🚭 World No Tobacco Day: Say No to Tobacco, Say Yes to Life

Published by Al Haider Healthcare, Sathi, West Champaran | www.AhcHospital.in

Every year on 31st May, the world observes World No Tobacco Day to raise awareness about the dangers of tobacco use and to encourage individuals to lead healthier, tobacco-free lives. At Al Haider Healthcare, we are committed to protecting our community from the harmful effects of tobacco and guiding those who wish to quit.

⚠️ Misuse and Dependence

Many people begin using tobacco out of peer pressure, stress relief, curiosity, or tradition. However, with time, it leads to nicotine dependence, making it difficult to quit. In rural and urban India alike, children as young as 10 are found consuming gutkha and pan masala, unaware of the deadly consequences.

💣 How Tobacco Harms the Body

Tobacco affects every part of the body. Here are the most dangerous health effects:

🫁 1. Respiratory and Lung Diseases:

• Chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)

• Reduced lung function and breathlessness

• High risk of lung cancer

❤️ 2. Heart and Blood Vessels:

• Increased blood pressure and heart rate

• Narrowing of arteries, leading to heart attacks and strokes

🧠 3. Brain and Mental Health:

• Triggers anxiety, depression, and mood disorders

• High chance of addiction relapse if already undergoing treatment

🦷 4. Mouth and Throat:

• Staining of teeth, gum disease, and bad breath

• Oral cancer, tongue and throat cancer (especially from chewing tobacco)

🧬 5. Cancers:

• Tobacco causes over 15 types of cancer: lungs, mouth, esophagus, pancreas, bladder, kidney, etc.

🤰 6. Reproductive Harm:

• In men: Reduced sperm count and erectile dysfunction

• In women: Complications in pregnancy, premature birth, low birth weight

🔄 Health Risks from Passive Smoking

Even non-smokers are at risk when they inhale smoke (passive smoking/second-hand smoke):

• Children can develop asthma, ear infections, and delayed growth

• Adults are at risk of lung cancer and heart disease

💪 How to Quit Tobacco: Step-by-Step Guide

Quitting tobacco is hard but possible with strong will and proper support. Here are steps recommended by Al Haider Healthcare:

✅ 1. Make a Firm Decision to Quit

• Set a quit date

• Inform your family and friends for support

🧠 2. Understand Your Triggers

• Stress, boredom, tea/coffee, social situations

• Avoid or modify these routines

💊 3. Seek Medical Support

• At Al Haider Healthcare, we provide:

  • Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT)

  • Counseling sessions

  • Ayurvedic and Unani support to detoxify and rejuvenate the body

  • Lung and oral screening

🥦 4. Detox and Strengthen Your Body

• Drink more water

• Eat antioxidant-rich food (fruits, vegetables)

• Practice yoga, pranayama, meditation

📱 5. Use Quit-Smoking Apps and Helplines

• National Tobacco Quitline India: 1800-11-2356

• WHO Quit Tobacco app

📈 Benefits of Quitting Tobacco

Time After Quitting Health Benefits

20 minutes Heart rate normalizes

12 hours Carbon monoxide level drop

2-12 weeks Lung function improves

1 year Risk of heart disease halves

5 years Stroke risk reduces

10 years Lung cancer death rate drops significantly

🌿 Al Haider Healthcare’s Role in Tobacco-Free Living

At Al Haider Healthcare, Sathi, West Champaran, we believe in holistic healing. Our multi-disciplinary approach helps tobacco users with:

• General medicine consultation

• Counseling and behavioral therapy

• Ayurvedic detox and rasayan therapy

• Nutritional support and lifestyle correction

• Awareness programs for youth and schools

🧠 Final Thought

Tobacco kills more people than wars, accidents, and natural disasters combined. It's time to break free from its grip—for your family, for your children, and for your future. On this World No Tobacco Day, take the pledge:

“I choose life, not tobacco. I choose health, not harm.”

📍 Visit Us:

Al Haider Healthcare, Near Sathi Railway Station, West Champaran, Bihar, India. 845449
🌐 www.AhcHospital.in
📧 Email: Alhaiderhealthcare@gmail.com

🔬 What Is Tobacco and How Is It Used?

Tobacco is a plant product that contains nicotine, a highly addictive chemical. It is consumed in several forms:

• Smoking: Cigarettes, bidis, cigars, hookah, and pipes.

• Smokeless tobacco: Gutkha, khaini, pan masala, zarda, mawa, and snuff.

• Chewing tobacco: Mixed with areca nut, slaked lime, and flavoring agents.

• Electronic devices: E-cigarettes, vaping devices (although often claimed safer, still harmful).