Tobacco kills more than 8 million people globally each year. Cigarettes contribute to 1 in 4 cancer deaths in the world. In Moldova, the number of active smokers stands at 25.3% - 43.5% of the men and 5.6% of the women. About 5,600 deaths in Moldova are annually associated with tobacco use. The data were presented by the National Public Health Agency in connection with the National No Tobacco Day that is celebrated on the third Thursday of November on the initiative of the National Tobacco Control Coordination Council, IPN reports.

The Agency warns that all the tobacco products, including e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products, have an impact on health. Smoking causes cancer, heart disease, stroke, lung diseases, diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Smoking also increases risk for tuberculosis, certain eye diseases, and problems of the immune system, including rheumatoid arthritis. Maternal exposure to tobacco smoke in pregnancy is a key modifiable risk factor for baby death and disability. Smoking is linked to preterm birth.

E-cigarettes and heated tobacco products are more frequently used by adolescents and this is worrisome. According to the GYTS Moldova study (2019), 16.3% of students, 20.4% of boys, and 11.8% of girls currently used any tobacco products, while 12.7% of students, 16.8% of boys, and 8.4% of girls, currently used electronic cigarettes. Children and adolescents smoking electronic cigarettes double their chances of smoking cigarettes later in life. Most e-cigarettes contain nicotine. Nicotine is highly addictive and can harm adolescent brain development.

Quitting smoking can reverse the damage caused by smoking regardless of how much the person previously smoked. A small number of cells remain unharmed and healthy and therefore allow lungs to repair some of the damage caused by smoking. Just 20 minutes after quitting, the heart rate and blood pressure drop. In just 12 hours, the carbon monoxide level in blood drops to normal. In as little as 2 weeks to 3 months, circulation improves and lung function increases.

Those interested can use the green line of the National Narcology Dispensary 0 800 10001 to gain access to counseling services and smoking cessation programs.