Drawing attention to the fact that smoking is a serious health threat affecting everyone from children to adults, not just the smoker, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Fadime Tülücü, a Chest Diseases Specialist at Near East University Yeniboğaziçi Hospital, emphasized that “quitting smoking is a treatment process requiring strong willpower as well as professional support”.
Despite being preventable, smoking remains one of the world’s most widespread and deadly public health problems. Quitting smoking is not just an individual decision, it requires a serious treatment process that must be carried out with medical support, regular follow-up, and the right methods.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Fadime Tülücü, a Chest Diseases Specialist at Near East University Hospital Yeniboğaziçi, drew attention to the devastating effects of smoking on health, emphasizing that smoking is not an innocent habit but a chronic and potentially fatal disease. Stating that cigarettes contain more than seven thousand chemical substances, at least 81 of which cause cancer, Tülücü said, “One in three children who try smoking become addicted.” Tülücü added that genetic differences between individuals can be decisive in many effects, from the degree of addiction to the risk of disease.
According to World Health Organization (WHO) data, approximately 14,000 people die every day and 5.5 million people die every year due to diseases related to smoking. Experts predict that this number will reach 8.5 million per year by 2030.
Smoking causes permanent damage to all organs
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tülücü stated that smoking causes permanent damage to all organs, especially the lungs, and leads to many serious health problems, including COPD, lung cancer, and cardiovascular diseases. Tülücü emphasized that smoking narrows blood vessels, increasing the risk of heart attack, weakens the immune system, leaving the body vulnerable to infections, and significantly reduces the quality of life with long-term use.
It affects not only the smoker but also those around them
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tülücü pointed out that passive smoking is at least as dangerous as active smoking. Prof. Dr. Tülücü stated that respiratory illnesses such as bronchitis, pneumonia, and asthma are more common in children, especially those growing up in environments where smoking occurs. She pointed out that this exposure can slow down lung development in children and lead to a decrease in lung capacity.
Prof. Dr. Fadime Tülücü, a Chest Diseases Specialist at Near East University Yeniboğaziçi Hospital, emphasized that the risk of lung cancer increases by 21%, and the risk of cardiovascular diseases increases by 27% in adults exposed to passive smoking. Tülücü also emphasized that these risks can double with long-term exposure, and added that in women, passive smoking increases the risk of breast cancer by 70%, and the overall risk of death increases by 2 to 10 times.
Effects from pregnancy to old age
Prof. Dr. Tülücü also stated that smoking during pregnancy or children’s exposure to cigarette smoke can lead to developmental problems such as growth retardation and short stature. Prof. Dr. Tülücü stated that the neurotoxic effects of smoking can lead to learning disabilities, memory problems, and decreased academic performance in young people, and also, in older adults, these effects can increase the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Willingness alone is not enough to quit smoking, support is needed
Prof. Dr. Tülücü noted that “willingness, support, and treatment” are vital elements in the smoking cessation process, stating that 7 out of 10 people want to quit smoking, but only 40% succeed. He pointed out that individuals wishing to quit smoking must undergo a treatment process under medical supervision, highlighting the high risk of relapse and the necessity of regular follow-up. She noted that the most effective results are achieved through a combination of medication and behavioral therapy. Prof. Dr. Tülücü emphasized that the Smoking Cessation Clinic established at Near East University Hospital will address a significant need in this regard, stressing that every cigarette quit is the beginning of a healthier life and urging all smokers to seek professional support.