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World No Tobacco Day - 2012

by Dr. Reeja Tharu on May 30 2012 1:23 PM
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World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) is observed globally around the world each year on May 31.

It was first created by the member states of the WHO in 1987. On this day a 24-hour abstinence from tobacco and all its products is encouraged throughout the world. WNTD also hopes to draw attention to widespread tobacco use and to the health hazards that stem from it.

In the past two decades, WNTD has been both welcomed and resisted world-wide by smokers, governments, public health organizations, tobacco growers, and the tobacco industry.

The theme of World No Tobacco Day 2012 is “Tobacco industry interference”.

It is important to understand the functioning of the tobacco industry in order to successfully implement control policies. There is an overwhelming need to expose and counter the brazen aggressiveness of the industry and its repeated attempts to undermine the control efforts that are carried out globally. This year’s campaign will focus on the massive interference that policy makers and the anti-tobacco lobby face from the tobacco industry.

Tobacco, which kills nearly 6 million people around the world each year, including more than 600,000 who die from exposure to second-hand smoke, is among the world’s leading preventable causes of death. By 2030, it is expected to kill more than 8 million people, of which 80% would belong to low and middle-income countries. Also, increased health-care costs and decreased productivity that occur as a result of tobacco usage, takes its toll on economies.

There is a pressing need to protect the present and future generations from the various consequences of tobacco exposure. By implementing control measures in the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), governments reduce the heavy burden of disease and death that is attributable to tobacco use or exposure.

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Nicotine dependence or tobacco dependence is an addiction to tobacco and its products. Nicotine in the tobacco causes dependency with its mood-altering effects, while the harm comes from other products in the tobacco.

Health hazards of tobacco usage include heart disease, stroke, premature ageing, respiratory problems, impotency, pregnancy –related complications and cancer (of the lung, mouth, throat, larynx, bladder, cervix, kidney and even certain types of leukemia)

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Quitting tobacco may not be easy as tobacco dependency results in an array of behavioral, cognitive and physiological changes.  While making an attempt to quit tobacco, these changes may lead to withdrawal symptoms like irritability, restlessness, depression, difficulty concentrating, frustration, increased hunger, anxiety, sleeplessness, diarrhea or constipation.

There are many medications that are considered safe to counter tobacco dependence. Nicotine replacement therapy is a good way to manage nicotine dependence. It involves administering nicotine, (without the other harmful products in the tobacco) in the form of patches, chewing gum, inhaler, nasal spray or lozenges.

If a person has tried to quit tobacco and has not succeeded then he must seek help. A different medication or a different dosage of the same medication might be useful. Counseling and support groups have also helped many to quit tobacco.

Quitting may not be easy but it is definitely possible. The earlier it is done, the greater are the chances to save life!

Source-Medindia


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