RIFKA ZIYARD
COLOMBO:The World No Tobacco Day is observed every year on 31 May to make tobacco users aware of the opportunity to lead a healthier life. The aim of this day is to spread awareness about the dangers of using tobacco and how health problems can be tackled by doctors when one quits smoking.
The World Health Organization (WHO) states that when news was released that smokers were more likely to develop COVID-19 compared to non-smokers , it made millions of tobacco users to want to quit smoking.
This year, the theme revolves around quitting tobacco to be a winner. WHO launched a global campaign under the slogan “Commit to quit” to celebrate the World No Tobacco Day 2021.
In 1987, the Member States of the WHO created World No Tobacco Day to draw its attention towards the tobacco epidemic. In 1988, it was announced that World No Tobacco Day be celebrated annually across the globe on 31 May.
As per WHO, in a communication shared last year, the beneficial health changes that take place if one quits smoking are
- Within 20 minutes, your heart rate and blood pressure drop.
- 12 hours, the carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal.
- 2-12 weeks, your circulation improves and your lung function increases.
- 1-9 months, coughing and shortness of breath decrease.
- 1 year, your risk of coronary heart disease is about half that of a smoker’s.
- 5 years, your stroke risk is reduced to that of a nonsmoker 5 to 15 years after quitting.
- 10 years, your risk of lung cancer falls to about half that of a smoker and your risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, cervix, and pancreas decreases.
- 15 years, the risk of coronary heart disease is that of a nonsmoker’s.
Quitting smoking reduces the chances of impotence, having difficulty getting pregnant, having premature births, babies with low birth weights and miscarriage. Further quitting smoking decreases the excess risk of many diseases related to second-hand smoke in children, such as respiratory diseases (e.g., asthma) and ear infections.
