Celebrate World No-Tobacco Day on May 31st

World no tobacco day in a map

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May 31st marks the yearly World No Tobacco Day, an opportunity for the World Health Organization and its partners to educate the public on the dangers of tobacco consumption and emphasize the need for government policies to address them.

This year’s particular focus is on tobacco and heart disease, and campaigns are highlighting the link between tobacco and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and the measures that governments and the public need to take to combat the associated risks.

Few people understand the specific health risks of smoking.

CVDs are the leading cause of death worldwide, and “tobacco use and second-hand smoke exposure contribute to approximately 12% of all heart disease deaths.” While it may feel that the health risks associated with smoking are common knowledge, known to most people, studies show that, worldwide, few understand the specific illnesses that can result from the habit. For instance, a 2009 survey revealed that in China, only 38% of smokers were aware that smoking could cause coronary heart diseases, and an appalling 27% knew that smoking could lead to an increased risk of suffering a stroke.

Many smokers who are aware of the health risks want to quit.

The majority of those who are aware of the grave dangers do want to quit, but it’s no easy feat since nicotine addiction is hard to overcome. According to the WHO, counseling and medication can more than double the chances of a smoker successfully quitting, but in many countries, those can be expensive, and the costs of smoking cessation services are not covered.

Some, like our customers, have turned to vaping to help them resist the urge to smoke. Flavors such as tobacco and menthol enable ex-smokers to still indulge in the tastes that are familiar to them even if they do not contain tobacco. E-cigs also allow them to satisfy their cravings for nicotine, and since e-cigarettes have a similar look and feel to regular combustible cigarettes, they also help with the emotional and psychological difficulties of quitting. Imagine being able to go out for your “smoke breaks” without inhaling a cocktail of toxins that are deleterious to your wellbeing.

How will you be celebrating World No-Tobacco day this year? Tell us in the comments section below.

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