The “World No Tobacco Day” aims to raise awareness on the risks associated with using tobacco and press for policies to reduce the consumption of tobacco.

Secondhand Smoke Related Diseases

Source : The Tobacco Atlas

Here are some crucial statistics and facts on tobacco use:

• According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), around 7 million people die from tobacco use, annually. This number is predicted to increase to 8 million by 2030 if action isn’t taken.
• Growing tobacco requires the use of pesticides and fertilisers which causes water pollution.
• In South East Asian countries such as Malaysia, The National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2015 reports that almost a quarter of the Malaysian population above the age of 15 years old smoke and almost 40% of Malaysian adults over 15 years old were exposed to second hand smoke at home.
• Second-hand smoke causes serious cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, including coronary heart disease and lung cancer and causes more than 890 000 premature deaths per year.
• Exposure to secondhand smoke is common in Asia. In Indonesia and Pakistan, for example, more than 80% of people are exposed to secondhand smoke in restaurants.

However, it is not all gloom and doom for smokers for according to the CDC, within 2 to 5 years after quiting smoking, an ex-smoker’s risk of stroke goes down to almost the same as a non-smoker. So make this month or day, the one you, your friend or member of your family quit smoking.