Health promotion for primordial prevention of tobacco use

Prevention of tobacco use is critical for primordial prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Low- and middle-income countries such as India face a burgeoning burden of tobacco-related cardiovascular diseases. A focus on adolescents and young people is consistent with a primordial approach to cardiovascular disease prevention and appropriate given the natural history of tobacco use, in regards to its onset and progression. The primordial prevention approach is feasible, because it attempts to bring about behavior change (sustained abstinence for nonusers) at the population level. This paper reviews effective strategies for population-based tobacco control among adolescents including settings-based interventions at school, at home, and in the community, as well as policy and media interventions. It goes on to briefly touch on the pivotal role that medical professionals, particularly cardiologists, play in fortifying such interventions and summarizes some key recommendations based on review of evidence on the effectiveness of these interventions.