BACKGROUNDSmoking is a serious risk to health globally. Health care professionals play a key role in the prevention of smoking as they are considered a role model by patients.OBJECTIVESThe aims of this study are to evaluate smoking rate among physicians and dentists from Sulaymaniyah, Iraqi Kurdistan, Iraq, and to understand their knowledge and attitudes toward tobacco smoking.METHODSA cross-sectional web-based survey was conducted involving physicians and dentists working in both University of Sulaimani and Sulaymaniyah Teaching Hospitals. A questionnaire created based on World Health Organization Global Health Professional Survey with slight modifications was emailed to the study participants and the responses received were analyzed.RESULTSIncidence of smoking among physicians and dentists was 26.5%, with a significantly higher rate among male compared to female health care professionals. The mean age of starting smoking was 22.3 (±4.8) years. Only 7.3% of health care professionals received formal training on smoking cessation. All responders agreed that smoking is harmful to health. However, ever smokers compared to never smokers were less likely to agree that health care professionals should set a positive impact by not smoking.CONCLUSIONSmoking rate is high among physicians and dentists from Sulaymaniyah city/Iraq, and at the same time, there is a low rate of training on smoking cessation.

Background: WHO (2010) reported the rise in the number of smokeless tobacco users in India. Dipping tobacco is a form of smokeless tobacco being used in these region in various trade names. Nicotine in smoking tobacco is found to alter the cardiovascular autonomic functions. As the expected cardiovascular mortality due to tobacco use across the globe is very high, here we studied the effect of dipping tobacco on cardiovascular autonomic function using the short term heart rate variability (HRV) analysis. Methods: Five minutes Lead II ECG at rest is aquired from male dipping tobacco moderate users (n=30) and age matched controls (n=30). Frequency and time domain parameters were derived and analysed using the Kubios HRV analysis software. Blood pressure changes were also compared. Unpaired ‘t’ test was done using SPSS 17.0 and statistical significance was set at p<0.05. Results: Significant changes in certain parameters indicated that there is a developing set back in the sympathetic control over the heart (LF, 383.8+115.8, 952.8+131.1, p<0.01) and also an established increase in diastolic blood pressure (73.1+2.8, 65.48+1.5, p<0.01). Conclusion: Dipping tobacco a form of smokeless tobacco is equally harmful like any smoked tobacco in altering the cardiovascular autonomic function. Thereby the increase in smokeless tobacco users in India or any country is going to add up more to the mortality rate due to tobacco related diseases in near future as estimated by WHO. An immediate measure to stop the production, sale and use of these smokeless tobacco products could curb this menace. Asian Journal of Medical Science, Volume-5(3) 2014: 91-94 http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ajms.v5i3.9588

Background: Tobacco smoking in India has been increasing alarmingly. Smoking is a known risk factor for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cardiovascular diseases and certain cancers, especially, the lung cancer. The percentage prevalence of cigarette smoking (18.5%) and cigar smoking (4%) in males is high in Andhra Pradesh compared to other southern states. There is not enough scientific literature to correlate about intensity of cigarette and cigar smoking and their impact on lung function though high prevalence is reported in Andhra Pradesh, India. Objectives:The purpose of this study was to examine whether PEFR differs between cigarette and cigar smokers compared to non-smokers and also to estimate the intensity of cigarette and cigar smoking on PEFR.Methods: PEFR was recorded in cigarette smokers (n=49) and cigar smokers (n=10) as well as in non-smokers (n=64) using Wright's mini Peak Flow Meter.Results: PEFR is decreased in both cigarette as well in cigar smokers compared to non-smokers and the magnitude of decline was higher in cigar smoking elderly individuals. Conclusion:The intensity of cigarette and cigar smoking (pack-years) emerged as the main variable to influence airway obstruction in smokers that caused greater reduction in PEFR.

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Health for all may have become a reality in many developed countries but developing economies are still striving hard to achieve that long cherished dream for their people. India as a developing country and as one of the fastest growing economies is also working hard to achieve health for all. There are problems which continue to grapple the Indian health sector services. India has successfully launched various health programs in the past few decades and has achieved success in improving on a few major issues such as maternal and child mortality. India has been declared polio infection free nation by World health organization in February 2012. There is tremendous potential for India to reorganize its health care sector through participation of both public and private sector and developing a competent and trained workforce.  In order to enable the country to grow in all parameters it is important that health for all citizens must be ensured and by doing this India will be able to have a healthy population which will be productive and will therefore effectively contribute to the economic growth of the nation.