Nearly 7 million people die each year because of tobacco use, of which close to 9,00,000 are non-smokers, who die from inhaling second-hand smoke.

From time immemorial, we have been schooled on the detrimental effects of smoking. But to this day, despite knowing better, some of us continue this menacing habit. Some, in a feeble attempt at redemption, have even switched to rolling their own cigarettes. Although these roll-your-own pouches are branded by marketers using words like ‘organic’ and ‘natural’, suggesting that the product is a healthier replacement, the fact remains that all forms of tobacco are harmful. Evidence confirms that people who smoke ‘rollies’ consume the same amount of toxins and carcinogens as those who indulge in factory-made cigarettes.  The following infographic throws light on how cigarette smoking doesn’t just harm your lungs. The risk of tobacco permeates to other parts of your body as well.

We would think that printing health warnings on the pack of cigarettes would lower their use, but contrarily, the number of tobacco-related illnesses and deaths remain the largest.  

So, why is it that people continue smoking? How is it that no amount of information and awareness has had an impact?

Quitting smoking helps your body in more ways that you can imagine. The great news is that if you quit, you can remarkably reduce your risk of suffering the following consequences: 

• 8 hours after having your last cigarette, your blood oxygen level increases and returns to normal.
• After 24 hours, your heart will start to repair itself. This will reduce your chance of having a heart attack.
• After 1 year, your risk of having a heart attack or stroke drops by 50%.
• After 5 to 15 years, your chances of having coronary heart disease or stroke are the same as that of people who have never smoked.

So, this World No Tobacco Day, let us come together and take a pledge to stop smoking and begin our journey on the road to recovery.

BY THIYAGARAJAN VELAYUTHAM, FOUNDER, IHHC | MAY 31ST, 2018