Joint Release (WHO/CAN): “Tobacco causes 8 million deaths every year. Evidence released this year shows that smokers were more likely to develop severe disease with COVID-19 compared to non-smokers.” – World Health Organisation.
The Cancer Association of Namibia (WO30) joins the annual global movement of “World No Tobacco Day” to encourage smokers to quit, and especially youngsters to refrain from taking up this unhealthy habit.
Smoking may increase your risk of cancer, heart disease, stroke, lung diseases, diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Smoking also increases the risk for tuberculosis, certain eye diseases, and problems of the immune system, including rheumatoid arthritis.
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to millions of tobacco users saying they want to quit. Quitting can be challenging, especially with the added social and economic stress that has come as a result of the pandemic, but there are a lot of reasons to quit. Worldwide around 780 million people say they want to quit, but only 30% of them have access to the tools that can help them do so. Together with partners, WHO will provide people with the tools and resources they need to make a successful quit attempt.
Beneficial health changes that take place when you stop smoking:
- Within 20 minutes, your heart rate and blood pressure drop.
- 12 hours, the carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal.
- 2-12 weeks, your circulation improves, and your lung function increases.
- 1-9 months, coughing and shortness of breath decrease.
- 1 year, your risk of coronary heart disease is about half that of a smoker.
- 5 years, your stroke risk is reduced to that of a non-smoker 5 to 15 years after quitting.
- 10 years, your risk of lung cancer falls to about half that of a smoker, and your risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, cervix, and pancreas decreases.
- 15 years, the risk of coronary heart disease is that of a non-smoker.
Can people of all ages who have already developed smoking-related health problems still benefit from quitting?
Benefits in comparison with those who continued:
- At about 30: gain almost 10 years of life expectancy.
- At about 40: gain 9 years of life expectancy.
- At about 50: gain 6 years of life expectancy.
- At about 60: gain 3 years of life expectancy.
- After the onset of life-threatening disease: rapid benefit, people who quit smoking after having a heart attack reduce their chances of having another heart attack by 50%.
How does quitting smoking affect children who are exposed to second-hand smoke?
Quitting smoking decreases the excess risk of many diseases related to second-hand smoke in children, such as respiratory diseases (e.g., asthma) and ear infections.
Are there any other benefits to quitting smoking?
Quitting smoking reduces the chances of impotence, having difficulty getting pregnant, having premature births, babies with low birth weights, and miscarriage.