On May 28th, a seminar and experience-sharing event on smoking cessation counseling and treatment was held at Bach Mai Hospital. Dr. Angela Pratt, the Chief Representative of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Vietnam, attended the event and emphasized that many people turn to e-cigarettes and heated cigarettes as a way to quit traditional cigarettes. However, she stated that there is no evidence to support this method, and using multiple types of cigarettes at the same time may increase health risks.
Dr. Pratt further highlighted that the WHO does not endorse e-cigarettes as a cessation aid because there is no evidence that they help individuals quit smoking regular cigarettes. Instead, switching to electronic cigarettes and heated cigarettes may lead to continued nicotine addiction and exposure to toxic chemicals. These products contain nicotine, which is highly addictive and harmful to health, especially in children and adolescents.
Associate Professor Dr. Vu Van Giap, Deputy Director of Bach Mai Hospital, shed light on the dangers of smoking by citing the presence of 7,000 chemicals in cigarette smoke, 69 of which are carcinogenic. Smoking is linked to 25 different groups of diseases, including various types of cancer, cardiovascular issues, and respiratory diseases. In Vietnam alone, there has been a significant increase in the use of new tobacco products among young people
