May 31st is observed as World No Tobacco Day. At Integra, we join in supporting World No Tobacco Day, increasing education around tobacco/smoking’s detrimental effects along with some information on how to get in touch with our team to discuss any questions, concerns or information on smoking cessation.
Smoking has numerous health risks. According to the NHS, smoking causes 7 out of 10 cases of lung cancer (70%). Tobacco can not only cause damage in the lungs but other parts of the body, such as the mouth, throat, larynx, bladder, and stomach, to name a few. Significant health risks can arise from the effects of tobacco, such as heart attacks, heart disease, strokes, pneumonia, etc.
The earlier you quit tobacco use (or avoid it altogether!) the less of a chance you can have for being at risk of being diagnosed with serious conditions and illnesses. The World Health Organization (WHO) shared (below) the positive impacts of smoking cessation for your heart health and how your risk of having coronanry disease or strokes can be reduced to that of a non-smoker between 5-15 years after you’ve stopped smoking!
Aside from the obvious impacts of reducing risk of illness and diseases such as lung cancer & heart disease, saying no to tobacco can also help with more sustainable food production.
WHO have made this year’s theme for World No Tobacco Day 2023, “Grow Food, Not Tobacco”, urging us to prioritize agriculture that nourishes our bodies and promotes a healthier, tobacco-free world.
By prioritising sustainable food production, WHO states that we can mitigate the environmental impact of tobacco farming, promote food security and improve public health (as the availability of tobacco is reduced).
To read more on the WHO’s campaign, click here.
To book an appointment with one of our GPs at Integra to have a general check-up, discuss smoking cessation or any other questions or concerns, click here.
