Smoking in China: Alarming numbers and the chances of e-cigarettes
A recent study, published in The Lancet Public Health, reveals a worrying trend: Fast 20 % of adult men in China die as a result of cigarette smoking. This research not only shows the serious health risks of smoking, but also the growing challenges for tobacco control in China, the largest tobacco market in the world.
Comprehensive national investigation
The study was conducted by an international research team led by Prof. Chen Zhengming (Oxford University), Prof. Wang Chen (Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences) and Prof. Li Liming (Peking University) carried out. Over 11 Years the health data of more than 510.000 adults aged 35 bis 84 analyzed over the years.
Result: Smoking is common in China 56 diseases and 22 Causes of death connected - from well-known consequences such as lung cancer to previously lesser-known diseases such as cerebral hemorrhages, Diabetes, cataracts or infectious diseases. Men are particularly badly affected, the after 1970 were born. Professor Li Liming explained: “Two-thirds of young Chinese men currently smoke, most started before hers 20. year of life. Without quitting smoking, half of them will die from smoking-related diseases.”
Smoking cessation remains a challenge
Despite the alarming figures, many smokers find it difficult to quit. According to one Guangming Daily report (2021) fail over 90 % of Chinese smokers, if you try, only through willpower to stop. Nicotine addiction is a major obstacle, which is why alternative tools are urgently needed.
E-cigarettes as an aid
In recent years there have been E-cigarettes established as a popular aid for quitting smoking. In Great Britain, for example, they were 2022 the most used remedy for people, who wanted to stop smoking. Studies show: Who uses e-cigarettes, has one 5–10 % higher chance, to successfully quit tobacco.
Die Cochrane Collaboration, a world-leading organization for evidence-based medicine, confirmed in several reports between 2014 and 2021 the effectiveness of e-cigarettes. Jamie Hartmann-Boyce from the Cochrane Tobacco Addiction Group explains: “E-cigarettes are not completely risk-free, but significantly less harmful than conventional cigarettes.”
Lower damage caused by e-cigarettes
E-cigarettes can help, reduce health damage. A study of the Sun Yat-sen University (2022) showed, that e-cigarette axes are less harmful to the respiratory tract with the same nicotine dose than cigarette smoke. At COPD Patients The switch to e-cigarettes led to one 50 % less aggravation of the symptoms.
However, e-cigarettes carry risks: Anyone who returns to tobacco cigarettes after a period of e-cigarette consumption, has an increased risk of respiratory symptoms such as coughing and wheezing (Boston University, 2022).
Tobacco control measures in China
The study shows clearly, that urgent measures are necessary:
- Higher tobacco taxes
- Tighter advertising restrictions
- Promote smoking cessation, z. B. through e-cigarettes
International experiences, For example from Great Britain, could serve as a role model, to effectively reduce tobacco consumption in China.
E-cigarettes as an opportunity, but not a panacea
Smoking in China is not just an individual problem, but one national health risk. The results of the study clarify, that the health and economic consequences will continue to increase in the coming decades, if effective measures are not taken.
E-cigarettes offer an opportunity for smokers, reduce tobacco consumption and quit in the long term. However, they are not a completely risk-free means, but a tool, which, combined with education and policy action, can support tobacco control. Targeted strategies can save millions of lives in China and alleviate the growing health crisis.
