May 31 is World No Tobacco Day. This yearly campaign is observed around the world to inform the public on the dangers of using tobacco. This year’s campaign with the theme, “Commit to Quit”, aims to empower and support tobacco users on their journey to quit.
The World Health Organization (WHO) advises the public to quit tobacco use. However, quitting can be challenging, especially due to the added social and economic stress brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. But there are a lot of reasons to quit.
According to the WHO, the tobacco epidemic is one of the biggest public health threats the world has ever faced, killing more than 8 million people a year around the world. In fact, more than 7 million of those deaths are the result of direct tobacco use while around 1.2 million are the result of non-smokers being exposed to second-hand smoke.
Smoking kills! The WHO estimates that tobacco use kills 10 Filipinos every hour due to cancer, stroke, lung, and heart diseases caused by cigarette smoking, which is the most common form of tobacco use. Tobacco smoking has also been linked to other cancers, leukemia, cataracts, Type 2 Diabetes, and pneumonia.
Smoking also puts pregnant women in danger of having miscarriage, stillborn or premature infants, or infants with birthweight of less than 2.5 kilos. Pregnant women who smoke even during pregnancy may give birth to children with learning and behavioral problems. Exposure to secondhand smoke makes children susceptible to ear and lung infections, severe asthma, and even death due to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
Evidence also shows that smokers are more likely to develop serious COVID-19 symptoms and die. Smoking decreases lung capacity and lung function, making it more difficult for the body to combat coronaviruses and other respiratory diseases.
Aside from these health risks, tobacco use is an added burden to the family as it diverts household spending from basic needs such as food, education, health, and shelter to tobacco.
Considering the health risks and negative effects of smoking, it is best to quit smoking now or do not start smoking at all. According to the CDC Center for Disease Control and Prevention, quitting smoking:
- improves health status and enhances quality of life
- reduces the risk of premature death and can add as much as 10 years to life expectancy.
- reduces the risk for many adverse health effects, including poor reproductive health outcomes, cardiovascular diseases, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and cancer.
- benefits people already diagnosed with coronary heart disease or COPD.
- benefits the health of pregnant women and their fetuses and babies.
- reduces the financial burden that smoking places on people who smoke, healthcare systems, and society.
Commit to quit. Quitting smoking is one of the most important actions people can take to improve their health and quality of life.
Written by: NOI Joyce Ann P. Pardo and NPC Milagros Elisa V. Federizo
Sources:
- https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/quit_smoking/how_to_quit/benefits/index.htm
- https://vikaspedia.in/health/health-campaigns/no-tobacco/world-no-tobacco-day
- https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1993/05/30/proclamation-no-183-s-1993/
- https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/cigarettes-other-tobacco-products
- https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/61111/smoking-kills-10-filipinos-every-hour
- https://www.who.int/news/item/11-05-2020-who-statement-tobacco-use-and-covid-19
- https://www.who.int/news-room/events/detail/2021/03/16/default-calendar/the-importance-of-tobacco-cessation-in-the-context-of-the-COVID-19-pandemic
