Tobacco increases cancer risk faster than cigarettes, study reveals

Nowadays, people consume cigarettes and tobacco daily, sometimes due to fashion and sometimes due to habit, due to which the cases of oral and lung cancer are increasing rapidly.

Smokeless Tobacco Fuels Cancer Risk: Is a cigarette more dangerous than tobacco? When asked this question, most people name cigarette. However, a recent study has revealed that tobacco causes many times more harm to our body than cigarette. In fact, some of the cigarette smoke evaporates into the air while tobacco directly damages the cells of our mouth. This causes wounds, which gradually turn into cancer. In such a situation, this report is a warning for those who chew tobacco that their small habit can even take their life. 

What came out in the study?

A global study has revealed that mouth and throat cancer is most common worldwide among people who smoke tobacco daily. This causes cancer cells to develop rapidly and spread throughout the mouth. In many cases, this cancer even spreads to the throat. In their research, scientists found that substances like nitrosamines (TSNAs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) found in tobacco directly damage the DNA in our cells, killing healthy cells and promoting the growth of cancer cells. Cigarettes contain high amounts of nicotine and tar, which damage our lungs. However, the smoke emitted from them does not come in direct contact with the body or cells, making them less harmful than tobacco.

How does one get used to it?

Nowadays, consuming tobacco and gutkha has become fashionable. Youngsters resort to these addictive substances due to stress, depression, or peer pressure, which gradually becomes a habit. Once addicted, it becomes very difficult to break them. Chewing gutkha or tobacco daily gradually causes minor injuries in the mouth. Furthermore, it can also lead to tooth decay, gum disease, and eventually, cancer. 

What is the treatment? 

Cancer treatment is generally difficult and expensive. Furthermore, the patient's chances of survival are slim, as in most cases, it's only detected in the terminal stages. According to doctors, if this habit is stopped early, serious diseases like cancer can be prevented. Raising public awareness is crucial for this purpose. Governments and many NGOs are working to address this issue.