Annually, on the initiative of the International Union Against Cancer, the third Thursday of November is observed as the No Smoking Day. A republican anti-tobacco information and education campaign, timed to coincide with this day, is being held in our country from November 17 to 24, 2022.
The purpose of the campaign is to raise public awareness of the detrimental health consequences of tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke, and to foster civil society support for measures aimed at combating tobacco consumption in accordance with the provisions of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.
Tobacco smoke causes and exacerbates many diseases, affecting almost all organs. Tobacco products, along with other carcinogens, are the main cause of cancer. Smoking provokes the development of 18 forms of cancer in humans: lung, esophageal, laryngeal and oral cavity, bladder, pancreatic, kidney, stomach, breast, cervical cancer, etc. In addition to the high risk of various forms of malignant neoplasms, continued smoking negatively affects the special treatment of these diseases. It has been established that smoking patients, compared to non-smokers, have a reduced life expectancy, an increased risk of recurrence or the development of a second tumor, reduced treatment effectiveness, and lower quality of life. Quitting smoking guarantees a reduction in morbidity.
There is no such thing as a safe cigarette or a safe level of smoking. The single most effective way to reduce health risks remains quitting smoking.
Quitting smoking at any age is beneficial because:
after 8 hours, the oxygen level in the blood returns to normal;
After 48 hours, a person regains their sense of smell and taste;
After 1 month, breathing becomes easier, fatigue and headaches disappear;
After 6 months, bronchitis subsides and heart rhythm is restored;
After 1 year, the risk of death from ischemic heart disease is halved.
You can find the material prepared by specialists of the State Institution "N.N. Alexandrov National Research Center for Oncology and Medical Radiology" here.
On the harmful effects of nicotine on health, the stages of nicotine addiction development, and healthcare organizations of a narcological profile that provide treatment for tobacco addiction.
Leaflet on places where smoking is prohibited
(https://www.who.int/ru/campaigns/world-no-tobacco-day/2022/campaign-materials)