World No Tobacco Day is observed May 31 every year. The day tries to highlight the negative effects of tobacco use and the importance of quitting.
According to the WHO, around 267 million adults in India consume tobacco
Smoking is an addictive and harmful activity that has serious detrimental effects on the health of the person. According to the WHO, around 267 million adults in India consume tobacco. The act of smoking itself can come from various influences such as media or the internet, peer pressure, ease of access to the substance, etc. A single cigarette can harm the body but continuous consumption of the same leads to critical disorders including:
1. Respiratory diseases such as difficulty in breathing, wheezing, shortness of breath, COPD, Bronchitis, and even lung cancer.
2. Cardiovascular issues like damage in blood vessels, coronary artery diseases, and valve diseases. Smoking is the primary cause of stroke and heart disease impacting many people worldwide.
3. Cancer caused by the intake of tobacco-based products can develop in the lungs but can also impact the throat, esophagus, bladder, kidneys, and pancreas.
4. Smoking is also seen to cause an overall decline in health by causing premature wrinkles and dryness, risk of cataracts, tooth and gum diseases, and orthopedic issues such as arthritis and orthopedics.
To prevent oneself from these risks, people should avoid smoking completely. If they are in a situation where they are unable to quit the habit of smoking, then they should:
1. Seek support from a medical specialist to map down potential triggers and come up with a viable plan to quit smoking once and for all.
2. During this time, the elimination of influences and support from friends, family, and community plays a strong role in building the mental strength to keep the no-smoking streak going.
3. The after-effects of smoking that make the substance addictive can be replaced with healthier habits such as exercising, practicing breathing and relaxation techniques, and creating new replacement routines. For example, if a person likes to smoke after eating then they can switch that up with a walk.
4. Lastly, if needed an expert can assist in quitting smoking by using medications or nicotine replacement strategies.
Quitting smoking is a difficult journey, and different strategies work for different individuals. Reaching out to healthcare professionals helps in additional guidance and support throughout the quitting process.
(Dr. Mayank Arora, Consultant - Internal Medicine, Manipal Hospital, Ghaziabad)
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author. NDTV is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, suitability, or validity of any information in this article. All information is provided on an as-is basis. The information, facts, or opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of NDTV and NDTV does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.
DoctorNDTV is the one stop site for all your health needs providing the most credible health information, health news and tips with expert advice on healthy living, diet plans, informative videos etc. You can get the most relevant and accurate info you need about health problems like diabetes, cancer, pregnancy, HIV and AIDS, weight loss and many other lifestyle diseases. We have a panel of over 350 experts who help us develop content by giving their valuable inputs and bringing to us the latest in the world of healthcare.
