A Review on Global Tobacco Burden and Health Sequelae

Review Article

Abstract

Tobacco use, primarily through cigarette smoking, is one of the preventable morbidity and premature mortality factors worldwide. This review provides the extensive evidence on the health consequences of tobacco consumption and exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS). The combustion of tobacco releases an aerosol containing thousands of chemical compounds, including numerous carcinogens and toxins, which initiate and promote systemic pathophysiological processes. These processes include oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and profound genotoxicity. The clinical manifestations of these effects are extensive, including a high burden of cardiovascular diseases such as coronary artery disease and stroke, a spectrum of respiratory conditions including Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), and a causal association with at least 17 different types of cancer, with lung cancer being the most prominent. Nicotine, the primary psychoactive component, causes a potent neurobiological dependence making it impossible to avoid smoking habit. Exposure to ETS extends these health risks to non-smokers, particularly impacting pediatric populations. Effective cessation, achieved through a combination of behavioral counseling and pharmacotherapy, can substantially mitigate these risks, with the magnitude of benefit directly related to the duration of abstinence. Public health programs focused on prevention, cessation support, and policy-level interventions are important to diminish the global health burden caused by tobacco consumption.