This world is full of entertainment, full of stress, full of pain, full of beauty, full of mysteries, full of miracles, full of bizarreness, and full of blessings. People all around the world are different from each other, having different cultures, having different religious faiths and thoughts, and possessing great potential. It is very unfortunate that throughout the world people are consuming drugs, smoking cigars and cigarettes, consuming some powder like drugs, injecting, and consuming alcohol, which is dreadful for their health and has adverse health related issues. Every year on May 31st, ‘’ no tobacco day is observed throughout the world. The main aim of this day is to make people aware that they should not use any kind of tobacco product like cigarettes, cigars, habul babul, etc.
The theme of No Tobacco Day 2024 is ‘’protecting children from tobacco industry interference’’. Those who are active smokers should consider themselves environmental pollutants. There are a number of carcinogenic and harmful chemicals added to tobacco containing products. We are very unfortunate that we are civilized. We have a number of degrees from universities, and we are feeling proud that we are developed or developing enough in all sectors, like education, defense, aviation, and the corporate sector, but at the same time we are lacking basic scientific knowledge regarding how lethal consumption of tobacco is. Our thoughts should be stringent and strictly against any company that is promoting tobacco products in public.
Smoking is not only harming the active smokers; it is equally or more harmful for the passive smokers (passive smokers are those who are not addicted to smoking and indirectly get affected by the harmful impacts of smoke present in the environment). I have seen many people smoking inside rooms, vehicles, hotels, and restaurants in the presence of their family or friends who are getting ill or allergic, and in the future they are at risk of asthma or some other chronic disease.
Tobacco-containing products and our children’s.
Today, there are a number of brand tobacco-containing products on the market that are being sold too close to educational institutions, and the sellers are violating the law of selling such products within the parameters of educational institutes. One thing is very unfortunate: school-going students are consuming tobacco products without any fear or concern regarding their health. During morning assembly, teachers inform their students of the dreadful impacts of smoking, and this exercise should remain more effective in the future. The teacher community needs more effective strategies to keep their students away from consumption of such products. Every individual should know the adverse impacts of consuming unhealthy and cancer-causing products.
Smoking should be replaced with healthy food items; health should be a priority for every individual.
The best alternative to smoking
I think taking part in sports activities can minimize the urge to smoke among smokers. Drug de-addiction centers should be laced with advanced techniques, and awareness programs should be organized regularly in educational institutes at all levels.
Parents should avoid smoking in front of minor children and should avoid purchasing such items through children. Shopkeepers should stop selling tobacco products to minors and should avoid keeping such items in their shops.
Getting addicted to carcinogenic products is never a smart option for all of us. We can replace such habits with great and effective ways, like indulging ourselves in sports activities. Before thinking of smoking, keep in mind the dreadful results that you are going to have in the future.
The 31st of May should be observed every day to eradicate the evils from our society, keep all humans healthy, and keep the environment neat and clean.
History of tobacco
It is being considered that in 1492, Christopher Columbus landed on Tobago Island, and he found that the natives of the island were using the dried tobacco leaves for pleasure. It has also been considered that since then, the dried leaves of the tobacco plant have spread throughout the world in different forms, like chewing forms, cigars, etc. Nicotine is present in the tobacco leaves and is a major component as well. Nicotine, which has harmful effects on human health as it causes heart attacks, affects the nervous system of the human body. Nicotine also has interesting uses, like being used for agricultural purposes as an insecticide. Nicotine is also used for gastro-intestinal disorders. Nicotine addicts the human mind and makes one dependent, sick, arrogant, unhygienic, and short-tempered. Tobacco contains tar, which causes lung cancer and is responsible for many diseases among active smokers. Active smokers are ten times more likely to die from lung cancer than passive smokers. The mixture of carbon monoxide and nicotine temporarily increases the heart rate and blood pressure and is responsible for the strokes as well. Carbon monoxide reduces the oxygen-carrying capacity of the muscles and brain, making them stressed organs. Consuming tobacco products in different forms triggers IBS (irritable bowel syndrome). IBS is common throughout the world these days. One thing is clear: smoking can infect the stomach, and the stomach spoils food, which causes intestinal irritation. Smoking is not only a concern for the active smokers; it also affects the passive smokers, causes irritation among the children, causes coughing and sneezing, and greatly pollutes our environment.
(The writer can be reached at sahilmanzoor0401@gmail.com)