Tobacco use is the single most preventable cause of disease, including many cancers and non-communicable diseases, so why not make every day a no tobacco day with the Cancer Association of South Africa’s (CANSA) eKick Butt programme?
Through a series of emails, surveys and downloads, eKick Butt guides, mentors and empowers smokers to kick the habit, and make choices for a healthier lifestyle.
It’s no secret that tobacco is extremely harmful, not only for smokers, but for anyone exposed to second-hand and third-hand smoke.
“Tobacco contains nicotine, a powerful and highly addictive substance, and most tobacco products deliver nicotine to the brain very effectively, bringing on the rapid onset and maintenance of addiction. This addiction leads to the unfortunate situation where an otherwise motivated, knowledgeable person, who understands the risks of tobacco, continues to use it,” said Elize Joubert, CANSA’s acting CEO.
Tobacco-related diseases kill more than 44 000 South Africans and six million people worldwide annually.
Tobacco usage increases the risk of cancer of the lungs, oesophagus, mouth, bladder, pancreas, kidney, stomach, cervix and breast.
Furthermore, smoking during pregnancy and exposure to second-hand smoke are both linked to miscarriages, low birth weights and stillbirths, and babies who breathe in second-hand smoke have a higher risk of sudden death infant syndrome (SIDS.)
“It’s not only cigarettes that are harmful to health; hookah pipe smoking, cigars and snuff have just as detrimental effect on health, and electronic cigarettes have not been scientifically proved to be safe either,” adds Mrs Joubert.
The CANSA eKick Butt programme assists smokers in overcoming the addiction for good and since it was launched four years ago, it has supported nearly 4 000 people who wanted to quit smoking.
Time to stop
Quitting tobacco use can have a positive effect on your health and lifestyle including: reducing the risk of cancer and respiratory diseases; lower heart rate and blood pressure; breathing better and being able to walk without shortness of breath; living a longer and healthier life; having more physical energy; and being a good role model for children.
Timeline of quitting
20 minutes after last cigarette: blood pressure and pulse rate drops; body temperature rises toward normal.
Eight hours after quitting: carbon monoxide level in blood drops to normal; oxygen level rises to normal.
24 hours after quitting: chance of a heart attack decreases.
48 hours after quitting: nerve endings start re-growing; ability to smell and taste is enhanced.
After two weeks to three months: circulation improves; walking becomes easier; lung function improves.
After 1 to 9 months: decrease in coughing, sinus congestion, fatigue, shortness of breath.
After a year: excess risk of coronary heart disease is decreased to half that of a smoker.
After five to 15 years: stroke risk is reduced to that of people who have never smoked.
After ten years: risk of lung cancer drops to as little as one-half that of continuing smokers; risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, oesophagus, bladder, kidney, and pancreas decreases; risk of ulcer decreases.
After 15 years: risk of coronary heart disease is now similar to that of people who have never smoked; risk of death returns to nearly the level of people who have never smoked.
“World No Tobacco Day (31 May) is as good a time as any to make the choice to empower yourself and kick butt for a healthy and happy life. How great it would it be to celebrate with thousands of others, your tobacco-free life.” concluded Mrs Joubert.
