The World Health Organization marks May 31st as the World No Tobacco Day.
Tobacco consumption can place you on higher risk of at least 15 types of cancer, heart disease and various lung diseases. Tobacco can be ingested in a number of ways; smoking cigarettes, chewing or ‘dipping’ tobacco, hookah, and cigars. Cigarette smoking is the most common form of tobacco consumption. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), India is home to 12% of the world’s smokers. More than 1 million people die every year in India due to tobacco-related illnesses.
This World No Tobacco Day, learn about 5 serious diseases tobacco consumption can make you vulnerable to:
1. Lung cancer
Cigarette smoking is the most common cause of lung cancer. 87% lung cancer-related deaths in the world are attributed to tobacco smoking. Smoking tobacco is the most important risk factor for this deadly disease. If you are still into this habit, your chances of survival five years from now are lesser than one in five. One of the best ways of lowering your risk of lung cancer is by quitting tobacco.
2. Mouth cancer
90% of mouth cancer patients are tobacco consumers. A large number of tobacco users consume it smokeless. These people practice dipping, that is chewing tobacco by placing on the teeth. This is one of the biggest contributing factors for mouth cancer. It also increases the risk of throat cancer. The best way to lower the risk of such cancers is to not start consuming tobacco in the first place, but you can still quit it and lower your risk of cancer diagnosis.
3. Heart
Smokers are almost twice as likely to have a heart attack compared with people who have never smoked. Smoking increases the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, which includes coronary heart disease and stroke. Cigarettes contain a substance called nicotine. The nicotine stimulates the body to produce adrenaline, which raises your blood pressure and making heart beat faster. One out of five heart disease-related deaths are attributed to smoking tobacco.
4. Stroke
Smoking tobacco narrows your arteries, obstructing the flow of blood and the supply of oxygen to your brain which may result in a stroke. Strokes happen when blood supply to your brain is temporarily stopped. Due to this, the brain cells end up being deprived of oxygen and they start dying. Strokes may result in paralysis, disturbed speech, disturbance in brain function and death
5. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
COPD or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a chronic respiratory condition which makes it difficult for the patient to breathe. These patients find it difficult to climb stairs, run, jog or engage in physical activities. COPD can result in chronic disabilities or early death. One of the most important contributing factors for this condition is smoking tobacco. 80% of the COPD cases are attributed to smoking tobacco.
