Passive Smoking Is Also a Cause of Cancer

Smoking and passive smoking are equally harmful to health. Stating that every 40,000 people in Turkey die from diseases related to passive tobacco smoking, Dr. Esra Sönmez, Pulmonary Disease Specialist at Anadolu Health Center, said, "Smokers put at risk not only themselves, but also the lives of their spouses and children who share their lives." Emphasizing that opening doors and windows or using air conditioning definitely does not prevent passive tobacco smoking, Anadolu Health Center Pulmonary Disease Specialist Dr. Esra Sönmez stated, "According to research, children whose both parents smoke have a 70 percent higher risk of developing respiratory tract diseases compared to children whose parents do not smoke. Women whose husbands smoke but who do not smoke themselves have a 1.2 to 2 times higher risk of developing lung cancer compared to women whose husbands and who do not smoke," she said.

60 Percent of Young People Have at Least One Parent Who Smokes

Noting that 82 percent of school-age youth are exposed to cigarette smoke at home and 86 percent outside the home, Pulmonary Disease Specialist Dr. Esra Sönmez said, "60 percent of young people have at least one parent who smokes. While 50 percent of teachers in Turkey smoke, 81 percent of smoking teachers smoke at school and 68 percent smoke in front of their students."

Passive Smoking is the Most Important Cause of Heart and Lung Disease

Reminding that passive smoking causes all diseases caused by active smoking, Pulmonary Disease Specialist Dr. Esra Sönmez stated, "Passive smoking is the most important cause of worsening and loss of control of existing heart and lung diseases. In cases where asthma or COPD patients cannot achieve disease control despite using their regular treatments, passive smoking should definitely be investigated."

Personalized Treatment Plan

Noting that for a person to be said to have quit smoking, the person must not have smoked a single cigarette for 1 year, Pulmonary Disease Specialist Dr. Esra Sönmez said, "The majority of our patients who come to quit smoking are university-educated men between the ages of 35 and 50. Our patients first consult with a pulmonary disease specialist and receive education about the harms of smoking. Subsequently, the patient's nicotine dependence is evaluated and treatment is planned for substance dependence. The patient is then evaluated by a psychologist specializing in smoking cessation to determine the level of psychological dependence. After chest X-ray, spirometry test and EKG are performed, the patient's lung and heart health is evaluated and a personalized treatment plan is developed. Patients are closely monitored through check-ups and telephone consultations within a 6-8 week treatment program and provided with necessary support," she explained.