Remembering World No Tobacco Day

 

 

Dr Tendai Zuze
Health Matters

 

EVERY year on May 31, the world pauses to observe World No Tobacco Day, a global call to action highlighting the dangers of tobacco use.

While awareness has grown over the years, smoking remains one of the leading causes of preventable illness and death — stealing lives, damaging families, and straining health systems worldwide, including right here in Zimbabwe.

Tobacco kills more than eight million people globally each year.

 

It is a major driver of chronic medical conditions, including cancer, heart disease, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and diabetes.

Smoking also worsens outcomes for people living with hypertension, HIV, and tuberculosis.

 

In fact, smokers are more likely to develop severe forms of these conditions and respond less well to treatment.

The lungs, of course, take the first hit. Smoking damages the airways and destroys lung tissue, leading to chronic bronchitis and emphysema—conditions that fall under the umbrella of COPD.

It also significantly increases the risk of lung cancer, one of the deadliest forms of cancer with a low survival rate.

But tobacco’s harm goes well beyond the lungs.

 

It thickens the blood, narrows the arteries, and weakens the heart, setting the stage for heart attacks and strokes.

Smokers are up to four times more likely to suffer from cardiovascular events compared to non-smokers.

 

And for diabetics, tobacco use worsens blood sugar control and accelerates complications like kidney failure and limb amputation.

In Zimbabwe, where health resources are already stretched, the burden of tobacco-related illness puts added pressure on public health facilities and family caregivers.

 

The cost of managing smoking-related diseases is often catastrophic for households, diverting funds from essentials like education and food.

There are also social consequences.

Smoking in public contributes to second-hand smoke exposure, especially dangerous for children, pregnant women, and the elderly.

 

It is also a gateway habit for youth, especially when glamorised or normalised within families or social circles.

 

The financial cost of smoking is equally stark: A pack-a-day smoker can spend over US$1 000 per year—a significant sum in our economy.

Quitting tobacco is not easy, but it is possible—and it is never too late.

Just 20 minutes after quitting, your heart rate begins to drop.

 

Within a year, your risk of heart disease is cut in half.

 

After 10 years, your risk of lung cancer is significantly lower than that of a smoker.

This World No Tobacco Day, we urge everyone — especially young people — to say no to tobacco and yes to life.

For those already smoking, today is a good day to start your quit journey. Speak to your doctor or visit your local clinic for support.

The fight against tobacco is, not just a personal one—it is a collective effort to build a healthier, more productive nation.

 

Let us choose breath over smoke, health over habit, and life over loss.

For help with quitting smoking contact [email protected].