Risks of smokeless tobacco

  • Published
  • By Capt. Tanya Berg
  • 97 Medical Operations Squadron
ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  Over the past 12 years, the U.S. Air Force has seen an increase in the usage of smokeless tobacco, from 4 to 5.2 percent.  At 7.4 percent, the rate of use on Altus Air Force Base is higher than the U.S. Air Force average.  While smokeless tobacco is less lethal on average than cigarettes, there are still serious health risks.  Smokeless tobacco is not a safe alternative to smoking.  There are at least 28 identified carcinogens and higher levels of nicotine in smokeless tobacco products.

Smokeless tobacco users are at an increased risk for oral cancer, esophageal cancer, pancreatic cancer, leukoplakia (white precancerous lesions in the mouth), gum disease and heart disease.  Many products also contain sugar to improve the taste of the tobacco, promoting tooth decay and cavities.  Chew and dip contain grit to allow nicotine to quickly enter the bloodstream by scratching the soft tissues of the mouth.  This grit is also abrasive to your teeth and gums causing wear on the teeth and gingival recession.

In 2014, the American Cancer Society estimates that 37,000 people will develop oral cancer and that 7,300 will die from it.  The strongest risk factors associated with oral cancer are tobacco usage and heavy alcohol consumption.  The most common areas to develop cancer from smokeless tobacco use are the cheeks, gums, and inner surface of the lip.

Ready to quit?  There are many resources available to assist you in becoming free from tobacco.  Altus AFB Health Promotion is a great on base resource.  Tough enough to quit is a class specifically for smokeless tobacco cessation.  Contact the health promotion coordinator, Ms. Gayle Kenyon, at 481-5647 for additional information.  Quit line options include the Oklahoma Tobacco Help Line at 1-800-QUIT-NOW or TRICARE's Smoking Quit Line at 1-877-414-9949.

Resource: The American Cancer Society