Every year, May 31st marks World No Tobacco Day, a global initiative led by the World Health Organization (WHO) to raise awareness about the devastating health effects of tobacco use and to encourage people to quit. In 2025, the message is louder and clearer than ever, ‘commit to quit’. And if you’re still on the fence about it, here are four powerful reasons why today should be the day you take that first step toward a tobacco-free life.
The Use of Tobacco
Tobacco consumption continues to be one of the largest health threats across the globe. Shockingly, India is the second-largest producer of tobacco, after China. What’s even more alarming is that over 130 million people in India alone are estimated to be tobacco users, with smoking being a major contributor.
While we often associate tobacco with lung cancer, it’s far more insidious, damaging nearly every organ in the body. The longer you smoke, the more difficult it becomes for your body to repair itself. But here’s the truth. It’s never too late to quit, and even if the journey is tough, the benefits are absolutely worth it.
Why You Must Quit Smoking: 4 Compelling Reasons
- Your Health
Tobacco smoke contains over 7,000 chemicals and at least 70 of them are known to cause cancer. While lung cancer is the most well-known consequence, tobacco also increases the risk of oral, cervical, bladder, colorectal, pancreatic, kidney, liver and esophageal cancers.
What makes it even worse? Tobacco doesn’t just cause cancer, it weakens the immune system, making it harder for your body to fight the very diseases it creates. The harmful chemicals in smoke can alter your DNA, triggering uncontrollable cell growth that becomes a cancerous tumour.
The good news? Quitting can help reverse many of these effects. Within 10–20 years of quitting, your cancer risk can drop to nearly the same level as someone who has never smoked.
- Your Wallet
Tobacco not only burns your lungs; also burns your pocket. A pack-a-day habit can cost you much than you would want to spend on something to look cool. Over the time, this expense and can put a major strain on your finances, not to mention the cost of treating smoking-related illnesses in the future.
By quitting, you’re not just investing in your health, you’re saving for a future that’s richer in every way.
- Your Loved Ones
Smoking doesn’t only affect the smoker. Second-hand smoke is a serious health hazard for those around you, especially children, elderly family members and even pets. It can lead to respiratory issues, increased infections and a higher risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) in babies. By quitting, you’re protecting your family from illnesses they didn’t sign up for.
- Your Environment
Few people realize that smoking also harms the planet. Cigarette butts are among the most littered items globally and they take years to decompose, polluting our soil and waterways. In addition, cigarette smoke contributes to air pollution, releasing harmful chemicals into the environment. By quitting, you’re not just giving your lungs a break, you are also giving the Earth a chance to breathe fresh air too.
How the Pandemic Changed Smoking Habits
The COVID-19 pandemic brought a surge in stress, isolation and work-from-home lifestyles and with it, a disturbing trend. For the first time in two decades, cigarette sales saw an increase. With people confined to their homes, many turned to smoking as a coping mechanism.
Younger generations, particularly Gen-Z, were among the most affected. Many viewed smoking as a short-term stress reliever, believing they’d face its consequences much later. But in truth, tobacco-related illnesses can strike at any age and every puff increases the risk.
It’s Never Too Late to Quit
Here’s something hopeful; the body has an incredible ability to heal when given the chance.
- Within 20 minutes of quitting, the blood pressure and heart rate drops.
- Within 72 hours of quitting, the lung function begins to improve.
- After 1 year of quitting, the risk of heart disease cuts down by 50% caused by smoking.
- After 10 years of quitting, the risk of dying from lung cancer drops by 50%.
Conclusion
At Healing Pharma, we strongly believe that health is not just about treating illnesses, but also preventing them from occurring on the first place. Our mission is to provide quality, affordable healthcare that helps people to stay healthy and without illness and pain. Let’s take steps together towards breathing easier, living longer and celebrating a life free from tobacco in future.
