Today is no smoking day. Smoking and cigarette consumption are harmful to health. Cigarette consumption has negative effects on the heart and lungs. May cause cancer, diabetes, impotence, and risks to pregnant women and fetuses. No Smoking Day is celebrated to increase awareness about the risks caused by cigarettes and encourage people to get rid of the habit of cigarettes and beedis. Let us know about the history, and theme of No Smoking Day, and the harm caused by smoking.

History of No Smoking Day
No Smoking Day is observed on the second Wednesday of March. This year No Smoking Day is being celebrated on 13 March 2024. The history of this day is about 40 years old. In 1984, a charity named No Smoking was formed in Britain. Its function was to highlight the health risks associated with smoking and encourage quitting. Later it started being celebrated all over the world as No Smoking Day on the second Wednesday of March.

No Smoking Day theme
Every year, No Smoking Day is celebrated based on a specific theme to stop the consumption of cigarettes and smoking. This year the theme of No Smoking Day 2024 is 'Protecting children from tobacco products'.

Disadvantages of smoking cigarettes
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cigarettes harm almost all organs of the body. Studies show that smoking increases the risk of more than a dozen diseases. Let us know the disadvantages of cigarette smoking.

Lung cancer
Cigarette consumption has the fastest effect on the lungs. Cigarettes damage the lungs. It increases the chances of lung cancer. At the same time, almost 9 out of 10 deaths due to lung cancer are due to smoking.

Risk of heart disease
If you smoke, your chances of dying from heart disease and stroke can increase three times more than normal people. Apart from this, the risk of many types of heart diseases increases by at least double.

Chronic bronchitis
Smoking can trigger asthma attacks. There is also a possibility of chronic bronchitis increasing.

Difficulty in pregnancy
Women who smoke cigarettes may harm their reproductive system. Women may face problems during pregnancy due to cigarettes. Smoking during pregnancy can also cause a lot of problems for the fetus growing in the womb.

(PC: istock)