Tobacco health warnings are messages that appear on the packaging of cigarettes and other tobacco products. These warnings, which include pictorial warnings, cut across linguistic and cultural barriers, and are printed with the intention of increasing public awareness on the harmful health effects of tobacco consumption. Pictorial messages also help to discourage tobacco consumption.

Here are some facts related to tobacco consumption

• According to World Health Organization, about 4 million deaths occur every year from tobacco, which is expected to rise to about 10 million by 2030
• Tobacco caused 100 million deaths in the 20th century, and if the current trends continue, there could be up to one billion deaths in the 21st century
• Tobacco is responsible for about 30% of all cancer deaths in developed countries
• According to the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR), India records about 8,00,000 tobacco deaths every year with 2,200 deaths per day
• Tobacco, in various forms of its usage, (eg: smoking, chewing, etc.) is a major environmental cause of cancer of the lung, larynx, mouth, pharynx, oesophagus, bladder, pancreas, and kidney
• Tobacco is smoked in cigarettes or in indigenous forms like bidi, cigar, chilum and hookah
• Tobacco in powered form is inhaled as snuff
• The most common form of tobacco chewing in India is the betel quid (tambaku paan) which usually contains betel leaf, arecanut, lime and tobacco. The flakes of sun-dried tobacco and slaked lime are rubbed on the palm of the hand and the mixture is then put into the mouth in small amounts and at frequent intervals during the day, and slowly sucked and swallowed after dilution with saliva
• Oral cancer usually occurs at the side of the mouth where the tobacco quid is  kept, and the risk is higher if the quid is kept in the mouth during sleep
• Gutka is a preparation of crushed betel nut, tobacco, catechu, lime and sweet or savory flavorings. It is highly addictive and is a known carcinogen. It is consumed much like chewing tobacco and is considered to be responsible for oral cancer and other severe negative health effects
• People who chew nass or nasswar (also known as snuff dipping) – a mixture of tobacco, ashes, lime and cotton seed oil, are prone to oral cancer
• In some places people have the habit of reverse smoking of cigars with the burning end inside the mouth. This is known to cause cancer of the hard palate
• The number of people suffering from lung cancer in any country is directly proportionate to the amount and duration of cigarette smoking
• Other ill effects of tobacco consumption are diseases like stroke, myocardial infarction, aortic aneurysm and peptic ulcer
• Direct and indirect costs associated with tobacco consumption hamper the economic development rather than promote it

The temporary gratification you get after indulging in tobacco addiction will finally leave you in permanent agony. Why put your precious life in jeopardy by surrendering yourself to this addiction? Now is the time to give up on this obnoxious dependency. Wake up to give up on tobacco consumption!

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Tags: Betel Quid, Bidi, Cancer, Chilum, Cigar, Cigarettes, Gutka, Hookah, India, Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR), Nass, Nasswar, Pictorial Messages, Snuff, Snuff Dipping, Tambaku Paan, Tobacco, Tobacco Health Warnings

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