Today is World No Tobacco Day
An approximate six million people worldwide die due to tobacco use annually.
WORLD No Tobacco Day, on 31 May, turns its focus this year on governments calling for higher tobacco taxes and placing the spotlight on the health risks associated with unchecked tobacco use.
In South Africa, an estimated 7.7 million adults use tobacco, with 29.5 billion cigarettes being consumed annually.
Tobacco-related diseases kill more than 44 000 South Africans annually, according to the World Health Organisation.
The Self-Medication Manufacturers Association of South Africa is adding its voice to the World No Tobacco campaign.
Tobacco caused 100 million deaths in the 20th century and, if current trends continue, it may cause one billion deaths in the 21st century.
An approximate six million people worldwide die due to tobacco use annually, of which 600 000 are non-smokers dying from second-hand smoke.
The benefits of quitting can include a lower risk of diabetes, blood vessels function better and it helps the heart and lungs.
Though it is best to quit while you are younger, quitting at any age allows you to put a brake on the effects of smoking and to take back the life and health that would be lost through continued smoking.
