May 31 is celebrated as World No-Tobacco Day. This annual marking informs the public on the dangers of using tobacco, the business practices of tobacco companies, what the World Health Organization (WHO) is doing to fight the tobacco epidemic, and what people around the world can do to claim their right to health and healthy living and to protect future generations.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) 2019, India contributes to 12% of the entire population of smokers in the world. About one-third of people in India who are above 15 years of age are using some form of tobacco which leads to nearly 40% of all the cancers.
Tobacco is the cause of nearly 90% of lung cancers, but there are many other tobacco-related diseases including strokes, bronchitis, asthma, birth defects and so on. Smoking and chewing tobacco also lead to bad breath, stained teeth and tiredness.
Tips to quit smoking –
Quitting tobacco related products is the initial step one can take towards bettering their overall health. To quit tobacco, one needs to ‘START’:
S – Set a particular date and try to quit by then. If not completely, it would just make you just bounce back. List disadvantages and reasons about why you want to quit and reflect on those every time you crave it.
T – Tell family, close friends and people around you to collect strength and support.
A – Anticipate and plan for difficult times. Keep a record of when, how much and why you smoke or use tobacco.
R – Remove all tobacco products close to you.
T – Talk to a doctor to seek some professional help and nicotine cravings; do not self-medicate.
In the end, always be prepared for relapse. Four out of five times the quitting trial fails! Nevertheless, keep trying. So, ‘START’ now and lead a tobacco-free life.
Happy World No Tobacco Day!