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WBB has printed a booklet of tips for those who wish to quit smoking.  The translation into English is below.  If you would like copies in Bengali, please contact WBB.

WHY QUIT?

You know that tobacco is bad for you.  But it’s not just bad for you; it also harms your children, family, the environment, and your country.

Statistics show that of every three smokers, one will die early due to smoking.  According to the World Health Organization (WHO), tobacco will cause 10 million deaths in the year 2030.  70% of those deaths will happen in developing countries.  In addition, over the next 30 years, 250 million children and adolescents alive today will die from tobacco use.  More people will die from tobacco use than from HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, childbirth, traffic accidents, homicide and suicide combined.

You may not die immediately from tobacco use, but it will harm you.  People know that tobacco causes disease, but they don’t realize how serious those diseases are.  Why cling to a habit that can cause such suffering?

Your family and friends

Research on 32 countries revealed that tobacco curing is a major cause of deforestation.  The third most affected country of the 32 is Bangladesh.  Rather than spending time curing tobacco in the sun, tobacco companies often use wood to dry the leaf.  Each year in Bangladesh, 9,000 hectares of forest are cut down, of which at least 30% is due to cutting trees to cure tobacco.  In addition, every day smokers dispose of huge numbers of packets, cartons, and cigarette butts.  Where does all that trash land up?  On roads, in ponds and drains, in our soil and our rivers, poisoning our land and water.

Smokers often fall ill from tobacco use.  As a result, the country’s economy suffers.  Workers are unproductive, and run up medical expenses.  In addition, much of the tobacco consumed in Bangladesh is imported, costing the country millions of dollars each year.  From the perspectives of both health and economy, the country suffers from tobacco use.

What problems do tobacco cause?

#      Lung and other cancers.

#    High blood pressure.

#    Tuberculosis.

#    Stained teeth and yellow fingers.

#    Weight loss, coughing.

#    Loss of sleep and appetite.

#    Shortness of breath and chest pain.

#    Problems with blood circulation; reduced sensation in hands and feet.

#    Lowered oxygen in your blood, resulting in heart disease and stroke.

#    Cataracts and blindness.

Tobacco contains over 4,000 chemicals.  Among those are 43 known carcinogens.  Tobacco is responsible not only for over 85% of all cases of lung cancer, but also for 40-50% of all cases of cancer in Bangladesh.  In addition to all the other dangerous chemicals are carbon monoxide and nicotine.  Carbon monoxide, the same chemical that comes from vehicle exhaust, is very dangerous.  Nicotine harms the blood, raising the risk of heart disease and stroke.

What are the benefits of quitting?

#          You will be free of an expensive and dangerous habit.

#       You’ll have an extra $2-7 a week to spend.

#       You’ll breathe more easily.

#         Your teeth and hands will be clean.

#       You’ll be able to climb stairs and run much more easily.

#       You’ll be healthier. You’ll no longer be causing your own death.

#       Your office and home will no longer be polluted with cigarette butts and smoke.

#       You will no longer be harming those dear to you.

#       You’ll suffer less from coughing, colds, and other infections.

#       You will be free from the dangers that smoking cause.

Your wealth

You might think that tobacco is quite inexpensive. But if you consider more carefully, you will see that tobacco is costing you a lot of money, in addition to lowering your chances of having a long and healthy future.

If you quit smoking, you can save the money you would’ve spent on tobacco, and use it to buy something for yourself or your family.  Calculate how much you can save if you quit smoking.