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“Instead of solving problems, people try to abate them”

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According to sociologist Aharon Adibekyan, the number of smokers in Armenia has recently increased. Among women the indicator has increased by 3-6 % and among men the number of smokers is more than 50 %. Annually 8-9% of family budget is spent on cigarettes, which is also conditioned by the increase in cigarette prices.  In addition to many other factors, the sociologist explains the situation with the deterioration of social conditions of the population. “Smoking is also considered to be a social disease. Instead of solving their vital problems, people try to abate them and nicotine, which people absorb daily, ensures it,” noted Aharon Adibekyan. Asked by “A1+”, which place Armenia takes in the ranking with the number of smokers, Aharon Adibekyan had difficulty to answer and just said that there is various data of international studies. In this context the speaker notes that people shouldn’t stop smoking at once, it must be done gradually, as doing it abruptly can be bad for health. But the doctors don’t agree with this view. Armen Kocharyan, surgeon-oncologist of Armenian-American Health Center, claims that people must stop smoking at once by showing willpower. “Tobacco has direct connection with cancer. Every 2nd or 3rd patient with lung, breast, gastric cancer is a smoker. Nicotine and resin include such substances, which contributes to the activation of carcinogenic cells and their rapid spread in the organism,” highlighted Mr. Kocharyan. Doctor-radiologist Gayane Hovakimyan criticizes the habit of smoking among pregnant women and nursing mothers. She notes that women smoking during pregnancy make the fetus a passive smoker and carcinogenic substances contribute to the birth of an unhealthy child. And nursing mothers pass all the diseases, which have been caused by smoking, through milk. Mrs. Hovakimyan advised to stop smoking at least 2 years before pregnancy.