World No Tobacco Day is held every year on 31st May to support effective policies to diminish consumption. It is a global health campaign led by the World Health Organization (WHO) to increase awareness about the dangers of tobacco. This day is also known as Anti-Tobacco Day, this observance emphasizes the devastating social, health, economic, and environmental consequences of tobacco use and the elusiveness of nicotine and tobacco companies. World No Tobacco Day serves as a strong reminder of the public health crisis caused by nicotine and tobacco products, which claim over 8 million lives annually. This day is not only a call to action but an attention to how the industry targets young individuals through manipulation and duplicity.
On World No Tobacco Day, Dr. Ravinder Singh Rao, an expert heart specialist in India, shares a vital message about how tobacco harms your heart. According to him, chewing tobacco or smoking can damage your blood vessels, increase your blood pressure, and boost the risk of strokes and heart attacks. He suggests that consumption of tobacco makes your heart work harder and decreases the amount of oxygen your blood carries, putting extra strain on your heart. To quit tobacco to protect their heart and live a healthier, longer life, Dr. Ravinder Singh Rao motivates everyone.
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The Theme for World No Tobacco Day 2025
The 2025 Theme for World No Tobacco Day is “Unmasking the Appeal: Exposing Industry Tactics on Tobacco and Nicotine Products”.
About Tobacco
Tobacco is a plant that contains nicotine, a substance that can cause addiction. It is frequently used in products like cigars, cigarettes, and chewing tobacco. Tobacco comes in many forms, such as bidis, cigarettes, snuff, chewing tobacco, and many more. When people use tobacco, it can harm their health in several ways. In India, popular tobacco products include:
- Gutka and Khaini (chewing tobacco)
- Cigarettes and Bidis
- Hookah and e-cigarettes
Individuals use tobacco for several reasons, like stress, peer pressure, social habits, or misinformation. Once the habit forms, it becomes hard to stop. Tobacco directly affects the heart, brain, lungs, and even reproductive health, causing over 7 million deaths per year in India (WHO 2022 estimate).
History of World No Tobacco Day
In 1987, the World Health Organization created World No Tobacco Day. On 7th April 1988, the first official observance took place, which marked the 40th anniversary of the WHO. Later, the date was changed to 31 May to maintain consistency. The aim was to highlight global attention to the tobacco epidemic and check smoking-related deaths. Since then, every year, the day has concentrated on a special message to decrease tobacco use through policy change and awareness. Over the years, to stay away from tobacco, World No Tobacco Day has grown into a great event, playing a vital role in motivating people.
Significance of World No Tobacco Day
The significance of World No Tobacco Day 2025 lies in its power to bring individuals together to combat a common danger. Tobacco is a silent killer, and this day brings attention to its dangerous effects on people and communities. This day:
- Promotes Quitting: Users and smokers are motivated to stop using tobacco. Counselors and support groups are promoted.
- Educates Youth: Falling into the tobacco trap, colleges and schools hold programs to keep young people.
- Strengthens Laws: Governments are encouraged to enforce stronger tobacco control laws, including ad bans and tax hikes.
- Highlights Industry Strategies: The day reveals how tobacco companies manipulate young minds through marketing.
- Supports Farmers: Some campaigns also aim to assist farmers in switching from tobacco to sustainable crops.
Who Started World Tobacco Day?
The campaign began with the World Health Organization, and the idea was hardened through resolutions passed by the World Health Assembly. WHO plays a key role in global tobacco control, working in collaboration with member states to implement the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and support policies
Why is Anti-Tobacco Day Celebrated?
By the Member States of the WHO, World No Tobacco Day was first imagined in 1987. Initially observed as a World No Smoking Day on 7th April 1988, it was later decided to mark 31 May each year as World No Tobacco Day. In 1988, the World Health Assembly precisely passed resolution WHA42.19, designating 31 May as World No Tobacco Day. The aim is to inform the public about the dangers of tobacco, expose the wrong strategies of the tobacco industry, and encourage global action to decrease tobacco use.
It Aims to:
- Expose the aggressive marketing strategies of tobacco companies.
- Emphasizes WHO’s global combat against tobacco use.
- Motivate people to claim their right to health and a tobacco-free life.
- Protect future and present generations from the harms of tobacco.
Side Effects of Tobacco
Even with limited use, tobacco can cause serious health problems. Here are some of the dangerous side effects:
- Lung Diseases: Smoking damages the lungs. It causes asthma, chronic bronchitis, and emphysema. It is also the prominent cause of lung cancer.
- Heart Problems: Tobacco enhances blood pressure and decreases oxygen in the blood. It enhances the risk of strokes, heart attacks, and artery blockages.
- Cancer: Tobacco is linked to cancers of the throat, mouth, stomach, lungs, and bladder. Chewing tobacco also causes oral cancer.
- Addiction and Mental Health: Nicotine is addictive. Tobacco users often face depression, anxiety, and withdrawal symptoms while trying to quit.
- Harm to Others: Secondhand smoke causes breathing issues, poor lung function in non-smokers, and cancer risks.
