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Health Promotion Board and National Smoking Control Programme:
National Smoking Control Programme (NSCP) was created in the 1970s together with the introduction of laws restricting smoking in public places and prohibiting tobacco advertisements. In 1986, the NSCP also came out with long-term programme for smoking control together with Ministry of Health. The theme was, "Towards a Nation of Non-smokers." In 2001, the HEalth Promotion Board was formed to oversee and coordinate health promotion programmes, including NSCP, in Singapore.
Aim of Programme and key strategies:
The NSCP aims to reduce smoking prevalence in Singapore by preventing the initiation of smoking among young people, educating, motivating and assisting smokers to give up smoking and promoting a climate conducive for non-smokers to remain free from the harmful effects of environmental tobacco smoke and establish non-smoking as a social norm.
Strategies used,
- Public education
- Legislation
- Tobacco taxation
- Partnerships
- Provision of quit smoking services.
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All about banning of public smoking:
Despite it’s existing stringent laws regarding public smoking, Singapore can benefit greatly if it made a complete ban on public smoking. By making a complete ban on public smoking Singapore would be joining other cities around the world that have said enough it enough with polluted air and preventable health problems. A smoke-free Singapore would be seen as an attractive, progressive city, worth visiting, worth living in and for businesses, worth investing in. The arguments against a ban on public smoking are purely reactionary and when scrutinized appear to simply go up in smoke.
Advantages towards banning of public smoking:
Second hand smoke kills:
Singapore is a great walking city, it will just kill people if people around you are puffing away their cigrattes.
Smoking hurts the economy:
A smoke-free Singapore would help reduce the amount of money lost to the country’s economy from healthcare costs, absenteeism and loss of productivity. A 1997 study showed that the cost to the Singapore economy from these smoking effects was between $700 and $800 million annually
Smoking ban will improve the economy:
With a large amount of money being spent on smoking, the money saved can be used to help to boost the economy.
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Top to Toe that will not help you if you SMOKE!
Hair:
· Smell and staining
Brain and Mental Effects:
· Stroke
· Addiction/ nicotine withdrawal
· Altered brain chemistry
· Anxiety about harm caused by smoking
Eyes:
· Eyes that sting, water and blink more
· Macular degeneration
· Cataracts
Nose:
· Less sense of smell
Thyroid
· Graves Disease
· Thyroid Disease
Skin:
· Wrinkles
· Premature aging
Teeth:
· Discoloration and stains
· Plaque
· Loose teeth
· Gum disease (gingivitis)
Mouth and Throat:
· Cancers of the lips, mouth, throat and larynx
· Cancer of the esophagus
· Sore throat
· Reduced sense of taste
· Breath smells of smoke
Hands:
· Poor circulation(cold fingers)
· Peripheral vascular disease
· Tar stained fingers
Respiration and Lungs:
· Lung Cancer
· COPD (includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema)
· Cough and sputum
· Colds and flu
· Asthma
· Complicates Tuberculosis
Heart:
· Harms, blocks and weakens arteries of the heart
· Heart attack
Liver:
· Cancer
Abdomen:
· Stomach and duodenalulcers
· Cancer of stomach, pancreas and colon
· Aortic aneurysm
Kidneys and bladder:
· Kidney cancer
· Bladder cancer
Bones:
· Osteoporosis
· Spine and hip fractures
Spine:
· Degenerative Disc Disease
Male reproduction:
· Sperm: deformity, loss of motility, reduced number
· Infertility
· Impotence
Female reproduction:
· Period pains
· Earlier menopause
· Cancer of cervix
· Infertility and delay in conception
Blood:
· Leukemia
Legs and Feet:
· Gangrene
· Peripheral vascular disease
· Beurger Disease
Immune System:
· Weakened immune system
The effects of smoking hold additional risks for women. Those who smoke throughout their pregnancies increase the risk of:
· Spontaneous abortion/miscarriage
· Ectopic pregnancy
· Abruptio placentae
· Placenta previa
· Premature rupture of the membranes
· Premature birth
Risks to the fetus include:
· Smaller infant(for gestational age)
· Stillborn infant
· Birth defects, e.g. congenital limb reduction
· Increased nicotine receptors in baby's brain
· Increased likelihood of child smoking as a teenager
· Possible predisposition to adult anxiety disorders
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Resources:
http://www.sma.org.sg/smj/4307/4307a2.pdf
http://www.hpb.gov.sg/hpb/default.asp?pg_id=979
http://www.hpb.gov.sg/smoking/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smoking
http://www.hpb.gov.sg/hpb/default.asp?pg_id=2563
http://quitsmoking.about.com/od/tobaccostatistics/a/CigaretteSmoke.htm
http://quitsmoking.about.com/od/tobaccorelateddiseases/a/smokingrisks.htm
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