BOZEMAN DAILY CHRONICLE

OPINION

LETTERS

Global tobacco epidemic killing millions each year

May 19, 2012 

In 1987, Member States of the World Health Organization (WHO) created World No Tobacco Day to draw attention to a global tobacco epidemic that kills nearly 6 million people each year, of which more than 600,000 are people exposed to second-hand smoke.

This yearly celebration informs the public on the dangers of using tobacco, the business practices of tobacco companies, what WHO is doing to fight the tobacco epidemic, and what people around the world can do to claim their right to health and healthy living and to protect future generations.

This year’s World No Tobacco Day on Thursday, May 31, will be a day to educate policy-makers and the general public about tobacco interference to undermine the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC).

As more and more countries move to fully meet their obligations under the WHO FCTC, the tobacco industry’s efforts to undermine the treaty are becoming more and more energetic.

On World No Tobacco Day 2012, and throughout the following year, WHO will urge countries to put the fight against tobacco industry interference at the heart of their efforts to control a global tobacco epidemic that killed 100 million people worldwide during the 20th century.

Think globally, act locally, and lead where you are.

Rick Gale Bozeman

Smoking harmful to those suffering from asthma

March 10, 2012

Asthma is increasing every year in the US.

It is a lifelong disease that can limit a person’s quality of life.  It causes wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and coughing. 

And there is no cure.

In recent findings by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it was reported that the number of people with asthma is increasing and that better asthma education is needed.

Most people with asthma can control their symptoms and prevent asthma attacks by avoiding asthma triggers.

One of those triggers is secondhand smoke.

When a child is exposed to tobacco smoke, his lungs become irritated and produce more mucus than normal.  Since children's airways are smaller, the side effects of secondhand smoke affect them faster and can also affect lung function in later life.

Kids with asthma who live in households or ride in cars with smokers:

• may have flare-ups more often
• are more likely to have to go the emergency department with severe asthma flare-ups
• are more likely to miss school because of their asthma
• must take more asthma medicine
• have asthma that's harder to control, even with medication

Even children who don't have asthma are at risk of problems if their parents smoke. These kids are more likely to get upper respiratory infections and develop lung conditions, including asthma.

If you are a parent of a child with asthma or live with someone who has asthma, your quitting smoking is something they will benefit from as well.

Make the call to quit smoking today.  Free service.  Free call.

1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669).

Rick Gale

Gallatin County Tobacco Use Prevention Program