Latest news with #WorldNoTobaccoDay
News18
3 hours ago
- Health
- News18
4 Ways Smoking Affects Your Body You Probably Didn't Know About
Last Updated: Smoking doesn't just harm the lungs, it chips away at your body's strength, resilience, and balance in quiet but powerful ways It's common knowledge that smoking harms the lungs, but did you know its impact runs much deeper? Smoking has a ripple effect throughout the body, quietly affecting systems that often go unmentioned—like your bones, gums, hormones, and more. If you're a smoker, it's critical to understand how smoking interacts with your body to make more informed health decisions. This World No Tobacco Day, Dr. Usha Chennuru, Medical Head at Cipla Health Limited, highlights four lesser-known ways smoking can affect your body—some of which might just surprise you. It Damages Gums and Oral Health: Far Beyond Just Stains Smoking is a major contributor to gum disease. It restricts blood flow to the gums, making it harder for the tissues to fight infection and heal properly. Over time, this can lead to swollen gums, frequent bleeding, loosening of teeth, and even tooth loss. What's more, smoking can mask early symptoms of gum disease, like inflammation or pain, making it harder to detect until the damage is advanced. It Weakens Your Bones: Silently but Surely You may not associate smoking with brittle bones, but the connection is very real. Smoking interferes with the body's ability to absorb calcium and produce bone-forming cells. As a result, long-term smokers are at a significantly higher risk of developing osteoporosis, which leads to fractures even from minor falls or injuries. This is especially concerning for postmenopausal women and older adults, who already face bone density challenges. Smoking also slows down bone healing, meaning recovery from injuries or surgeries can take longer. Quitting smoking can help preserve bone health and reduce the risk of painful, life-altering fractures. Smoking doesn't just affect your lungs or heart, it can disrupt your hormonal system. Studies have shown that women who smoke are more likely to experience fertility challenges and reproductive health issues. They may also have irregular periods, heavier flow, more painful menstrual cramps, and an earlier onset of menopause. It Impacts Your Immune System's Ability to Defend You Your immune system is your body's frontline defense, and smoking weakens it in multiple ways. It reduces the production of protective antibodies and impairs the function of white blood cells. As a result, smokers are more susceptible to infections and tend to recover more slowly from illnesses. A weakened immune system also increases the risk of chronic conditions, from respiratory infections to autoimmune disorders. If you frequently fall ill or take longer to bounce back from colds or the flu, smoking could be a contributing factor. Smoking doesn't just harm the lungs, it chips away at your body's strength, resilience, and balance in quiet but powerful ways. From oral health damage and weakened bones to hormonal imbalances and immune suppression, the effects are far-reaching. The good news? Your body, especially your immune system, begins to repair itself soon after you quit smoking. That's why quitting and doing it the right way can make all the difference. The World Health Organization recommends Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) along with behavioral support to significantly boost your chances of success. With the right guidance, tools, and motivation, quitting smoking becomes not just achievable, but truly life-changing. First Published: June 01, 2025, 13:19 IST
New Indian Express
5 hours ago
- Health
- New Indian Express
Say no to tobacco, yes to life: Odisha CM urges
BHUBANESWAR: With approximately 1.4 million people losing their lives each year due to tobacco consumption, accounting for around 10 per cent of the total deaths annually, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Saturday called upon all to take a pledge to say no to tobacco and other intoxicants. Launching a year-long awareness campaign on World No Tobacco Day at the Lok Seva Bhawan, the chief minister expressed serious concern over tobacco use in the society and stressed the need to launch a movement, especially among the youth, to curb the addiction. 'If we can make one person aware, we can save his life. I appeal each and all to spread awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco consumption and the health risks associated with it. It is our collective responsibility to take the government-led campaign to every household,' he said. The chief minister said concerted effort is being made by the Excise and Home departments in coordination with Narcotics Control Bureau to intensify the crackdown and take strong action against substance abuse and illicit liquor. The special task force (STF) has been empowered to take action and efforts are ongoing to completely stop the smuggling of tobacco and other intoxicants, especially illicit liquor. 'A new excise policy will be formulated soon to keep restrictive control over all forms of addictive substances,' he added.
