Tobacco and the Body

All types of tobacco are dangerous, including cigarettes, chew tobacco and snuff. Inhaling second-hand smoke from the burning end of a cigarette, pipe or cigar is also harmful.

Below are several health conditions related to tobacco that are important to know about in Nunavut.

 

Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis (TB) is a bacterial infection caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The infection is most often in the lungs, but can be in other parts of the body.

TB is a serious condition that spreads easily (active TB) or may be sleeping and not infectious or spreadable (latent TB).

Nunavut has high rates of TB infection. TB is curable with medications.

Signs and symptoms:

• Coughing that becomes worse or does not go away;
• Coughing up blood;
• Fever, chills or night sweats;
• Fatigue; and
• Weight loss.

It is important to visit your Health Care Provider if you have any of these signs or symptoms.

Smokers have a greater chance of being infected and developing TB. Smoking also increases the chance of getting TB a second time and dying from TB. Continuing to smoke while on TB treatment makes treatment less effective.

Children and adults exposed to second-hand smoke have a greater risk of developing active TB. Keep your home, vehicle and amauti smoke-free.

Quitting smoking is one of the best ways you can protect yourself from developing active TB disease.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

COPD stands for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. There are two main types: emphysema and chronic bronchitis.

The main causes are exposure to tobacco smoke and air pollution. Nunavut has high rates of COPD.

Medications can help lessen symptoms, prevent the disease from getting worse and reduce the chance of dying.

Signs and symptoms:

• Shortness of breath;
• A cough that becomes worse or does not go away; and
• Constant mucous production.

It is important to visit your Health Care Provider if you have any of these signs or symptoms.

Children and adults exposed to second-hand smoke have a greater risk of developing COPD. Keep your home, vehicle and amauti smoke-free.

Quitting smoking is one of the best ways you can prevent yourself from getting COPD or improve your condition if you already have COPD.

Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is when cells of the lungs grow out of control. We need our lungs to breathe.

Nunavut has one of the highest rates of lung cancer in the world. It is the biggest cause of cancer deaths among Nunavummiut.

Lung cancer can be difficult to treat and cure. It is best to prevent it or find the cancer early.

Signs and symptoms:

• A cough that becomes worse or does not go away;
• Chest pain that is worsened by deep breathing, coughing or laughing;
• Weight loss and loss of appetite;
• Coughing up blood or brown coloured spit;
• Shortness of breath, feeling tired or weak; and
• Lung infections, like bronchitis and pneumonia.

It is important to visit your Health Care Provider if you have any of these signs or symptoms.

Tobacco smoking causes over 85% of lung cancers in Canada. Community members who quit smoking at the time of diagnosis may decrease their risk of dying from their cancer by as much as 30 to 40%.

Children and adults exposed to second-hand smoke have a greater risk of developing cancer. Keep your home, vehicle and amauti smoke-free.

Quitting smoking is one of the best ways you can protect yourself from lung cancer.