Smoking can lead to blindness: Study

[gosu_smurf]

SINGAPORE - A new study has shown that nearly six in 10 or 57.5 per cent of smokers in Singapore are blind to the fact that smoking can cause blindness.

The findings, conducted by local doctors and researchers, covered 200 smokers aged between 14 and 83.

Blindness is a disability widely feared by most, yet only about four in 10 smokers here are aware of this risk of lighting up.

In fact, the study showed that the link between smoking and Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) - a form of eye disease - is the least recognised, among five other smoking-related diseases.

These include lung cancer and heart attack, which each has more than a 70 per cent awareness rate.

The study though showed that the fear of blindness is the second biggest motivating factor for smokers to quit the habit, after lung cancer.

More than half of the respondents also felt that graphic health warnings were effective in getting them to stub it out.

Medical experts said this showed a need to raise public awareness on blindness as a smoking-related disease.

The Minister of State for Health, Dr Amy Khor, who was speaking at the AMD Awareness week said there are now more than 30 million people worldwide suffering from some form of AMD. This figure is likely to triple over the next 25 years.

Dr Khor said this makes the disease a "significant public health concern" as the population ages.

Experts said apart from quitting smoking, preventive steps can be taken, such as having a diet rich in vegetables and vitamins.

todayonline.com/Health/EDC110924-0000959/Smoking-can-lead-to-blindness--Study

 

[Lee11]

Yes, in July I heard that apparently passive smoking increases the likelihood of children going deaf! Just by being around someone who smokes....
Here is a link

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/a...king-harm-hearing-Tests-takes-toll-teens.html

 

[Jabsfreelance]

I knew that smoking is the cause of a number of health problems. However, I never knew of the possibility that it could cause blindness. This is something new to me, and I probably will do more research on this.

 

[mika]

I was also not aware about smoking could cause blindness and even deafness.
So many health risks involved in smoking that smokers should really have determination to quit. I never smoke but can still be affected through second hand smoking just like any other people who does not smoke. And therefore, smokers who will quit will not only benefit themselves but also all people around and the environment. Too much good reasons for them to think quitting.

 

[UmiNoor]

I know how dangerous smoking is and can lead to lung cancer, heart attack and other diseases but this is new to me. I didn't know it can lead to blindness. My husband is a smoker and two of my daughters smoke too. They said that the images that cigarette manufacturers are required to put on cigarette boxes don't motivate them to quit smoking because they're so addicted, they don't see the images. I don't know what else to say to them to make them quit smoking. Perhaps telling them they might go blind would also have no effect. Maybe I should just buy insurance on their lives!

 

[Germs]

Never heard of this before, amazing how many health problem can be associated with smoking, and yet still people continue to smoke.