QUIT TOBACCO TODAY!

Tobacco use disorder is among the most prevalent, deadly, and costly of substance dependencies.

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The World Health Organization estimates that there are 1 billion smokers worldwide, and they smoke 6 trillion cigarettes a year. They also estimate that Tobacco kills more than 3 million people each year.

Every year, on 31st May, the World Health Organization (WHO) and global partners celebrate World No Tobacco Day (WNTD). This is an annual campaign to raise awareness on the harmful and deadly effects of tobacco use and second-hand smoke exposure. The aim is to discourage the use of tobacco in any form.

Tobacco use is one of the leading causes of preventable death and disability in the world. Heart disease, a leading cause of death, has been linked to tobacco use. About 10% of all cardiovascular disease deaths around the world are related to tobacco use and second hand smoke.

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like ischemic heart diseases, cancers, diabetes, chronic respiratory diseases are the leading causes of death globally and associated with tobacco use.

Tobacco products contain around 5000 toxic substances. Most important and dangerous constituents are: Nicotine, Carbon Monoxide and Tar. Nicotine is the major cause of the behavioural effects of tobacco. It is a poisonous substance that leads to addiction. After absorption, nicotine travels rapidly to the brain, therefore, the psychoactive rewards associated with smoking occur quickly and these rewards are highly reinforced. Nicotine binds to the receptors in the brain where it influences the cerebral metabolism. Nicotine is then distributed throughout the body, mostly to skeletal muscles. Carbon mono-oxide reduces the amount of oxygen blood can carry and causes shortness of breath. Tar is a sticky residue which contains benzopyrene, one of the deadliest cancer causing agents known. This also contributes to chronic respiratory diseases and increased cases of pulmonary tuberculosis. Nicotine consumption also affects mental and physical arousal, learning and memory, and several aspects of emotion.

When non-smokers are exposed to Nicotine and toxic chemicals emitted by smokers it is called passive smoking or exposure to second hand smoke. This too contributes to lung cancer deaths and coronary heart disease in adult non-smokers.

Among children second hand smoke is implicated in sudden infant death syndrome, low birth weight, chronic middle ear infection, and respiratory illnesses.

FORMS OF TOBACCO INTAKE

WHY SHOULD YOU QUIT TOBACCO

Smoking cessation has major and immediate health benefits for people of all ages and provide benefits for people with and without smoking related diseases. Former smokers live longer than those who continue to smoke.

Women who stop smoking before pregnancy or during the first 3-4 months of pregnancy reduce their risk for having low birth weight infants.

TIPS TO QUIT TOBACCO

Remember, trying something to beat the urge is always better than doing nothing. And each time you resist a tobacco craving, you're one step closer to being totally tobacco-free.