning Herald ^ | June 20 2003 | staff writer

[yankeedame]

Cigarettes now leading cause of death in developing world

June 20 2003

Cigarettes and tobacco have become a leading cause of illness and death in developing countries, outpacing AIDS and placing a heavy burden on health systems.

More than 2.5 million people die in developing countries each year from illnesses related to tobacco consumption, roughly the same level as in developed countries, said Joy de Beyer, a World Bank economist.

This level of deaths is likely to rise to 7 million people a year within two decades, while tobacco-related deaths and illnesses will likely remain steady or decline in more developed societies, she said.

Among many other health-related causes of death in poorer countries "only in AIDS and tobacco are death rates rising", she told reporters in San Francisco at the launch of a new study on combating smoking in developing countries.

The expert, who specialises in smoking-related illnesses, said that while tobacco consumption in developed countries had fallen sharply due to government regulation and health education, the problem continued to grow in many developing countries, exacerbating poverty problems.

"Disease and illness are one of the highest factors in impoverishing people," she said.

However, she noted that anti-smoking education campaigns in countries such as Brazil, Thailand, Poland and South Africa had significantly reduced tobacco consumption.

Through higher taxation, public education programs and cigarette marketing restrictions, she said, each achieved "dramatic" reductions in cigarette smoking despite strong resistance from cigarette manufacturers and distributors.

AFP

[Old Professer]

In the U.S. about 1% of the population dies each year from all causes, and the developing world has a life-expectancy about 2/3 of the U.S. so it is reasonable to say that the whole world experiences a yearly death rate of about 1.6%; since there are more than 5 billion people worldwide there must be at least 75 million deaths each year and the article states that 5 million die from smoking related disease and illness.

So, even if we accept their numbers we must conclude that 15 times as many people die from non-smoking related causes.

Even here, the highest percentage of deaths due to tobacco use is less than 25% by the shrillest estimate.

The problem with behavior-related illness and death statistics is that they are based on the inane construct of "preventable death." Since death is inevitable, at some point one would surely be thought to be past the threshold for inclusion in the group of preventables, but no, even if one died at age 90 and had a history of smoking and had lung cancer at the end, he would be counted as a preventable death by these ninnies.

[Semper]

Despite these alarmist government types, it is still possible for intelligent people all over the world to figure out on their own that sucking smoke into their lungs several times a day really is not a health risk and will not lead to a premature, painful and expensive death - which is really good because of the severe addictiveness involved. And even if it IS a health risk, we have the freedom to preserve that activity through clever advertising and product placement in our entertainment industry. Is this a smart civilization or what?

[Old Professer]

The article is a distortion of the facts and is agenda-driven; not one person here has maintained that smoking is a healthful activity; most argue that it is a personal choice; only control freaks think in terms of premature death as though if one were ever so careful and obedient he could escape death altogether.

A much better argument against tobacco can be made from the fact that it is disturbing when done in the presence of non-smokers; but that is an isuue of manners, not politics.

[Vaduz]

Wonder what the AIDS death quota is??????.

[Mark17]

Every time I hear the phrase "Developing world" I have to ask myself, "does this mean the third world, the second world, the world that isn't developing and never will because it's socialist, or the world that isn't developing and never will because of religious tyrants?"

I also hate that term, "developing nations." It's a crock. Most are just 3rd world countries, with evil despot rulers, who do not develop much of anything.

[CJ Wolf]

It's the water, 100% of dead people were found to have been addicted to drinking water. 100% of polled people were said to have drunk water in the last several hours. It's an epidemic.

[Sonny M]

At what ages are these deaths occurring?

Good question, if all the science about tobacco is true, and everything they say is true, it usually takes somewhere between 20 and 40 years for cancer and the like to kill you.

Since 3rd world life expectancy is so low, they should be long dead before the cigarettes could kill them.I have no idea how this study was done.

[FierceDraka]

Oh, and if everyone quits smoking, we can all live forever and ever! /Pollyanna voice

(switch to Tyler Durden) I don't think so. Until you realize that one day you will die, you are useless. /TD

We're headed for the world of Judge Dredd - where people are arrested and thrown in an iso-cube for 20 years for criminal pssession of caffeine or sugar.

[Smile-n-Win]

Every time I hear the phrase "Developing world" I have to ask myself, "does this mean the third world, the second world, the world that isn't developing and never will because it's socialist, or the world that isn't developing and never will because of religious tyrants?"

It means the world that is making "progress" because of "progressive" policies like driving white farmers off their lands, encouraging husbands to beat their wives, cutting out the tongues of people who criticize the leaders, ...

[Smile-n-Win]

So consumption is declining, but the problem (not consumption) is growing.......Doesn't make any sense to me. I wonder how the deaths can continue to rise while the use is declining. Sounds like clear evidence that the tobacco risks don't exist!

You obviously haven't taken any lessons in Liberal Logic. Being consistent means you're a right-wing hater--a racist, a Nazi, or perhaps even a Texas cowboy!--therefore you have to continuously demonstrate your caring(TM) by contradicting yourself.

[smith288]

Cigarettes now leading cause of death in developing world

No its not, being conceived is the leading cause of death! ;)

[Smile-n-Win]

And the fatality rate remains 100%! That's right! Everybody--Everybody who's born is gonna die! This is awful! What are we gonna do???!!?

We must urgently pass a law that regulates the process of aging!

[Just another Joe]

PUFF

[Conspiracy Guy]

Anyone who believes this should inhale the smoke these people are blowing out their azzes.

[cinFLA]

Well, good gracious, of course it's our fault!

No our fault. Didn't the Native Americans start this?

[Conspiracy Guy]

I think it's the air. Breathing causes death in 100 % of the cases.

[cinFLA]

It is important to maintain a positive attitude to treatment of COPD. The condition is not curable but can often be improved, and patients deserve a full trial of potential treatments. The difference between COPD and asthma is that the airway obstruction in asthma is reversible with treatment, whereas in COPD it is largely irreversible. The small degree of reversibility in COPD should however be exploited, for example using drugs also of benefit in asthma such as bronchodilators (beta-agonists and anticholinergics). People with moderate to severe COPD should be seen by a specialist in chest medicine with a view to establishing if the patient will benefit from steroid therapy, either by inhaler or by mouth, or from other drugs such as oral theophylline.

COPD patients are prone to have short-term exacerbations of their condition, during which they will feel more breathless. These exacerbations are generally the result of respiratory infections so will usually need treatment with antibiotics. COPD patients should take advantage of annual vaccinations against influenza.

For those patients who have become severely limited by COPD, home oxygen treatment may be required.



Surgery

In some people with COPD, large cysts known as bullae can develop in the lung and hinder lung function. In certain circumstances these can be removed surgically and will allow better inflation of the rest of the lung tissue, but this treatment is suitable for only a minority of patients.

[Just another Joe]

So consumption is declining, but the problem (not consumption) is growing

You caught that too?

Joy de Beyer, a World Bank economist.

The expert, who specialises in smoking-related illnesses,

So, which is she? An economist or a health expert? Only her hairdresser knows.
And since he's gay and has aids, we may NEVER know.

[cinFLA]

So consumption is declining, but the problem (not consumption) is growing.......Doesn't make any sense to me. I wonder how the deaths can continue to rise while the use is declining. Sounds like clear evidence that the tobacco risks don't exist!

Perhaps if you had read what you pasted, you would not look like you didn't know what you were posting.

[Just another Joe]

What was that post all about?
I understand you don't like smoking but try to stay on topic to the post you're replying to.