In South Africa, more than 43 000 people die every year from diseases directly and indirectly related to tobacco smoke. Tobacco products such as cigarettes contain nicotine which is highly addictive. Tobacco use is one of the main risk factors for a number of chronic diseases, including cancer, lung diseases and cardiovascular diseases. On World No-Tobacco Day 2012, make your health a priority and quit smoking.
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World No-Tobacco Day 2012
World No-Tobacco Day is celebrated every year on 31 May. This event, which was launched by the World Health Organization (WHO), has been observed each year since 1989 to raise awareness of the health problems that tobacco use can cause.
The national theme for this year is: "Tobacco Industry Interference" and will focus on the need to educate the general public and expose and resist the attempts by tobacco industries to undermine the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC).
Why is Smoking a Bad Habit?
Smoking and tobacco use is one of the leading causes of death in the world that can be prevented. The global tobacco epidemic kills nearly 6 million people each year, of which more than 600 000 are people exposed to second-hand smoke. Despite enough evidence on the dangers of tobacco, relatively few tobacco users worldwide fully grasp the health risks. People may know tobacco use is harmful, but choose to indulge in the bad habit anyway.
What are the Health Issues Related to Smoking Addictions?
Smoking increases the risk of kidney, bladder, cervix and pancreatic cancer. In addition, smokers face a higher risk of suffering from heart attacks than non-smokers and smoking contributes to chronic lung diseases like emphysema and bronchitis.
According to the WHO, cigarette smoking harms nearly every organ in the body. Cigarettes contain carbon monoxide that slows the blood's ability to carry oxygen to body tissues, including vital organs.
What are the Short-Term Effects of Smoking?
What are the Long-Term Effects of Smoking?
What is Second-Hand Smoke?
Second-hand smoke, or environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), occurs when non-smokers breathe in other people's tobacco smoke. The WHO states that second-hand smoke is responsible for 600 000 premature deaths per year. Children exposed to second-hand smoke are more likely to suffer from asthma, ear infections, pneumonia and bronchitis.
What Can I Do about Second-Hand Smoke?
While the consequence of smoking may seem far-off, they should be taken seriously. The WHO states that tobacco use is responsible for more than 6 million deaths every year, which is more than HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria combined.
What are the Health Benefits if I Stop Smoking?
Where Can I Get Help to Stop Smoking?
Smokenders | Tel: 021 788 9120 E-mail: info@smokenders.co.za |
National Quit Line | Tel: 011 720 3145 |
CANSA CANSA's eKick Butt Programme is a unique online cessation programme | Tel: 0800 22 66 22 (toll-free) Tel: 021 689 5381 (08:00 to 16:30 weekdays) E-mail: info@cansa.org.za |
Harmony Addictions Clinic | Tel: 021 790 7779 E-mail: steven@harmonyclinic.co.za |
Stop Smoking Easily | Tel: 0861 115 153 E-mail: info@stopsmokingeasily.co.za |
Sources: Department of Health and the World Health Organization (WHO)