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The special occasion of ‘World No Tobacco Day’ is observed every year on May 31 to increase awareness regarding the harmful effects of smoking and tobacco use on an individual. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that each day, about 1,600 youth try their first cigarette. In 2021, 11.5 percent of U.S. adults (an estimated 28.3 million people) smoked cigarettes, 13.1 percent of men, and 10.1 percent of women.

This statistic is just an estimation of how smoking is killing people every day. Smoking can kill us, but before death, it makes you experience some of the worst diseases that are fatal to your overall health. Here is a list of some fatal diseases caused by excessive smoking and tobacco use.

1. Lung Cancer

The CDC states that cigarette smoking is the number one risk factor for lung cancer. In the United States, cigarette smoking is linked to about 80% to 90% of lung cancer deaths. Using other tobacco products such as cigars or pipes also increases the risk of lung cancer. Tobacco smoke is a toxic mix of more than 7,000 chemicals. It is the third most common cancer in the US and is caused by harmful cells in your lungs growing unchecked.

2. Heart Diseases

Smoking is another major cause of cardiovascular disease and causes approximately one of every four deaths. According to the American Heart Association, cardiovascular disease accounts for about 800,000 U.S. deaths every year, making it the leading cause of all deaths in the United States. Of those, nearly 20 per cent are due to cigarette smoking.

3. Stroke

Sometimes also referred to as Brain Attack, stroke occurs when something blocks the blood supply to part of the brain or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts. The CDC states that secondhand smoke increases the risk of stroke by 20−30%. Each year, secondhand smoke exposure causes more than 8,000 deaths from stroke. Breathing secondhand smoke interferes with the normal functioning of the heart, blood, and vascular systems in ways that increase your risk of having a heart attack.

4. Asthma

Asthma is a chronic disease which causes difficulty to breathe in and out in certain situations. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that tobacco smoke is a common trigger for asthma. Tobacco smoke including secondhand smoke is unhealthy for everyone, especially people with asthma. Secondhand smoke is a mixture of gases and fine particles that includes: Smoke from burning tobacco products, such as cigarettes, cigars, or pipes.

5. Diabetes

Smoking is a major cause of type 2 diabetes. According to the American Lung Association, People who smoke cigarettes are 30 to 40% more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than people who don't smoke. It also increases the risk of complications once diagnosed with diabetes, such as heart and kidney disease, poor blood flow to legs and feet and nerve damage.

 

(Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis or treatment.)