World No Tobacco Day 2019

In order to promote awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco use, the World Health Organization (WHO) has introduced World No Tobacco Day. Individuals and organizations–both governmental and non-governmental–come together every year as the campaign includes stakeholders from various sectors. On this internationally celebrated day, WHO and other state and public health organizations are appealing and advocating for policy changes to reduce and control the world’s tobacco consumption.

Why Is World No Tobacco Day Celebrated?

World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) is celebrated every year on 31 May by the World Health Organization (WHO) and global partners. The annual campaign provides an opportunity to sensitize people about the dangerous and deadly consequences of the use of tobacco and exposure to secondhand smoke and to discourage the use of tobacco in any form.

World No Tobacco Day focuses on “tobacco and lung health.” The campaign will raise awareness on:

• The negative impact that tobacco has on people’s lung health, from cancer to chronic respiratory disease.
• The fundamental role lungs play for the health and well-being of all people.

The campaign serves as an appeal for action to promote effective policy on reducing tobacco consumption. And Also to involve stakeholders in the fight to control tobacco across multiple sectors.

How is India celebrating World No Tobacco Day?

In India, like elsewhere, the World No Tobacco Day is also widely celebrated. Different governmental organizations and NGOs are resolutely propagating for the end of tobacco use. Government bodies such as the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare spread publicity and education awareness. They also introduce policy changes such as a ban on public smoking.

Civil society is actively involved in organizing demonstrations, marches and awareness campaigns to spread awareness among people and takes initiative. People from various sectors of society, activists, and experts gather to host meetings, public debates, artworks and facilities, healthcare camps, etc. The purpose of rallies, marches and parades are to change the mindset of people who consume tobacco.

How does Tobacco Influence Your Lives?

Smoking cigarettes harms almost every organ in the body, causes numerous diseases and decreases the overall health of smokers. Quitting smoking reduces the risk of diseases linked to smoking and can add years to your life.

Smoking and using tobacco pose many health risks. The more serious the following are listed:

 Heart and blood vessel problems:

• Blood coagulation and weakness in the blood vessel walls of the brain that can lead to stroke
• Blood coagulation in the legs that can reach the lungs
• Coronary artery diseases, such as angina and heart attack
• After smoking, blood pressure temporarily increased.
• Poor delivery of blood to the legs
• Erection problems due to reduced blood flow into the penis

Other health risks or problems:

• Cancer
• Healing poor wound after the operation.
• Lung problems, like COPD or difficult to control asthma
• Problems during pregnancy, such as low birth weight babies, early labor, baby loss, and cleft lip.
• Ability to taste and smell decreased
• Damage to sperm that can lead to infertility.
• Loss of sight as a result of increased macular degeneration risk.
• Diseases of tooths and gums.
• Wrinkle of the skin

Secondhand smoke health risks

Those who are often around the smoke of others (secondhand smoke) have a higher risk of:

• Heart and cardiovascular attack.
• Cancer of the lungs.
• Sudden and serious eye, nose, throat, and lower respiratory tract reactions

Babies and children frequently exposed to second-hand smoke are at risk of:

• The flares of asthma.
• Mouth, throat, sinus, ear, and lung infections
• Damage to the lung (poor function of the lung).
• SIDS

Negative Impacts Of Tobacco-Use:

1. Health:

The main cause of preventable deaths among people using tobacco products is tobacco. Consumption of tobacco is extremely dangerous to the heart, lungs and breathing system. It is responsible, to name a few, for non-communicable diseases such as cancer, chronic respiratory diseases, cardiac diseases, and diabetes. Every year, both active and passive smoking claim numerous lives.

It is horrific to note that the consumption of tobacco can cause cancers not only of the lungs and respiratory tract, but also of the kidneys, pancreas, liver, nasal cavity, and upper gastrointestinal tract. Among those who use smokeless tobacco, oral cancer is common.

Asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and tuberculosis are major respiratory tract-related illnesses. Consumption of tobacco also increases the risk of heart problems such as stroke, heart disease ischemic and heart attack. Tobacco destroys the body slowly and steadily.

2. Finances

Smoking and other forms of tobacco consumption not only destroy the body but also burden individuals and their families with a huge financial burden. Tobacco products drain people’s finances and smoking and tobacco-related medication and treatment costs are sky-rocketing. In this case, the expenses of life insurance and medical care are so to speak insurmountably. The only solution to this threat is to stop tobacco consumption.

3. Family life

Smokers often do not realize that passive smoking threatens their families and friends. Few are aware that smoking inhalation is as damaging as active smoking. It can fatally affect your loved ones and cause significant health problems.

Moreover, the root cause of strain in family life is tobacco consumption. Smoking and tobacco users have a negative impact on the mental and psychological well-being of the family. They are a constant cause of concern and often lead to distressing and exciting relationships.

The havoc of tobacco consumption cannot stop wrecking smokers ‘ personal and family lives. This is the time to act when your loved ones frequently use tobacco. Our country can steadily move to be tobacco-free if we all join hands.