Groote Schuur patient, Roland Kuba is undergoing treatment to deal with the long term impact of smoking.
“It is never too late to quit smoking and vaping,” that is the message from the provincial health department on World Tobacco Day last Friday May 31.
World Tobacco Day is a World Health Organization campaign and the theme for this year is “protecting children from tobacco industry interference” which focuses on advocating for an end to the targeting of youth with harmful tobacco and related smoking products.
Groote Schuur spokesperson, Alaric Jacobs, who is speaking on behalf of the provincial health department says people who want to quit smoking should aim to stop all together, and not just switch one habit for another. “Vaping also poses risks to non-smokers and can have harmful health effects, especially on young people whose brains are more sensitive to nicotine,” he says.
He says the health department urges parents or caregivers to urgently address their youngster’s vaping as an important preventative step for both smoking and vaping in future.
Associate Professor Richard van Zyl-Smit, who is a Professor and Consultant Pulmonologist at Groote Schuur Hospital (GSH) and University of Cape Town notes that while vaping liquids do not contain tobacco, and there are reduced risks for tobacco-related diseases, there are still considerable numbers of toxins in vape fumes. “The fumes can harm the lungs, the brain and blood vessels,”he says.
Professor van Zyl-Smit leads the Groote Schuur cessation clinic which has been functional at the hospital since 2012. He says the clinic sees up to 50 patients per year. “While the service at the hospital is small, it regularly runs smoking cessation training courses, and has partnered with the provincial health department to equip health care providers with the necessary skills to help smokers quit,” he says.
Roland Kuba, 58, from Diep River is currently a patient in the respiratory clinic at Groote Schuur. He says that he started smoking at 14 and smoked about two cigarettes per day. “Ten years ago, I started to feel the negative effects of smoking. Sadly, as a result of my smoking, I am now also being treated for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Parkinson Disease. I just wish that I never started to smoke in the first place,” he says.
Professor van Zyl-Smit says they do not shout and berate those that come and see them at the clinic.
“Most smokers know it is bad and would like to quit. We are there to help them. We will support you as much as we can. We want our patients to know that we are 100% behind you in trying to quit, and will do all we can to help,” he says.
He concluded that today is the best day to quit smoking. “Quitting smoking is the best thing you can do for your health, no matter your age or how long you have smoked, and the benefits begin immediately,” he says.