WHO EMRO
  • Regions
WHO EMRO
WHO Regional websites
Africa Africa
Americas Americas
Asie du Sud-Est Asie du Sud-Est
Europe Europe
Méditerranée orientale Méditerranée orientale
Pacifique occidental Pacifique occidental
  • Home
  • Health topics
  • Health topics
  • Data and statistics
  • Media centre
  • Information resources
  • Countries
  • Programmes
  • About Us
Search Search

Search

- All words: Returns only documents that match all words.
- Any word: Returns documents that match any word.
- Exact Phrase: Returns only documents that match the exact phrase entered.
- Phrase Prefix: Works like the Exact Phrase mode, except that it allows for prefix matches on the last term in the text.
- Wildcard: Returns documents that match a wildcard expression.
- Fuzzy query: Returns documents that contain terms similar to the search term. For example: If you search for Kolumbia. It will return search results that contain Columbia or Colombia.
  • Global
  • Regions
    WHO Regional websites
    Africa Africa
    Americas Americas
    Asie du Sud-Est Asie du Sud-Est
    Europe Europe
    Méditerranée orientale Méditerranée orientale
    Pacifique occidental Pacifique occidental
Search Search

Search

- All words: Returns only documents that match all words.
- Any word: Returns documents that match any word.
- Exact Phrase: Returns only documents that match the exact phrase entered.
- Phrase Prefix: Works like the Exact Phrase mode, except that it allows for prefix matches on the last term in the text.
- Wildcard: Returns documents that match a wildcard expression.
- Fuzzy query: Returns documents that contain terms similar to the search term. For example: If you search for Kolumbia. It will return search results that contain Columbia or Colombia.

Select your language

  • اللغة العربية
  • Français
WHO EMRO WHO EMRO
  • Home
  • Health topics
    • All Topics »
    • A
    • B
    • C
    • D
    • E
    • F
    • G
    • H
    • I
    • J
    • K
    • L
    • M
    • N
    • O
    • P
    • Q
    • R
    • S
    • T
    • U
    • V
    • W
    • X
    • Y
    • Z
  • Health topics
  • Data and statistics
  • Media centre
  • Information resources
  • Countries
  • Programmes
  • About Us
  1. Tobacco Free initiative
  2. Quit now
  • Tobacco Free initiative
    • Tobacco data and trends
    • World No Tobacco Day
    • Know the truth
    • Quit now
    • Read our publications
    • Watch our videos
    • Newsroom
    • Ban tobacco
    • Implement warnings on tobacco packs
    • The WHO FCTC
    • MPOWER measures
    • What we do
  • Test

Quit now

Tobacco affects nearly every organ

Tobacco affects nearly every organ

Tobacco use kills more than 7 million people every year. Research suggests that people who start tobacco use in their teens (as more than 70% do) and continue for two decades or more, will die 20 to 25 years earlier than those who never start up. It is not just lung cancer or heart disease that cause serious health problems and death. Some of tobacco use’s less publicized side effects include: hair loss, cataract, wrinkling, hearing loss, tooth decay, emphysema, osteoporosis, stomach ulcers, discoloured fingers, miscarriage, psoriasis, deformed sperm and Buerger’s disease.

Find out more

Second-hand smoke impacts health

Second-hand smoke impacts health

When second-hand smoke contaminates the air, especially in enclosed spaces, it is inhaled by everyone, exposing both smokers and non-smokers to its harmful effects. Tobacco smoke contains over 4000 known chemicals, many of which are harmful, with at least 40 that cause cancer. It also includes large quantities of carbon monoxide, which hinders the blood’s ability to carry oxygen to vital organs such as the heart and brain, and substances that contribute to heart disease and stroke. Protect all people from second-hand smoke through the adoption and implementation of legislative and other measures.

Find out more

Tobacco is addictive and users need help to quit

Tobacco is addictive and users need help to quit

Tobacco is highly addictive. Tobacco dependency is a chronic medical condition requiring repeated intervention and multiple attempts to quit. Most tobacco users want to quit but it can be hard to do so. To address this epidemic of tobacco use, prevention activities are not enough. Tobacco control efforts also need to help current users to quit. Giving up tobacco use has both immediate and long-term benefits. These benefits apply to all age groups, even those already suffering from tobacco-related health problems. Provide assistance for smoking cessation and tobacco dependency treatment.

Find out more

Quit benefits and tips

Quit benefits and tips

Giving up tobacco use has both immediate and long-term benefits. These benefits apply to all age groups, even those already suffering from tobacco-related health problems. Benefits include: declines in lung function stop, walking gets easier, lung capacity increases, skin appearance improves, chronic cough disappears and the risk of heart attack falls. In the longer term, cessation reduces the risk of cancer, heart disease, stroke and respiratory diseases. Nicotine is highly addictive, leading those trying to quit smoking down a path of physical and psychological hardship. Kicking the habit, though not easy is not impossible either. Through determination, will power and some practical strategies, anything is possible.

Find out more

  • Site map
    • Home
    • Data and statistics
    • Health Topics
    • Media centre
    • Information Resources
    • Countries
    • Programmes
    • About Us
  • Help and services
    • Careers
    • Copyright
    • Privacy
    • Contact us
  • WHO Offices
    • WHO Headquarters
    • WHO African Region
    • WHO Region of the Americas
    • WHO European Region
    • WHO South-East Asia Region
    • WHO Western Pacific Region
WHO EMRO

Privacy policy

© WHO 2025