Open AccessLung health in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: the need to end designated smoking areas in public places
Author(s) -
Fatimah El-Awa,
Mohamed Awad Tageldin,
Vikram Prasad,
Ahmad AlMulla,
Gholamreza Heydari,
Raouf Alebshehy
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
eastern mediterranean health journal/eastern mediterranean health journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.442
H-Index - 47
eISSN - 1687-1634
pISSN - 1020-3397
DOI - 10.26719/2019.25.5.297
Subject(s) - chronic bronchitis , lung cancer , medicine , environmental health , harm , lung , bronchitis , public health , intensive care medicine , pathology , psychology , social psychology
Tobacco use is a fatal habit that causes harm to almost all organs of the human body and kills up to half of its users. Studies have shown that tobacco contains a poisonous mix of more than 7000 chemicals that have major consequences, including heart attacks and strokes , and are considered major risk factors for many types of cancer (4) and the leading cause of lung cancer. Moreover, tobacco use dramatically affects the respiratory system, damaging its airways and alveoli, and leading to chronic obstructive lung diseases1 including emphysema and chronic bronchitis.