World No Tobacco Day
Every 31st of May, World No Tobacco Day is observed. Here's what you need to know about No Tobacco Day, why tobacco is harmful, and tips to quit tobacco.
Over 6 Million people die worldwide from the use of a product made from dry leaves. It is also a leading preventable cause of premature deaths in the world. That substance is tobacco. It is made from dried tobacco leaves and used as one of the main ingredients in chewing tobacco, gutka and beedis, cigarettes, cigars, chillum, and hookahs.
What is World No-Tobacco Day?
In order to encourage people to observe abstinence from all forms of tobacco consumption throughout the world, the World Health Organisation (WHO) had initiated World No Tobacco Day (WNTD). It is observed on May 31st every year to spread awareness about the health risks associated with tobacco use.
Why is tobacco harmful?
According to 20th-century medical research, smoking various tobacco-based products creates smoke containing more than 7000 chemicals such as Nicotine, Lead, Ammonia, Arsenic, Formaldehyde, Carbon Monoxide, Benzene etc. The majority of these and other chemicals are known to cause cancer.
How tobacco affects health?
Scientific research has proven that smoking tobacco-based products cause cancer and a host of other illnesses, including heart attacks, strokes, lung disease, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), emphysema and many types of cancer. Tobacco not only causes a myriad of ailments it also reduces the lifespan of a regular user by over a decade. That should give you a good idea of the harm tobacco can do to your health.
Awareness and prevention:
The World No Tobacco Day draws a lot of attention to the harms of tobacco use and starts a dialogue on a global level about its detrimental effects. The WHO, NGOs, and governments are trying their best to contain the use and distribution of the substance. But it is also a crucial responsibility of every citizen to curb the use of tobacco.
Tips you can follow to quit tobacco:
Find your reason: You need a personal reason to quit. It could be to reduce your chance of getting lung cancer, heart disease or other conditions. It may also arise from the need to protect your family from passive smoking. Choose your reason that is strong enough to motivate you to quit tobacco.
Set your date and time to stop: This way you would have given a deadline for your habit to stop. This will help you commit to stop using tobacco.
Avoid substitutes like e-cigarettes, patches, gums, nasal sprays- these only elevate your illusion that you are making a sacrifice. They make it more difficult for you to quit.
Be open about quitting tobacco to your loved ones. Your friends and family whom you are close to can help you quit. They can encourage you when your inner voice is conflicting with your objective to quit tobacco.
Plan for a healthy and secure life:
The harms of tobacco are not only limited to active smokers but also affect passive smokers. Hence, to achieve the dreams of a healthy life, you can only hope to have security against inadvertent health crisis. Nothing else can provide safety better than a health insurance plan. Amongst various health insurance providers, Kotak General Insurance has a diverse selection of health care plans for any unforeseen medical emergency. Buy health insurance to have a comprehensive cover for both you and your family against various life-threatening illnesses.
On this World No Tobacco Day, let's pledge for a healthier life and Say "NO" to tobacco
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