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Thursday, May 31, 2012
WORLD NO TOBACCO DAY 2012
The Ministry of Health joins the rest of the world in observing World No Tobacco Day, today, May 31st 2012. As a signatory to the World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), Trinidad and Tobago has joined other first world countries in adopting anti-tobacco legislation which addresses:
v Protection from second-hand smoke;
v Prohibition of tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship; and
v Prohibition against the sale of tobacco products to and by minors.
Tobacco kills
v According to the WHO, the world is facing a tobacco epidemic. Most adult smokers start smoking before the age 20 and tobacco kills up to half its users. By 2030, WHO estimates that tobacco will kill more than 8 million people every year.
v Tobacco is a major risk factor for chronic non-communicable diseases (CNCDs) and in Trinidadand Tobago, 2/3 of all deaths are due to 3 major CNCDs: Cardiovascular diseases, Cancer and Diabetes.
v Within the Caribbean region, Trinidad and Tobago has the highest overall percentage of deaths due to CNCDs.
vThe burden of tobacco-related illness and death is heavy as tobacco users who die prematurely deprive their families of income, raise the cost of health care and hinder economic development.
Secondhand smoke kills children
In nonsmokers, WHO estimates that exposure to secondhand smoke kills another 600 000 people annually. Almost half of all children regularly breathe air polluted by tobacco smoke and more than 40% of children have at least one smoking parent. In 2004, children accounted for nearly one third of deaths attributable to secondhand smoke.
Health benefits of quitting
1. There are immediate and long-term health benefits of quitting for all smokers.
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Time since quitting |
Beneficial health changes that take place |
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Within 20 minutes |
Your heart rate and blood pressure drop. |
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12 hours |
The carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal. |
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2-12 weeks |
Your circulation improves and your lung function increases. |
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1-9 months |
Coughing and shortness of breath decrease. |
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1 year |
Your risk of coronary heart disease is about half that of a smoker. |
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5 years |
Your stroke risk is reduced to that of a nonsmoker 5 to 15 years after quitting. |
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10 years
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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. |
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15 years |
The risk of coronary heart disease is that of a nonsmoker's. |
2. People of all ages who have already developed smoking-related health problems can still benefit from quitting.
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Time of quitting smoking |
Benefits in comparison with those who continued |
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At about 30 |
Gain almost 10 years of life expectancy |
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At about 40 |
Gain 9 years of life expectancy |
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At about 50 |
Gain 6 years of life expectancy |
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At about 60 |
Gain 3 years of life expectancy |
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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%. |
3. 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.
4. Quitting smoking reduces the chances of impotence, having difficulty getting pregnant, having premature births, babies with low birth weights and miscarriage.
On World No Tobacco Day, the Ministry of Health urges all citizens to take responsibility for his or her own health and make preventive health care a part of your family’s life. Join the fight against the tobacco epidemic. Quit smoking today!
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