Hazards of betel nut chewing

Hazards of betel nut chewing

= Nadi Nain =

No one exactly knows when Myanmar people started chewing betel nut but this habit today is causing more harm than good for the society.

Anyhow everyone knows that this nasty habit is growing among Myanmar people and the business of selling betel nuts for chewing is prospering. We can find vendors selling this product in every corner of towns and cities.

Many people in spite of knowing the fact that betel nut chewing is harmful make excuses to continue addicted to this habit. So, why people like betel nut. There are many reasons. People chew betel nut for various reasons. They chew it because they like it, or because they are addicted to it, or because they believe it has medical properties. Moreover, some accept betel chewing as a traditional practice, or a lifestyle of their society, or as a way to overcome stress and pressures resulting from economic and personal problems, or as an agent providing relaxation or energy while going through a hard time, or as a means to quit smoking or other harmful addictions, or as an adventure especially among teens.

And finally, there are people who say they just love to chew betel nut because it gives them pleasure and makes them feel good.Whatever the reason may be, betel chewing is a bad habit that is very difficult to give up.

Preparing a betel nut is very easy. First, few pieces of the betel nut or areca nut are wrapped in a betel leaf along with slaked lime (calcium hydroxide) and other stuffs for additional aroma.

Various forms of this product -- betel leaf with areca nut and slaked lime; betel leaf with areca nut, slaked lime and tobacco; betel leaf with tobacco, but without any areca nut; betel leaf with areca nut and other spices or ingredients, but without tobacco; betel leaf with areca nut, tobacco and other spices or ingredients – are available of the streets everywhere.

Other substances are often added to the betel quid, in particular spices, such as cardamom, saffron, cloves, aniseed, turmeric, mustard or sweeteners according to local preferences.

On the other hand, research has revealed some serious health risks of betel nut. The World Health Organization categorizes betel nut as a carcinogen that tends to produce a cancer. Many studies have shown a credible link between betel nut chewing and cancer of the mouth and esophagus. Betel nut consumers are also at a higher risk for oral submucuous fibrosis. This incurable condition can cause stiffness in the mouth and eventually the loss of jaw movement.

Other studies have found a strong connection between betel nut and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, and obesity. Regular chewing of betel nut can also cause gum irritation and tooth decay. Teeth may become permanently stained deep red or even black.

Betel nut may interact with other drugs or herbal supplements, causing toxic reactions in the body or reducing the effects of medications. More testing is needed to determine just how betel nut affects other drugs. Regular betel nut use may also lead to dependency and withdrawal symptoms.

Betel nut chewing also makes towns and cities dirty especially in countries like Myanmar where indiscriminate spitting is common. It’s loathsome to see betel nut stains and rubbish all over Yangon city. Moreover, the spittle is unhygienic and has led to rising rates of airborne diseases including tuberculosis that has developed itself into drug resistant species.

But the good news in Myanmar is that campaigners are pushing to ban spitting in public, in a country where people chew and spit betel nuts, leaving red stains on buildings and public property.

#Themyawadydaily