´Cuba has a significant prevalence of lung cancer that is mainly caused by the smoking habit, ´ doctor Patricia Varona from the National Hygiene and Epidemiology institute, stated.

´The 24% of the Cuban population smoke, the western and central region are the most affected regions by the lung cancer.´ doctor Patricia Varona said.

´To date, it has been identified up to 5 thousand chemical components in the cigarette smoke and there are around 60 of them that are carcinogenic ones. Besides, the consequences of the smoking habit usually appear in the long run which affect the sense of risk of the smokers, ´doctor Patricia Varona explained.

On the other hand, doctor Patricia Varona said that more than 60% of the Cuban children are exposed to the cigarette smoke, besides, she said that the aforementioned substances last longer in their respiratory systems, structures and bodies than in the adult ones; therefore, their negative effect is more intense in them.

The respiratory, ear and concentration problems are more intense in children, as well as their school performance that is also affected and that constitutes the main reason of the world’s research. Doctor Varona highlighted. By Laura E Pérez Ceruto