UAE | Health

Number of smokers increase in UAE: WHO

According to a recent study conducted by the World Health Organisation (WHO), the number of people, particularly men, smoking tobacco in the UAE has increased.

  • Agencies
  • Published: 15:28 September 15, 2008
  • Gulf News

Dubai: According to a recent study conducted by the World Health Organisation (WHO), the number of people, particularly men, smoking tobacco in the UAE has increased.

Health professionals are taking the opportunity during Ramadan to implore smokers in the UAE to quit the habit, saying residents are not taking the risk of disease seriously enough.

The study suggests 24 per cent of males aged between 13 and 15, and as many as 42 per cent of males aged 17 are currently smoking tobacco.

The study revealed 20 per cent of the UAE's total male population are smokers, while nearly 3 percent of adult females are smokers.

"Smoking is embedded in eastern culture and we need to change the mentality of the significant part of our population who believe this to be true," said Dr Ahmad Al Hakim.

Cigarette and tobacco smoke, high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure, physical inactivity, obesity and diabetes are the six major independent risk factors for coronary heart disease that can be controlled, Al Hakim said.

Cigarette smoking is so widespread and significant as a risk factor that the US Surgeon General has called it "the leading preventable cause of disease and deaths in the United States."

In support of the global stop smoking campaign, the UAE Ministry of Health has approved the registration of Champix, one of the most effective treatments for breaking the cycle of tobacco addiction.

Champix is a breakthrough treatment that had already helped millions of smokers to quit worldwide. It is a non-nicotine agent and the first new treatment approved for smoking cessation in nearly a decade.

  • Rate this article
  • Average reader rating (0 votes) 0 Stars
Tools

Emailing an article to friend is a simple way to share a news item. Your friend will receive an email with your name and email address as well any personal message you choose to send.

The information you provide on this page will not be used to send unsolicited emails.

This service is not intended to encourage spam, and action may be taken against individuals who maliciously enter personal details of another individual.

Share this article

More from UAE Health

  1. Stop smoking for the sake of health

  2. Duphat special: Where there's a pill

  3. Anti-diabetes drive launched in Dubai

  4. Paraplegic gets brand new 'leg'

All articles in Health

More from UAE

Gulf News
Popular in UAE
Award-winning pages
Gallery

Award-winning pages

Gulf News honoured for creating a complete reader experience

Sunfish shines bright
Graphics

Sunfish shines bright

Here's all you need to know about the rare marine creature

Licence to kill?
XPRESS

Licence to kill?

Pre-teen pupils in Ajman driving cars to school, principal alleges

Latest news
Community Reports

More from Community Reports

Weather

More from Weather