November 16 – World No Tobacco Day

Each year, on the third Thursday of November, the International Union Against Cancer initiates the observance of No Tobacco Day.

Significant attention on this day is directed towards the prevention of diseases directly linked to tobacco smoking, by informing the public about the detrimental consequences of tobacco consumption and the impact of tobacco smoke, which lead to the development of oncological diseases. This day also aims to foster public support for measures designed to protect the population from the effects of tobacco product consumption.

Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death, and currently, according to the WHO, it causes the death of every tenth adult worldwide.

Tobacco contains nicotine, a substance that causes drug addiction and is characterized by an obsessive, irresistible craving for its consumption. NICOTINE is an alkaloid found in tobacco (up to 2%) and some other plants. When smoking, tobacco is absorbed into the body. It is a potent poison; in small doses, it acts as a stimulant to the nervous system, while in large doses, it causes paralysis (respiratory arrest, cessation of cardiac activity). Repeated absorption of nicotine in small doses through smoking leads to nicotinism. In addition to nicotine, tobacco smoke contains several dozen toxic and carcinogenic substances. Some of these are present in the tobacco leaf, while others are formed during its processing and combustion. The majority of carcinogenic and mutagenic substances are found in the solid fraction of tobacco smoke (tar), which is trapped by the filter. The tar and nicotine content in tobacco smoke can vary and depends on the type of cigarette, filter, tobacco variety and its processing, and the quality of the cigarette paper. In most countries, standards for nicotine and tar content have been introduced. For tar, these standards range from 10-15 mg/cigarette, and for nicotine, from 1-1.3 mg/cigarette.

There is no safe cigarette or safe level of smoking. The only most effective way to reduce health risks remains quitting smoking.

Data from scientific research shows that for those who quit smoking:

• after 8 hours, oxygen levels in the blood return to normal;
• after 48 hours, a person regains their sense of smell and taste;
• after 1 month, breathing becomes easier, and fatigue and headaches disappear;
• after 6 months, bronchitis subsides, and heart rhythm is restored;

• within 1 year, the risk of death from ischemic heart disease is halved;
• within 5 years, the probability of developing oncological diseases is reduced by half.

Think about your health and the health of your loved ones! If you smoke, quit! Be healthy!

State Institution "Rossonsky RCGE", 2023