Are smokeless tobacco products less harmful? Read what new research says

News Topical, Digital Desk : A new French tobacco report (ANSES) has sparked a new public health debate. According to the report, smokeless tobacco products are less harmful than traditional cigarettes.

This new research could also have a profound impact on India's public health approach, particularly for those trying to quit smoking and reduce its harm.

Why are they less dangerous than cigarettes?

ANSES reached this conclusion after a thorough study of more than 2,500 scientific publications. The report clearly states that while smokeless tobacco products are not completely safe, they do protect humans from the more than 7,000 toxic chemicals produced by cigarette combustion. These are the very chemicals that cause the most harm to our respiratory system.

The researchers noted that decades of research have thoroughly proven the devastating effects of cigarettes. In contrast, the long-term harms of smokeless products are currently only considered "possible," as long-term data, like those of cigarettes, have not yet been conclusively proven.

South Korean study on heart patients

Research in this direction has also been conducted outside France. A national study from South Korea, published in the European Cardiology Journal, revealed a significant finding. This study found that heart patients who completely switch from traditional cigarettes to smokeless tobacco products experience a reduction in their risk of heart disease to the same extent as those who quit smoking cigarettes completely. Researchers attribute this primarily to the absence of tar and carbon monoxide, which directly damage our blood vessels.

The world's approach is shifting towards 'harm reduction'

Many countries around the world are now moving away from a policy of complete banning tobacco products. Public health experts refer to this new approach as "harm reduction." Given India's broader public health context, careful consideration of this new research and its findings could be an important step for the future.

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