The Importance of No Smoking Day: A Vital Reminder to Kick the Habit

Posted On: 2024-03-07 15:03:52

No Smoking Day is an annual health awareness day held on the second Wednesday in March designated by the National Health Portal of India to encourage smokers to stop their habit. It serves as a timely reminder of the health dangers linked with smoking and the advantages of quitting. The smoking statistics in India are as follows 1 million people in India lose their lives to smoking every year, WHO estimates that nearly 70% of adult males in India smoke. The percentage is lower among females (13-15%) and 25% of Indians are unaware of the link between smoking and heart diseases. 

Smoking destroys one’s lungs and also can severely damage the heart. Tobacco particles can lead to pneumonia, emphysema, cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Apart from these major health hazards, it can also lead to blindness, Type 2 diabetes, High Blood Pressure, Ectopic pregnancy, Weaker Bones, and birth defects. 

It is difficult to quit smoking especially if the person is a habitual chain smoker but loved ones can intervene with persuasion to quit smoking, try nicotine replacement therapy or chewing gum (non-sugared ones) this can keep the mind distracted, and chain smokers might need to seek professional help. 

Now, why no smoking day matters:

1. Health Awareness: Smoking is one of the major causes of avoidable deaths across the world, and it has been related to a variety of significant health concerns including cancer, heart disease, and respiratory illnesses. No Smoking Day raises awareness about these hazards by reminding smokers of the negative effects smoking may have on their own and others' health.
2. Support for Smokers: No Smoking Day gives a forum for smokers to seek help and tools to quit. Individuals are urged to seek aid on their road to a smoke-free life, whether through smoking cessation programmes, helplines, or online support groups.
3. Education and Empowerment: No Smoking Day provides individuals with information on the benefits of quitting smoking for themselves and those around them. Smokers who comprehend the immediate and long-term benefits of quitting are more inclined to make aggressive efforts towards cessation.

How can we as individuals participate in this day:

1. Spread Awareness: Share information about No Smoking Day on social media, in your neighbourhood, or at work to promote awareness about the event and its importance.
2. Support Smokers: Encourage and support friends, relatives, or coworkers who are attempting to quit smoking. Let them know that you're with them every step of the journey.
3. Quit Smoking: If you smoke, consider No Smoking Day as a chance to stop or make a pledge to minimise your tobacco consumption. Seek out tools and assistance to aid you on your path to a better living.

Remember that doing something to resist the impulse to consume tobacco is always preferable to doing nothing. And every time you overcome a tobacco need, you get closer to quitting.

Filaantro along with Child Help Foundation believes that this article resonates with you and if you or any of your friends or family members are addicted to smoking you can help them quit smoking.

 AUTHOR: ATHIRA PRADEEP NAIR