Hans India
6 hours ago
- Health
- Hans India
Doctors warn against tobacco use
Karimnagar: As part of 'World No Tobacco Day,' a visual awareness programme was held at Karimnagar Zonal Hospital on Saturday under the leadership of senior Medical Officer Dr AV Girisimharao. Dr Girisimharao expressed concern over the increasing use of tobacco in various forms—such as cigarettes, beedis, gutka, and pan masala—not just among youth but also among some working professionals. He said many people wrongly believe that tobacco helps reduce stress or keeps them awake, which is not true. He warned that regular use of tobacco can lead to serious health problems like heart attacks at a young age, lung cancer, leg ulcers, and even loss of vision. He urged people to give up harmful addictions and focus on positive, productive activities instead.
Hans India
6 hours ago
- Health
- Hans India
TN govt intensifies crackdown on tobacco sales near educational institutions
Chennai: The Tamil Nadu government has stepped up enforcement against the sale and distribution of tobacco products near schools and colleges, as part of its ongoing public health efforts. In an official release, the government said it had instructed the Tamil Nadu Police, Food Safety Department, and local bodies to undertake focused enforcement drives to ensure strict adherence to anti-tobacco laws in areas surrounding educational institutions. To facilitate these efforts, 391 joint inspection teams -- comprising officials from the Police, Food Safety and Standards Department, and the Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department -- have been formed to conduct routine checks near schools and colleges across the state. The manufacture, storage, transport, distribution, and sale of oral tobacco products such as gutkha, pan masala, Cool Lip, and other forms of chewable tobacco remain banned in Tamil Nadu under a Government Order issued under Section 30(2)(a) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. The state has been running an extensive enforcement campaign since November 2023. According to the government, the Food Safety Department has inspected over 5.2 lakh shops and transport vehicles during this period. Of these, 13,642 shops were found selling prohibited tobacco products. Authorities have seized 1.8 lakh kilograms of banned tobacco, including 5,258 kg of the product Cool Lip. A total fine of Rs 39.14 crore has been imposed on violators by the Food Safety and Standards Department. In a parallel effort, the Tamil Nadu Police have registered 43,167 cases and confiscated over 4.1 lakh kg of banned tobacco items. Reaffirming its stance, the government said: 'The Tamil Nadu government reiterates its unwavering commitment to protecting public health, particularly children and young adults. On this World No Tobacco Day, the state calls on all citizens to support and cooperate with these enforcement efforts and to work towards a tobacco-free environment around educational institutions.' The initiative underscores the state's continued focus on reducing tobacco use and ensuring a safe and healthy atmosphere for students and youth. Tamil Nadu, tobacco ban, educational institutions, public health, enforcement drives, World No Tobacco Day
Hans India
7 hours ago
- Health
- Hans India
Awareness rally held on World No Tobacco Day
Kurnool: On the occasion of World No Tobacco Day, the District Medical and Health Officer (DMHO), Dr Shanti Kala, led an awareness rally from the District Medical and Health Office to the Collectorate on Saturday. The rally included the participation of ASHA workers and office staff and aimed to spread awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco consumption. The rally was flagged off by Dr Shanti Kala in the presence of program officers from the health department. Speaking on the occasion, she stated that World No Tobacco Day is observed every year on May 31 to highlight the health risks associated with tobacco use and to advocate for effective policies to reduce consumption. This year's theme, 'Protecting youth from industry manipulation and preventing them from tobacco and nicotine use', focuses on exposing the deceptive strategies used by the tobacco industry. Dr Shanti Kala emphasized that what begins as a casual habit often turns into a deadly addiction, leading to life-threatening diseases. As part of the programme, ASHA workers took a pledge to spread awareness about the dangers of tobacco use and to actively participate in anti-tobacco campaigns. Dr Shailesh Kumar, District NCD Officer; Dr Nagaprasad; Dr Raghu; Dr Uma; Dr Rama Sirisha; Dr Nissi Grace; Demo Srinivasulu Shetty; Deputy Demo Chandrasekhar Reddy; DPO Vijayaraju; Fluorosis Consultant Sudhakar; NTCP Psychologist Chandrasekhar; Social Worker Somashekar Swamy; DCM Prasad; HE Padmavati; Consultant Mallikarjun; Projectionist Khaleel, and a large number of ASHA workers participated in the rally.
