World No Tobacco Day

• On average, smokers die 13 to 14 years earlier than nonsmokers.
• Tobacco smoke contains over 4000 chemical compounds, over 50 of which are known carcinogens.
• Smoking currently kills one in ten adults worldwide. By 2030, the proportion will be one in six.

Smoking Harms Children and Babies

• Research has shown that women’s smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of pregnancy complications, premature delivery, low-birth-weight infants, stillbirth, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

• The nicotine in cigarettes may cause constrictions in the blood vessels of the umbilical cord and uterus, thereby decreasing the amount of oxygen available to the fetus. Nicotine also may reduce the amount of blood in the fetal cardiovascular system. Nicotine is found in breast milk.
• In children, secondhand smoke causes:

• Smoking by the mother causes sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Compared with unexposed infants, babies exposed to secondhand smoke after birth are at twice the risk for SIDS, and infants whose mothers smoked before and after birth are at three to four times greater risk. Infants who die from SIDS have higher concentrations of nicotine in their lungs and higher levels of cotinine (a biological marker for secondhand smoke exposure) than infants who die from other causes.
• Exposing children to secondhand smoke in non- smoker mothers affect their lung function during the first year of

Smoking and Cardiovascular Disease

• Smoking is estimated to increase the risk for coronary heart disease and stroke by 2 to 4 times.
• Smoking damages blood vessels and can make them thicker and grow narrower. This makes your heart beat faster and your blood pressure go up. Clots can also form.
• Nonsmokers who are exposed to secondhand smoke at home or at work increase their risk of developing heart disease by 25–30% and for stroke by 20−30%.
• People who already have heart disease are at especially high risk of suffering adverse effects from breathing secondhand smoke and should take special precautions to avoid even brief exposures.

Smoking and Cancer

• Smoking causes many other types of cancer, including cancers of the throat, mouth, nasal cavity, esophagus, stomach, pancreas, kidney, bladder,...
•  Men with prostate cancer who smoke may be more likely to die from the disease than nonsmokers.

Smoking and Diabetes

• Smoking is a cause of type 2 diabetes mellitus and can make it harder to control. The risk of developing diabetes is 30 – 40% higher for active smokers than nonsmokers.

Smoking and Rheumatoid arthritis

•  Smoking is known to be a risk factor for developing rheumatoid arthritis. One research study estimated that smoking is responsible for about 1 in 5 cases of rheumatoid arthritis.

The Effects on Smoking and Menopause

• On average, women who smoke have a menopause nearly two years earlier than non-smokers.
• Smoking can reduce fertility (both male and female).
• Smoking can also increase risks for birth defects and miscarriage (loss of the pregnancy).

How to Quit Smoking

How to Quit Smoking

How to Quit Smoking

•  Ask for support from your family and friends.
•  Join a support group for people trying to quit.
•  Get individual counseling in person or by phone.

How to Quit Smoking

How to Quit Smoking

• Change your drink: Certain activities may boost your urge to smoke. Alcohol is one of the most common triggers, so try to drink less when you first quit. If coffee is a trigger, switch to tea for a few weeks.

• Change your food: try to focus on eating more fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy products. A US university study suggests these foods make cigarettes taste terrible.

• Get Moving: Physical activity (even a five-minute walk or stretch) can help reduce nicotine cravings and ease some withdrawal symptoms. The extra calories you burn will also ward off weight gain as you quit smoking.