The number of smokers in the United Arab Emirates has declined, according to medical institutions in the country.
More and more people in the UAE are seeking medical help to quit their smoking habits, and this is largely due to rising cigarette prices coupled with pressure from loved ones and health problems, Cleveland Clinic medical experts in Abu Dhabi report.
The number of smokers in the country is thus declining. In 2017 alone, about 200 people signed up for the smoking cessation program.
Iyaad Hassan, a certified tobacco dependence treatment specialist who leads the program, noted that smoking is not only one of the main and preventable causes of cancer, but also increases the likelihood of a heart attack and the risk of developing complications from diabetes.
"The introduction of a new excise tax in October, which doubled the cost of a pack of 20 cigarettes, has contributed to an increase in the number of people wishing to quit smoking as part of the smoking cessation program," the clinic said in a statement.
A recent Abu Dhabi study published by the Department of Health in December 2017 showed that cancer is the third leading cause of death in the emirate in 2016.
Although cigarettes are the highest health hazard, pipes and hookahs, which continue to be popular in the UAE, are also a significant threat, according to representatives of the medical institution.
