Fighting the global Tobacco Epidemic : a deadly and silently thriving Epidemic

In commemoration of the World No Tobacco day 2015 on May 31, the WHO has chosen the theme: "Stop the illegal sale of tobacco products."

In the 20th century, Tobacco was said to have caused 100 million deaths and could cause about one billion deaths in the 21st century if it's trade and use is not stopped!

According to the WHO fact sheet,
 Tobacco:

- kills more than half of its users, and about 6 million people globally on a yearly basis.

Over 5 million cases of death are linked to direct use of Tobacco products, while about 600,000 non smoker deaths are from second hand smoke.

It has been projected that by 2030, the annual death toll from Tobacco and related products may rise to about 8 million if care is not taken!

It is sad to note that, close to 80% of the World's one billion Tobacco users are in the low and middle income nations of the world and obviously the resulting deaths and illness from Tobacco is worse in these regions. 

What is Second-hand smoke?

It is the smoke that fills rooms, homes, bars, restaurants, offices or other enclosed spaces when people burn tobacco products such as cigarettes, bidis and water pipes.

How does it impact me?

 There are more than 4000 chemicals in tobacco smoke, and at least 250 of these are known to be harmful and more than 50 are known to cause cancer. 

There is no safe level of exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke. 

• In adults, second-hand smoke causes serious cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, including coronary heart disease and lung cancer. In infants, it causes sudden death. In pregnant women, it causes low birth weight. 
• Almost half of children regularly breathe air polluted by tobacco smoke in public places. 
• Over 40% of children have at least one smoking parent. 
• Second-hand smoke causes more than 600 000 premature deaths per year.
• In 2004, children accounted for 28% of the deaths attributable to second-hand smoke.

Every person should be able to breathe tobacco-smoke-free air. Smoke-free laws protect the health of non-smokers, are popular, do not harm business and encourage smokers to quit.

The WHO encourages:

- Individuals to STOP SMOKING!

- Countries to:

* Monitor Tobacco use by carrying out periodic surveillance of the use of tobacco products amongst the adults and youths at least once in 5 years.

* Increase the taxes on Tobacco products so as to make it less affordable.

* Promote pictorial ads that warn against the use of Tobacco products and encourage anti Tobacco mass media campaigns.

* Ban the advertisement of Tobacco products within their border.

* Increase the general awareness level of their citizens on the ills of Tobacco smoking and the health and economic consequences.

* Organize Tobacco cessation programs in order to help those that want to quit smoking achieve their aim.

Reference: WHO fact sheet for World No Tobacco day 2015