Smoking is the addiction to tobacco, mainly caused by one of its most active components: nicotine, which acts on the central nervous system.
Tobacco products are those made entirely or partially from tobacco, whether for smoking, chewing, snuffing, or dipping. All of them contain nicotine, a highly addictive psychoactive ingredient.
Consequences of tobacco use
It has been scientifically proven that smoking harms health, promoting the appearance of various disorders and illnesses, such as heart attacks (infarctions), strokes, chronic bronchitis, lung diseases, and other related diseases.
Smoking also contributes to sexual impotence, the development of stomach and duodenal ulcers, osteoporosis, and various types of cancer (lung, oral, laryngeal, pharyngeal, esophageal, stomach, kidney, pancreas, liver, bladder, cervical, colon, and rectal) and a type of leukemia. It predisposes to decreased vision. Smokers have less immunity to infections than non-smokers.
All of these diseases can affect both the active smoker and the person exposed to secondhand tobacco smoke (passive smoker).
Effects over a lifetime:
Children exposed during intrauterine life to tobacco smoke toxins through maternal smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke often present with reduced growth and lung function. Young children exposed to secondhand smoke are at risk of developing asthma and exacerbations of it, pneumonia and bronchitis, as well as frequent infections of the lower respiratory tract. Smokers should never smoke in the presence of infants or young children.
Air pollution:
Tobacco smoke is a dangerous form of air pollution in enclosed spaces: it contains more than 7,000 chemical substances, 69 of which are known to be carcinogenic. Although smoke can be invisible and odorless, it can remain in the air for up to five hours.
Vaping, gateway to smoking
Vaping is the route being used by tobacco industries to attract more consumers, through the use of the electronic cigarette, a trend that is becoming more popular among young people, especially those who start smoking.
The electronic cigarette is becoming the gateway to smoking. The appeal of vape devices is the flavoring added by manufacturers, from which the nicotine aerosol is generated, making initial exposures more pleasant, improving the appeal to first-time users.
Quitting smoking is possible
Smokers who want to quit smoking can go to pulmonology clinics, where tobacco cessation treatment is provided. The care is free and personalized.
The Ministry of Health has pulmonology clinics authorized for tobacco cessation, which are located in INERAM, as well as in the hospitals of Encarnación, Villarrica, Santa Rosa del Aguaray, and the Materno Infantil of San Lorenzo (Calle´i). Also, in Concepción, Villa Hayes, Ciudad del Este, in San Juan and San Ignacio - Misiones, in Caazapá, Caacupé, Pilar, Salto del Guairá, and San Estanislao.
Smoking in Paraguay
12.2% of all deaths in the country can be attributed to smoking, with 3,354 preventable deaths per year.
National figures reveal that about 1,200 people die each year in traffic accidents, while the number of deaths associated with tobacco consumption is three times higher.
In Paraguay, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death. In 2018 alone, 733 deaths were recorded due to this disease, according to data from the National Cancer Program.
The Ministry of Health emphasizes that smoking kills up to half of its consumers, and urges smokers to quit this habit and choose a healthy life.
Other diseases that result from this habit include cardiovascular disease, stroke, pneumonia, and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).
Welcome to the Facultad Politécnica - UNE
En el afán de seguir contribuyendo para la formación de los funcionarios y directivos en ciertas áreas, se realizó la Jornada de Capacitación en Primeros Auxilios y Prevención de Incendios. La jornada constaba de una parte teórica y otra práctica, los encargados de impartir la capacitación fueron miembros del Cuerpo de Bomberos de Ciudad del Este.
En el marco del Programa de Bienestar Social Universitario, considerando el subprograma de CALIDAD DE VIDA se realizó el dia viernes 29 de Enero de 2016 una charla a modo de concientizar sobre Dengue, Chikungunya y Zyka; debido al alto indice de infestación existente en la zona y en el país.
La picadura de un mosquito AEDES AEGYPTI infectado –el mismo que transmite el dengue y la chikungunya– es la principal vía de contagio.
Recomienda aplicar medidas preventivas como dormir con mosquiteros para evitar la picadura del Aedes.
No existe una vacuna contra el zika, por lo que las medidas de prevención se centran en evitar el contagio.
Para ello, la principal medida es evitar la picadura del mosquito Aedes.
