WORLD NO TOBACCO DAY-31ST MAY 2021

THE WORLD NO TOBACCO DAY WAS CREATED BY WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION IN 1987 TO BRING TO ATTENTION THE DEATH AND DISEASE CAUSED BY THE TOBACCO EPIDEMIC. TOBACCO CAN COME IN THE SMOKELESS (E.G SNUFF, CHEWING TOBACCO) AND SMOKE (E.G. CIGARETTES) VARIETIES. USERS OF SMOKING VARIETY OF TOBACCO CAUSE HEALTH RISKS NOT JUST TO THEMSELVES, BUT ALSO TO PEOPLE AROUND THEM WHO INHALE SECONDHAND SMOKE. THOSE USING TOBACCO IN CHEWING FORM ARE AT A GREATER RISK OF SPECIALLY ORAL CANCERS THAT CAN AFFECT THE TONGUE, CHEEK, LIPS, HARD PALATE, FLOOR OF MOUTH, AND GUMS. CANCERS OF OESOPHAGUS, STOMACH, AND PANCREAS ARE ALSO LINKED WITH TOBACCO USE. THE OTHER ORAL DISEASES LINKED WITH TOBACCO USE THAT ARE MORE COMMON ARE STAINING OF TEETH, WEAR OF TEETH ENAMEL, GUM LOSS AND EVENTUAL TOOTH LOSS, GUM DISEASES,  INCREASED TOOTH DECAY DUE TO DRYING OF MOUTH, HALOTOSIS, AND WHITE PRECANCEROUS PATCHES IN THE MUCOSAL LINING OF MOUTH. TOBACCO USERS ARE ALSO AT AN INCREASED RISK OF HEART DISEASES LIKE HEART ATTACKS AND STROKE. QUITTING TOBACCO USE WHICH IS AN ADDICTION BY ITSELF, CAN BE DONE WITH REPLACING TOBACCO WITH NICOTINE PATCHES/GUMS AND PSYCHOLOGICAL COUNSELING TO PREVENT THIS ADDICTION THOUGH, EDUCATION AND AWARENESS  ABOUT THE SIDE EFFECTS IS IMPORTANT IN SCHOOLS/ COLLEGES AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL FORUMS. IN TIMES OF COVID 19 PANDEMIC, IT WAS OBSERVED THAT TOBACCO USERS ESPECIALLY SMOKERS ARE MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO THE CORONA VIRUS INFECTIONS AS SMOKING IMPAIRS LUNG FUNCTION AND THE PRIMARY SITE OF ATTACK OF THE VIRUS ARE THE LUNGS, THUS MAKING IT HARDER FOR THE BODY TO FIGHT THE VIRUS. REGULAR DENTAL VISITS ARE IMPORTANT FOR TOBACCO USERS IN ORDER TO SCREEN FOR ORAL PRE CANCEROUS AND CANCEROUS LESIONS. ALSO, REGULAR DENTAL TREATMENT OF DENTAL COMPLAINTS IS BEST TO AVOID CHRONIC PROBLEMS.