May 30, 2023, 12:31 PM IST

World No Tobacco Day: Health issues caused by tobacco

Bhawna Gupta

Data: WHO, Images: Pixabay & Freepik

Bhawna Gupta

The World No Tobacco Day is observed on May 31 every year.

This year's World No Tobacco Day theme is: "We need food, not tobacco."

Did you know that tobacco kills more than 8 million people every year? More than 7 million of those deaths are the result of direct tobacco use and around 1.2 million the result of non-smokers being exposed to second-hand smoke.

Over 80% of the world's 1.3 billion tobacco users live in low-and middle-income countries

Consuming tobacco leads to disease and disability, and harms nearly every organ of the body.

Smoking/consuming tobacco products may cause the following major diseases.

Cancer

Tobacco use increases the risk for many types of cancer, including lung cancer.

Heart disease

Studies show a direct link between cigarette smoking and coronary heart disease.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

Smoking during the teenage years increases the risk of COPD, a common lung disease causing restricted airflow and breathing problems.

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