“Tobacco – a threat to development” – World No Tobacco Day

By Dr. Deepak Talwar Dr. Sameer Gupta Dr. R K Choudhary in Cancer Internal Medicine

May 31, 2017

Here’s your guide to quit smoking tobacco. On this Anti-Tobacco Day take the pledge to walk on the road to a healthier you. Read further to know more.

Anti-Tobacco Day is celebrated annually on May 31. It’s objective is to encourage global abstinence from all forms of tobacco consumption for 24-hours. The day is further intended to aware and encourage people from all over the globe to reduce or completely stop the tobacco consumption in any form.The day also aims to lessen 5.4 million early deaths resulting from tobacco related health problems every year.

Banning the use of tobacco on global basis is very important as it leads to many illnesses like:

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

• Lung cancer
• Heart attacks
• Strokes
• Chronic heart diseases
• Emphysema
• Cancer

Tobacco can be consumed in many forms such as cigarettes, cigars, pipes, snuff, creamy snuff, chewing tobacco, hand rolling tobacco, and many more.

Anti-Tobacco Day theme for 2017 is “Tobacco – a threat to development”. It aims to highlight the risks that the tobacco industry poses to the sustainable development of all nations, including the economic well-being and health of their citizens. The idea is to propose policies that governments and the public should execute to promote health and development by withstanding the global tobacco crisis.

Quitting smoking can be difficult, and not everyone is successful. However, if you have a concrete reason and motivation you may succeed in breaking your addiction. Here are 5 quit tobacco tips:

Nicotine Replacement

People have successfully quit tobacco with the help of this method. This technique involves application of a nicotine patch, use of nicotine lozenges, or any other form of nicotine therapy.

Trigger Avoidance

As you quit tobacco, these triggers will become even more strong at creating cravings. Inorder to cutoff the cravings, you need to ensure that the triggers never activate.

Don’t have ‘just one’

You might be fascinated to have just one cigarette to satiate a tobacco craving but generally, having just one leads to another and you may end up consuming tobacco again.

Practice relaxation techniques

Tobacco consumption may have been your way of dealing with stress. Curbing a tobacco craving can itself bring stress. Get over the stress by practicing relaxation techniques, such as yoga, deep-breathing exercises, massage, muscle relaxation, or listening to calming music.

Remind yourself of the benefits

Write down the reasons you want to quit tobacco. These might include:

• Getting healthier
• Feeling better
• Saving money
• Sparing your dear ones from secondhand smoke

Claim your right to good health and healthy living. Join hands together to confront the tobacco epidemic in order to protect your younger generations from loosing themselves in every puff of smoke. Set an example to others either by pledging to never taking up tobacco products, or by quitting the habit and contribute in making it a tobacco-free world.

The single best thing you can do for your health is “Quitting Smoking”, says Dr. Sameer Gupta, Consultant – Cardiology & Endovascular Medicine

“Tobacco is certainly a threat to development. Healthy mind breeds in healthy body. Let us reaffirm our commitment to quit the consumption of tobacco.”, says Dr. Deepak Talwar – Chairman, Metro Centre for Respiratory Diseases

Tobacco consumption in any form is injurious to health and ultimately wealth as well. Lets pledge today to quit tobacco in any form and live a healthier and wealthier life, says Dr R K Choudhary, Consultant – Medical Oncology