What You Did Not Know About Tobacco

Did you know that Tobacco was supplied to troops for free during the world wars?

Oh, yes it was.

According to reports, Tobacco came to limelight with the help of a European, Christopher Columbus in 1492.

It was only smoked by high-class personalities during festivities but Columbus took it back to Europe where it gained recognition.

Smoking increased dramatically during world wars, it was supplied to troops for free mainly to boost their morale however, it became less popular due to a rapid increase in its health effects much later in the late 20th century.
Several types of research were conducted and books published on the dangers of tobacco to health, some of which are Samuel Thomas in 1795, Benjamin Rush in 1798 and many more.

Did you know that there is such a thing as “World No Tobacco Day” ?

World No Tobacco Day is celebrated every 31st May. Unfortunately, due to poor campaigns, not many people celebrate it.

World Health Organization (WHO) says:

– About 8 million people die from smoking-related diseases and more than 7 million of those deaths are the result of non-smokers being exposed to second-hand smoke.

– No form of tobacco that is safe, some people have capricious believes that smoking stogie is safe compared to cigarettes; this has been scientifically proven to be untrue.

– E-Cigarrette (SHISHA) is Injurious to one’s health: People have a misconception about shisha, that it is harmless meanwhile, health experts say that it does not contain tobacco but it is injurious to health.They further explained that all forms of tobacco share similar health risks and contain almost 30 cancer-causing chemicals.

Did you know that smoking doesn’t reduce depression?

– Some people smoke cigarettes to numb their level of depressions and stress. Unfortunately, smoking does not lessen depression but aid in storing toxics that could terminate life if victims refuse to heed the warnings.

Daily mingling with smokers gradually influences the non-smoker to try it.
One of the key causes of smoking is growing in a family where everyone freely smokes; sending children on errands to buy cigarette or smoking it in their presence make them see it as good and gain audacity to give reasons whenever they are caught in the act.

Mental trigger to smoke which was as a result of solitude make one smoke beyond count; having no one to keep him or her in company, push one to evil practices including smoking.

– Smoking is a threat to health; it weakens the immune system because nicotine hinders its smooth function.

– Smoking also leads to bad breath, stained and tooth loss. Minor sickness to other people that do not smoke become serious to those that smoke because their immune systems are weak and could not stand against the invading nicotine toxics.

Here, is a statement from Cancer Council on smoking tobacco – ‘if the present weak regulations in developing countries continue, tobacco would kill approximately 10 million people annually’.

– Smoking also leads to lung cancer accompanied by chronic cough and when worse, produces blood whenever a smoker coughs.

– It is not a myth that people who closely sit where someone is smoking suffer more and have similar health problems; they usually inhale the produced smoke without getting it out.

– Prolonged smoking could lead to weight loss, the feebleness of the body, dry and wet cough, pain in the chest, back or shoulders. Smokers suffer from pains during coughing, laughing or deep breathing.

Negligence by authorities concerned about imposing unbearable taxes on cigarettes or related products makes cigarettes available almost everywhere. Therefore, there is a need to decrease the level of tobacco adverts, marketing and promotion in online and offline media, to help eliminate tobacco usage.

Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) developed some measures to curb tobacco smoking which includes monitoring tobacco use, offering help to quit tobacco usage, warning about the dangers of tobacco, enforcing bans on tobacco adverts, promotion or sponsorship and raising taxes on tobacco.

If governments put these measures in place, including rehabilitation centers for smokers, it could eventually lead to tobacco-free societies.
Also, if there is a heavy tax imposed on tobacco, boarders should have tracking and tracing devices in order to detect tobacco in luggages and anyone found guilty should be punished. If tobacco becomes expensive, it would discouraged a lot of people from buying.

One should not be in company with those that smoke. Attending smoking-free gatherings and being busy in profitable ventures are key to abstaining from smoking.

 

Edited from: Guardian NG

Say No To Tobacco Smoking.
Stay Away and Stay Alive!