The King of Killing – Smoking

Today is “World No Tobacco Day” which is observed on the 31st of May every year to appraise the general public of the potential dangers to health by the usage of Tobacco in various forms and dissuading people from using Tobacco products, thus preventing the development of the consequent health hazards in the individuals as well as the society at large. 

Amongst the various forms of Tobacco usage like chewing, sniffing, etc., Smoking is the most common and dangerous form contributing to enormous ill health globally and stands as the leading cause of preventable death. Smoking tobacco is done in various forms like cigarettes, beedis, cigars, pipe, hookah, etc., All of them are almost equally detrimental to our general health and the lungs in particular. 

WHO estimated that there are about 1.5 billion smokers worldwide out of the 7.5 billion population (which is about 20%). Smoking is more common in men, particularly in India where about 20% of the males above 15 years are smokers. Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death, accounting for one death for every 10 deaths. One person dies every 6 seconds from tobacco-related diseases. And tobacco kills almost half of its users accounting for about 7 million deaths every year out of which 6 million are smokers and up to 1 million are non-smokers exposed to second-hand smoke. 

Why do we smoke? 

Nicotine is present in tobacco. When the tobacco is burnt, the nicotine is released in the smokers. When we inhale the smoke nicotine gets absorbed into the body and stimulates the brain. So we get that buzz or kick after smoking and we get addicted to it. But along with nicotine the smoke also contains about 5000 odd toxic chemicals which get deposited in the body to cause various harmful smoking negative effects on the body like: 

• Cancers of the lungs, mouth, tongue, throat, stomach, pancreas, bladder, etc. 
• Respiratory diseases - COPD, Asthma, Pulmonary Fibrosis, Pneumonia. 
• Vascular diseases - heart attack, stroke, gangrene, Hypertension. 
• General problems like - skin wrinkling, bone weakness, muscle pains, gastric ulcers, dental diseases, Impotence in males, miscarriages in pregnant, and psychotic problems. 

Second-hand smoke 

When the smoke is inhaled indirectly (from smoking in public places and our homes by our family members) also we are at similar risk to develop the harmful effects of smoking. So you have to keep in mind that by smoking you are not only harming yourself but the others around you, your friends, family, and society as well. 

Studies have shown that with Spousal exposure, women have a 25% increased risk of harmful effects of smoking if married to a smoker, and with Parental exposure, children have a high risk of respiratory infections, Pneumonia, Asthma, and lung cancers in the long term. Smoking dangers exposed pregnant women carry a high risk of miscarriages and delivering babies with low birth weights, and congenital anomalies. 

It is Never too late to stop

You can start appreciating the benefits of stopping smoking almost instantly. 

• 20 minutes after stopping – BP stabilizes, Heart rate normalizes, 
• Within 24 hours – oxygen levels improve, 
• Within 48 hours – you can taste and smell better, 
• Within 1 month – cough and chest congestion improves, 
• In about 1 year- heart disease risk reduces to half, 
• In 5 years – stroke risk gets nullified, 
• In 10 years- cancer risk diminishes by half, 
• In 15 years – the death risk due to smoking-related diseases almost disappears. 

How to Quit?

Anyone can quit at any time. There may be a temporary restlessness for 3-4 days and a craving for smoking for about 3-4 weeks. All you need is the determination to quit. Think of your health in the future, and the risk you are posing to your innocent family members and friends. If your addiction is dominating your determination and effort and you have difficulty quitting, Doctors can always help you achieve it. 

They can give Medicines to stop the craving for smoking. The lungs specialist in Hyderabad will counsel you to motivate you to quit smoking. If you are a smoker, pledge immediately to give it up. 

Even if you are not a smoker get aware of the smoking risks and propagate that Smoking is the king of killing. 

The King of Killing – Smoking

Male and Female alike

Right from the tender teenage

Young or Old, all like

Enjoying the Nicotine voyage

Some may chew

Sniff, some other few

Much more smoke

Seeking the Nicotinic kick

And it does not end there

As the buzz starts to wear

The mind goes mad and the body sore

Craving for Nicotine more and more

Then comes the real danger

As a Lung or a Tongue cancer

Or a Heart or a Brain stroke

In a bloated and puffing bloke

Why mess it up intoxicating

Your sound body and mind

Say no to Tobacco and Smoking

Save many lives and the Mankind