World No Tobacco Day on 31.05.2024
Dear colleagues,
May 31st is World No Tobacco Day. A day to encourage us all to stop smoking and protect our health. As employees of Hannover Medical School, we know all too well how important it is to look after our health.
Smoking not only harms our own health, but also the health of those around us. It increases the risk of numerous diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases and respiratory diseases. It is also a burden on our healthcare system and leads to higher healthcare costs.
We would therefore like to encourage you all to take the first step today and stop smoking. We want a smoke-free MHH for a healthy atmosphere at our university hospital - as a role model for us, our patients and a health-conscious lifestyle.
If you need support in quitting smoking, please contact the Occupational Health Management team. You will also find a list of internal and external support services at the bottom of this page.
Your Occupational Health Management, Occupational Safety & Occupational Health Service team
Motto of the World No Tobacco Day 2024
"Protecting children from the influence of the tobacco industry"
The motto of World No Tobacco Day 2024 calls for an end to the targeting of young people with harmful tobacco products. This debate provides a platform for young people, policy makers and tobacco control advocates worldwide to discuss the issue and urge governments to take action to protect young people from the manipulative practices of the tobacco and related industries.
Although smoking rates have declined in recent years due to the tremendous efforts of those fighting tobacco use, more needs to be done to protect these vulnerable groups.
According to data from 2022, at least 37 million young people aged 13 to 15 worldwide use some form of tobacco. In the WHO European Region, 11.5% of boys and 10.1% of girls aged 13-15 (4 million) are tobacco users.
Source: World No Tobacco Day 2024: Protecting children from the influence of the tobacco industry (who.int)
Background
World No Tobacco Day was proclaimed by the World Health Organization (WHO) on 31 May 1987. Since then, the last day in May has been used every year worldwide to raise awareness of the dangers of smoking.
Every year, the WHO proclaims a new motto, a complete overview of all World No Tobacco Days can be found on the WHO website.
10 reasons to stop smoking
- The risk of developing most types of cancer decreases significantly within a few years - the earlier the person stops smoking, the better the effect.
- Ten years after quitting smoking, ex-smokers have only half the risk of lung cancer than if they had continued to smoke.
- Blood pressure drops just one week after quitting smoking.
- Two years after quitting smoking, an ex-smoker has almost the same risk of cardiovascular disease as a non-smoker.
- Quitting smoking improves drug therapy for cardiovascular diseases.
- Respiratory function improves just three days after the last cigarette.
- Quitting smoking also improves the symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), slows its progression and prolongs life.
- Quitting smoking before and during pregnancy reduces the risk of pregnancy complications.
- Smoking men suffer from impotence more frequently than non-smoking men.
- Three to nine months after quitting smoking, coughing and respiratory symptoms improve.
- After quitting smoking, the discoloration of fingers and teeth disappears, the skin becomes smoother and looks fresher and the bad smell of hair and clothes disappears.
- Ex-smokers are physically fit again, live healthier lives and are more resilient.
If you stop smoking, you are not only doing your own health a favor, but also protecting the health of others.
- After quitting smoking, the ex-smoker is no longer a permanent victim of his addiction: he is once again free to dispose of his time and no longer feels compelled to interrupt every activity for a cigarette.
- At a price of 7 euros per packet of 20 cigarettes, a smoker who smokes one packet of cigarettes a day spends more than 2500 euros on smoking in a year.
- For the same amount of money, you can afford a two-week all-inclusive vacation in a 4-star hotel in the Canary Islands, for example, or fulfill other large or small wishes every now and then!
German Cancer Research Center (2023) Ten reasons to stop smoking. Facts about smoking, Heidelberg
Offers of support
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Company health management (BGM)We can help you find the right support offer. Feel free to contact us!
Addiction Outpatient Clinic of the MHH (ABAM)The professional addiction outpatient clinic of the MHH
The smoke-free programThe group course for anyone who wants to stop smoking with professional help.