No Smoking Day 2021

Team Udayavani, Mar 10, 2021, 10:18 AM IST

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No smoking day which started out in the United Kingdom in 1984, is now adopted by many countries as a way to raise awareness about the health hazards of smoking via advertisements and social media.

We took this occasion to jot down some of the ill-effects of smoking.

Cancer: Smoking is associated with cancers of the mouth, throat, lungs, larynx, etc.

Respiratory diseases: Smoking even for a little while can have adverse effects on your lungs which cannot be reversed. The alveoli get inflamed due to smoke and can lead to breathing issues or aggravate asthma.

Heart diseases: Clogging and blockage in the veins and arteries can be caused due to smoking, increasing the risk of peripheral artery disease (PAD). It can also increase the chances of blood clots, angina, stroke, and heart attacks.

Lung disorders: Apart from asthma or temporary breathing obstruction, smoking causes diseases like Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or Interstitial Lung Disorder ( ILD) that may cause permanent damage to the lung and reduce life expectancy.

Skin and hair problems: Smoking affects your looks and lifestyle, causing lethargy and migraines. Skin shows signs of premature wrinkling, age spots, and so on. It even increases the intensity of hair fall.

Below are few tips to get rid of the addiction.

1) Get rid of Tobacco products

In order to quit smoking, you need to make up your mind about quitting. Start by setting a date and discarding all smoking products such as cigarettes, lighters, matches, etc.

2) Avoid common triggers

Common triggers like smoking while drinking alcohol or a cuppa tea, smoking after a meal, or a temptation to smoke while watching others smoke, avoid them.

3) Distract Yourself

Distract yourself, watch TV or invest in some hobby, listen to music, go for a walk or just call a friend. Don’t forget to have healthy food consisting of fruits nad vegetable diet.

4) Find an oral substitute

Chew gum or anything to keep your mind off smoking. The nicotine gums in the market can really help quit smoking.

5) Avoid Stress

Try to keep yourself stress-free, in case of an emergency contact a doctor.