Hyderabad: A chance conversation in a clinic two decades ago changed the life of a city-based surgeon. Though he was a chain smoker already showing signs of lung damage, his perspective shifted after seeing a pulmonologist.The advice he received was blunt: If he wanted to see his two daughters grow up, graduate, and settle in life, he needed to quit entirely. The warning struck a chord. The surgeon, who once smoked more than two packs a day, stopped for good.Doctors note that such stories of complete quitting are rare, especially as tobacco use rises sharply across Telangana. Recent data from the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (PM-EAC) highlights a worrying surge; the share of smokers in rural areas of Telangana jumped from 11.3% in 2011 to 23.2% in 2023, while urban areas rose from 14.5% to 25.2% in the same period.For pulmonologists, this surgeon’s journey has become a perfect case study for counselling patients. Dr E Ravindra Reddy, a consultant pulmonologist at Kamineni Hospitals, shared: “That colleague of mine calls me every year on the anniversary of the day he quit. Today, his daughters are on their way to becoming doctors themselves. Many smokers mistakenly believe that merely cutting back helps, but they need to quit entirely—often with the help of nicotine replacement aids like special chewing gums.”The PM-EAC paper, titled ‘Rising Tobacco Consumption’, also points to an increase in the use of bidi, gutkha, and other tobacco products. Overall prevalence in rural areas rose from 41% to 52%, while urban areas saw an increase from 23.7% to 28%.To evaluate the resulting health risks, doctors utilize a measure known as ‘pack years.’ This refers to cumulative exposure and is calculated by multiplying the number of packs smoked per day by the number of years a person has smoked.The metric is widely used in healthcare to estimate the risk of diseases such as lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), with more than 20 pack years often prompting medical screening.“The more years a person smokes, the greater the threat,” said Dr Ravindra Reddy. “Many people start smoking due to stress and peer pressure, but genetic factors can also influence addiction. Those with a genetic predisposition to addiction are less likely to quit smoking,” he explained.Doctors also caution against another growing trend among young people — vaping — which is often wrongly perceived as a safer alternative to cigarettes.“Many young people believe that switching to vaping is a safer option, but the material used often contains heavy metals that can harm the lungs. Quitting smoking means quitting completely; there should be no half-measures. We are seeing an increasing trend of young people smoking more these days,” warned Dr Ravi Teja Budha, interventional pulmonologist at Aster Prime Hospital.Vaping involves inhaling an aerosol created by heating a liquid containing nicotine, flavourings and other chemicals through battery-powered devices such as e-cigarettes or vape pens.Doctors say the effects of smoking extend far beyond lung damage. According to Dr Ravindra Reddy, long-term smokers often face complications affecting several organs. “The brain, lungs, and all other parts of the body slowly start to suffer,” he noted, adding that heavy smoking can also lead to fertility problems in both men and women.For pulmonologists, the message remains clear: Reducing smoking is not enough — quitting completely is the only way to avoid the long-term health consequences.
