Smoking is considered harmful to overall health, it is the main factor in many types of serious and long-term health problems including lung cancer, heart disease, and arterial disease. Researchers say that people who smoke regularly have a higher risk of many chronic diseases. However, if you quit smoking, you can reduce the health risks caused by it to a great extent.
World No Tobacco Day is celebrated every year on 31 May to make people aware of tobacco products and health services caused by smoking and encourage them to quit tobacco. Health experts say that all people should keep avoiding this dangerous habit.
A recent report related to this is revealing big information. According to a report shared by the Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute (VPCI), about 46.96 percent of young adults in India in the age group of 18-24 years have quit tobacco.
Millions of people quit smoking
This conclusion has been drawn based on the data survey of calls received by the National Tobacco Quitline Services (NTQLS). According to the VPCI survey based on NTQLS data, between May 2016 and April 2024, the Tobacco Quitline received about 4,77,585 registered phone calls, out of which 1.44 lakh people said that they had distanced themselves from tobacco products. Most of the people were between the ages of 18-24 years and most were students up to class 12th.
Uttar Pradesh on top
The data shows that Uttar Pradesh has been on top in quitting tobacco products. 1.50 lakh (31.6 percent) calls came from here, out of which about 29.68 percent of people said that they have quit smoking. Apart from this, 72.96 percent of the calls were from individuals who had been consuming tobacco for 1-10 years.
Dr. Raj Kumar, Director, of Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute, says, NTQLS provides free, confidential counseling and guidance to tobacco users across the country who want to quit so that they can get help in maintaining their health.
What do health experts say?
Dr. Raj Kumar says, quitting tobacco is not just a matter of willpower. We focus on the psychological and behavioral factors that are responsible for this addiction and controlling them can help in quitting tobacco. Researchers say, starting to quit tobacco can be very helpful in your better health. Within 12 hours of quitting tobacco, changes start to be felt in your body.
Changes in the body due to quitting smoking
Studies show that after spending just 12 hours without smoking, the body starts expelling excess carbon monoxide. When the level of carbon monoxide becomes normal, the level of oxygen in the body also starts increasing. After about 2 weeks, blood circulation starts improving. Blood circulation in the heart and muscles improves and the functioning of the lungs also starts improving.
Quitting smoking for a month reduces cough and breathing problems. On the other hand, by not smoking for a year, the risk of heart attack and coronary heart disease becomes half as compared to smokers.
(PC: Freepik)
