May 31 marks World No Tobacco Day, a day dedicated to the fight against tobacco.

The purpose of marking this day is to raise awareness about the dangers posed by smoking. This annual celebration informs the public about the dangers of smoking, what the World Health Organization is doing to fight the tobacco epidemic, and what people around the world can do to claim their right to health and a healthy life and to protect future generations.

This year’s theme for World No Tobacco Day is: “Tobacco, a threat to our environment.”

Member states of the World Health Organization established World No Tobacco Day in 1987 to draw global attention to the tobacco epidemic and the preventable deaths and diseases it causes.

In 1987, the World Health Assembly adopted Resolution ËHA40.38, calling for April 7, 1988 to be a “world day against smoking”. In 1988, Resolution ËHA42.19 was adopted, calling for the celebration of World No Tobacco Day, every year on 31 May.

According to the National Institute of Public Health of Kosovo, smoking is the leading cause of illness and premature death, is the second leading cause of death in the world.

Every year around 8 million people die in the world as a result of tobacco smoking, a number that based on the current trend, is expected to double over the next 20 years. Every 6.5 seconds in the world one person dies from the harms caused by tobacco smoking, according to the WHO.

Smokers are twice as likely to have a stroke and four times more likely to develop heart disease than non-smokers.

They are up to 22 times more likely to develop lung cancer than non-smokers.

Tobacco use affects the pollution of the environment and has negative consequences in society. Tobacco use increases household expenses and affects poverty.

According to the NIPHK, the benefits of quitting smoking can be immediate such as:

After just 20 minutes of quitting smoking, your heart rate will return to normal

Within 12 hours, the level of carbon monoxide in your blood drops to normal

Within 2-12 weeks, your circulation improves and lung function increases

Within 1-9 months, coughing and shortness of breath are reduced

Within 15 years, the risk of developing heart disease is as high as that of a non-smoker.

Within 5-15 years, the risk of heart attack decreases to that of a non-smoker.

The chances of smokers quitting smoking are 84% higher when they receive intensive medical advice.