The Health Promotion Unit (UPS) at the University of Almería organized the 2nd awareness event on addictions and healthy lifestyles. The gathering, aimed at the university community and the general public, focused on the impact of tobacco and vapes on the human body.
During the event, held in the Conference Hall of the Faculty of Health Sciences, specialists discussed the consequences of these substances from various health perspectives. Lorena Gutiérrez, Director of the Healthy Campus Secretariat, emphasized the goal of making visible the impact of tobacco on health, including gynecological, nutritional, and psychological aspects, as well as techniques for quitting smoking.
“"Our objective is to make visible the impact that tobacco consumption has on health and also to see how it affects gynecological and nutritional levels. We also address the psychological component, that is, the fears that smokers have to quit smoking, how one can quit smoking, techniques to do so, and at a sexual level the gynecologist will address how it influences hormones, fertility, and how that tobacco consumption affects a smoker's life throughout, both in men and women."
Gynecologist Silvia Tapiador Alberos detailed the effects of tobacco on sexual and reproductive health, mentioning erectile dysfunction in men, difficulties in conception for young women, and its role in human papillomavirus (HPV). She urged young people to recognize that smoking is no longer fashionable and to consider the long-term consequences.
Montserrat Monserrat Hernández, an assistant doctor professor and nutritionist, explained how tobacco consumption alters vitamins and minerals, the reasons for weight gain when quitting, and offered nutritional advice for managing anxiety. She noted that antioxidants like vitamins C, A, E, B vitamins, vitamin D, and iron are significantly affected.
Psychologist Isabel Craviotto Manrique debunked myths about vaping, warning that these new devices represent a new packaging for the same addiction strategy. She highlighted that the tobacco industry uses marketing tactics to attract young people, with current focus on this demographic through appealing products and flavors that serve as an entry point to tobacco use.
With this second edition, the University of Almería reaffirms its commitment to the prevention and promotion of healthy habits within society.
