Medical research revealed that tobacco smoke and second-hand smoke exposure are important risk factors to cause cancer, while second-hand smoke has been listed as “the number one carcinogen” by World Health Organization (WHO).
According to Dr. Jen-Siong Yip (葉子洪), a physician at Chi Mei Hospital in Taiwan, tobacco smoke contain over 7,000 chemical components including more than 70 known carcinogens which can severely harm human health. Among all cancer deaths, an estimated 30% has been linked to smoking. Smoking is one of the major risk factors for lung disease, heart and circulatory system diseases, and undoubtedly the number one health killer.
Dr. Yip pointed out, “Quit smoking can prevent cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases and cancer. The health risk of suffering from coronary heart diseases is reduced by half after one year of quitting. The chance of suffering from stroke is reduced to the same as the non-smokers after 5 years of quitting. The risk of suffering from lung cancer is reduced by half after 10 years of quitting. The risk of suffering from heart disease is reduced to the same as the non-smokers after 15 years of quitting.”
The Department of Health in Taiwan will launch a second-generation cessation treatment trial program on March 1st to provide smokers with accessible, affordable and multi-component interventions in cessation services and receive pharmaceutical reimbursement as the copayment standards of National Health Insurance.