More than 10,000 people die every year in the UK due to smoking, according to worrying new research.
This habit, known as the leading preventable cause of death, causes 40 deaths every day from smoking-related heart disease alone—or about 15,000 deaths from cardiovascular disease each year.
The call for a new anti-smoking law
The British Heart Foundation (BHF) is calling on the government to quickly pass the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which would restrict the flavourings of e-cigarettes and ban the sale of tobacco to anyone born after 1 January 2009. The law also aims to extend smoke-free zones near schools, nurseries and hospitals.
“It is shocking that smoking still claims so many lives in the UK. Strict measures must be taken to ensure that future generations do not die prematurely because of it,” said Dr Charmaine Griffiths, CEO of the BHF.
How smoking damages the heart
Tobacco contains over 7,000 chemicals, including tar, which narrow the arteries and damage blood vessels. Over time, this can lead to heart disease and stroke. Tobacco increases blood pressure, heart rate, and the risk of blood clots, while carbon monoxide in smoke replaces oxygen in the blood, reducing the heart's blood supply.
Recent studies show that smoking can make the heart thicker and weaker, making it harder to pump blood. The more someone smokes, the more the heart's function weakens.
The danger of e-cigarettes to young people
New research shows that girls and boys who vape are three times more likely to start smoking traditional cigarettes later in life. E-cigarette use among young people has increased significantly, with more than a third of 16–18-year-olds using them regularly.
Scientists warn that banning single-use e-cigarettes could backfire, pushing young people towards other tobacco products if the full law is not passed soon.
About the effect on health
Smoking has been linked to at least 16 types of cancer, heart and lung disease, infertility and other complications. It kills over 8 million people each year worldwide, including an estimated 890,000 who are exposed to secondhand smoke.
Electronic cigarettes can be just as harmful, as they contain nicotine and other toxins that increase blood pressure and damage arteries, posing a serious risk to the heart and vital organs.
Cost to society
According to experts, smoking costs the UK over £17 billion each year, including healthcare costs and lost income from people unable to work due to smoking-related illnesses.
Conclusion: The Tobacco and E-Cigarette Law is a unique opportunity to stop tens of thousands of preventable deaths each year and create a healthy future generation. /GazetaExpress/
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