According to Lancet, tobacco causes death in almost 50% of consumers and has an adverse effect on one’s health. Therefore, every year on 31st May, the World Health Organisation (WHO) along with its global partners celebrate World No Tobacco Day. The main purpose is to spread awareness about its harmful and deadly effects on health and discourage its use. Dr. Phani Prasant, consultant Psychiatrist at Chetana Hospital, Hyderabad says, “Smoking is like driving without any protection. Unlike alcohol, which if taken in a small amount might be healthier for some people, there is nothing like a safe limit in a cigarette. Even one cigarette is very harmful”.
According to WHO, “Tobacco use kills more than 8 million people around the world each year. disease. Its use causes many types of cancer, as well as heart disease, stroke, lung disease, and other health problems”.
WHO lists out the ways in which the tobacco and related industries are manipulating youth around the world:
- Use of flavours that are attractive to youth in
- Sleek designs and attractive products
- Promotion of products as “reduced harm” or “cleaner” alternatives
- Celebrity/influencer sponsorship and brand sponsored contests
- Point-of-sale marketing at vendor outlets frequented by children
- Sale of single stick cigarettes and other tobacco and nicotine products near schools
- Indirect marketing of tobacco products in movies, TV shows and online streaming shows
- Tobacco vending machines at venues frequented by young people
- Litigation to weaken all kinds of tobacco control regulations including warning labels
However, here are some ways recommended by Dr. Prasant to quit smoking:
- Realize the risk you are taking and don’t justify your practice
- Stop being dependent on smoking, both physiologically and psychologically
- Try to quit it completely at once
- Try to deal with your withdrawal symptoms by changing your daily routine
- Go for a Nicotine Replacement Therapy, like gums or patches
- Consult a psychiatrist and get medications if you are consuming high amounts of cigarettes.
Also today, when there is a global pandemic of the novel coronavirus, which is directly related to respiratory health, WHO says that smokers are at a high risk of getting infected. “Tobacco smokers (cigarettes, water pipes, bidis, cigars, heated tobacco products) may be more vulnerable to contracting COVID-19, as the act of smoking involves contact of fingers (and possibly contaminated cigarettes) with the lips, which increases the possibility of transmission of viruses from hand to mouth. Smoking water pipes, also known as shisha or hookah, often involves the sharing of mouth pieces and hoses, which could facilitate the transmission of the COVID-19 virus in communal and social settings”. Hence, it is better to quit than to worsen the respiratory health by continuing its consumption.
