Nevertheless, female smoking in other Asian countries will proceed at a faster rate than their counterparts in Europe and Latin America that in 15 years there will be more women smokers in the Asia-Pacific region, said Dr. Antonio Anzueto of the University of Texas Health Center.
Following this trend, it will lead to an expected rise in incidents of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases and chronic bronchitis in the region.
He said there has been a decline in female smoking in Europe because of higher public awareness about the link between the habit and respiratory diseases. At present the Latinas have the highest percentage of women smokers at 48.8 percent, followed by European women with 43.6 percent. Asia-Pacific females presently are in third spot with 34 percent.
Smoking affects not only the smokers, but also those exposed to second-hand smoke who also experience acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis, Dr. Anzueto said.
While there is a higher incidence of smoking among European women, they visit their physicians more than Asia-Pacific females does. An average European patients sees the doctor 4.5 times a year, while the sick Asian only goes to the physician 2.6 times every 12 months.
"The danger is that the disease is not being identified and treated," Dr. Anzueto warned.
A World Health Organization study confirms Anzueto's data on the rise in tobacco consumption among Asian women. Globally there are 250 million women smokers, largely attracted to nicotine by the use of images in cigarette advertising depicting female smokers as full of life, pretty, liberated and more attractive to men.
