31st May 2024- Today is World No Tabaco Day every year on this day World observed a day for saying no to Tabaco. Tobacco use, whether smoked or chewed, poses significant dangers to your health. The substances in tobacco products are dangerous, ranging from acetone and tar to nicotine and carbon monoxide. These inhaled substances can affect your lungs and other organs in your body, leading to severe health complications and long-term effects.
The Immediate and Long-Term Effects of Smoking
Smoking can lead to both immediate and long-term health issues. While the risk of developing certain conditions, such as glaucoma, cancer, and blood clotting problems, increases over time, some harmful effects begin almost immediately.
Harmful Substances in Tobacco
There are more than 7,000 chemical components found in cigarette smoke, with hundreds being harmful to human health. Nicotine, one of the primary components, narrows veins and arteries, which can:
Damage your heart by forcing it to work faster and harder.
Slow your blood flow and reduce oxygen levels in your extremities.
Cancer
Smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer, but it doesn’t stop there. It can cause cancer in almost any part of the body. This includes the mouth and nose, throat and voice box, oesophagus, blood cells, liver, stomach, kidneys, pancreas, mucinous ovaries, ureters, cervix, colon, and bladder.
Respiratory Conditions
Smoking is the primary cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a serious, progressive, and disabling condition that limits airflow in the lungs. It also exacerbates asthma in smokers and is associated with an increased risk of asthma in adolescents and adults.
Cardiovascular Disease
Smoking is a major cause of cardiovascular diseases, such as heart disease and stroke. It increases the risk of blood clots, which can block blood flow to the heart, brain, or legs. Some smokers may even face limb amputation due to circulation problems. People who smoke have more heart attacks and are more likely to die from them at a younger age.
Diabetes
Smoking increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 30% to 40% compared to non-smokers. It can also worsen health conditions related to type 1 diabetes, such as kidney disease, eye disease, and poor circulation, which can lead to gangrene.
Reproductive Health
Smoking can contribute to fertility issues, affecting both men and women. It can also cause complications during pregnancy, leading to premature birth and low birth weight.
Eye Health
Long-term smoking can affect vision and damage the optic nerve. It may lead to the development of conditions that affect the eyes, potentially causing permanent vision loss.
The Impact of Quitting
The good news is that quitting smoking can reverse many of these adverse effects on your body. The health benefits of quitting are substantial and begin almost immediately after you stop using tobacco.
No Safe Way to Smoke
There is no safe way to use tobacco. Replacing cigarettes with cigars, pipes, e-cigarettes, or hookahs does not eliminate the health risks. All forms of tobacco use are harmful and can lead to serious health complications.
Conclusion
Tobacco smoke is incredibly harmful to your health, with no safe level of exposure. The substances in tobacco can lead to various cancers, respiratory conditions, cardiovascular diseases, and numerous other health issues. Quitting smoking is the best decision you can make for your health, providing immediate and long-term benefits.
By Mr Karthik Kondepudi, Partner at Herbochem.
“Tobacco use has a huge global impact, contributing to approximately 8 million fatalities a year, including those caused by second-hand smoke, and large financial losses from missed work and medical bills. World No Tobacco Day is an important reminder that the fight against the tobacco pandemic and safeguarding public health must continue. It is extremely important in the fight against tobacco usage, with its theme being “Protecting children from tobacco industry interference.” The outcomes are concerning. Global surveys show that adolescents between the ages of 13 and 15 are increasingly using tobacco and nicotine products. This not only threatens their immediate health but also paves the way for a lifetime of addiction and potential health complications.
The significance of a complete approach to combat the tobacco pandemic, including public education, strict regulation, and assistance for those wishing to give up, is emphasized by World No Tobacco Day. Public education programs are essential for increasing knowledge of the serious health concerns that come with tobacco use, including heart disease, cancer, and respiratory illnesses. To cut down on usage, governments should impose greater costs on tobacco products, outlaw tobacco advertising, mandate plain packaging, and forbid smoking in public areas. Measures taken by policymakers to reduce tobacco usage are also crucial. To help people overcome addiction, it is also crucial to provide easily accessible services for quitting, including as support groups, quit lines, and medical treatment. Collaborative efforts at the local, national, and international levels are necessary to sustain momentum and achieve significant reductions in tobacco use, ultimately leading to improved public health outcomes and reduced economic burdens.”
Leave a Reply