Tobacco

Tobacco

Tobacco is one of the leading preventable causes of death in Malaysia. Under the current law, smoking is banned in all public places. These include amusement centres, theatres, hospitals, clinics, public vehicles and air-conditioned restaurants. Likewise, anyone under age of eighteen is not allowed to buy cigarettes or any tobacco products. If the seller is not sure of the buyer's age, then it is advisable to check his identity card. Free cigarette samples are not allowed to be distributed at the public events or places as this carries a maximum fine of RM 5000 or not more than two years' jail. Cigarette advertisements in all locally published materials are also banned with the maximum fine. The purpose of our government set our all these rules is to control the use of tobacco in our country; however, smoking should be banned in a country because it is bad for health, environment and the economy.

Nicotine, which is an alkaloid derived from the tobacco plant, is a chemical that has powerful effects on the human body. It not only has direct effects to smokers' health but also to the non-smokers' health. When a smoker takes a long drag on his cigarette, he inhales deeply, forcing smoke into the remotest parts of his lungs. The smoke contains tar and nicotine, which attack thousands of air sacs in the lung; as he continues to smoke, his air passages become increasing coated with tar, which includes several cancers causing agents. As the tar residue continues to build up in the air passages over several years, they begin to change the surface cells of the passages cancer cells begin to increase in number within a few years, lung cancer often appears. By the time a diagnosis finally confirming the presence of lung cancer, the disease has usually spread beyond control. Furthermore, the harmful chemicals in tobacco smoke pass through the placenta to the fetus. It can result low birth weight babies who are more likely to have health and behavioral problems in children...

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