Cigarettes Are Hazardous To Your Health Day takes place on January 11 to create awareness about the health disadvantages of smoking cigarettes. A cigarette is a narrow cylindrical container with burnable material, usually tobacco, rolled into thin paper for smoking. The cigarette is lit at one end, creating a smoldering effect and resulting in smoke that is orally inhaled through the other end of the cigarette. This is the most common method of tobacco consumption, and manufacturers of cigarettes have described the cigarette as “a drug administration system for the delivery of nicotine in acceptable and attractive form.” The term ‘cigarette,’ as it is commonly used, usually refers to a tobacco cigarette, but sometimes the word also refers to other substances, such as a cannabis cigarette or a herbal cigarette.
History of Cigarettes are Hazardous to Your Health Day
The earliest forms of cigarettes were similar to their predecessor (and close relative), the cigar. They are said to have probably originated in Mexico and Central America around the 9th century in the form of reeds and smoking tubes. The Maya, and later Aztec tribes, smoked tobacco as well as other psychoactive drugs during religious rituals, and they frequently depicted images of priests and deities smoking on temple engravings. Until recent years, the most common methods of smoking were smoking the cigarette and the cigar in the Caribbean region, Mexico, and Central and South America.The North American, Central American, and South American cigarettes comprised various plant wrappers, and upon their return to Spain, maize wrappers were introduced, with fine paper wrappers coming in the 17 century. The resulting product, which was called ‘papelate’, was documented in Goya’s paintings ‘La Cometa, La Merienda en el Manzanares,’ and ‘El juego de la pelota a pala,’ both of which are 18-century artworks. The cigarette crossed into France in 1830, and this is where it received the now popular name ‘cigarette.’In 1845, the French state tobacco monopoly began manufacturing cigarettes. The French word for this product was adopted by the English in the 1840s. Although some American reformers promoted the spelling of it as ‘cigaret’, it was never widespread and later became obsolete. Afterward, the use of tobacco in English-speaking cultures became more widespread during and after the Crimean War. British soldiers imitated their Ottoman Turkish comrades (and Russian enemies), whom they had seen rolling and smoking tobacco in strips of old newspaper as a proper cigar-rolling leaf was unavailable. This was enhanced by the development of tobacco for cigarette use, as well as the development of the Egyptian cigarette export industry.
Cigarettes are Hazardous to Your Health Day timeline
Cigarettes arrive in France, instantly gaining the name 'cigarette.'
The French tobacco monopoly begins, as they start to manufacture cigarettes.
The Crimean War, which is significantly responsible for the spread of the cigarette phenomenon in the English-speaking world, begins.
The American cigarette manufacturing company, W. Duke & Sons, is established.
Cigarettes are Hazardous to Your Health Day FAQs
What are the hazards of smoking?
Some of the hazards attributed to smoking include cardiovascular diseases, heart attacks, strokes, and even cerebrovascular diseases.
Is smoking one cigarette a day still harmful?
Yes. Even with one cigarette a day, you are still at risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.
Are there healthy cigarettes?
No. Smoking tobacco always comes with a risk. The combination of the type of cigarette and frequency of smoking can increase harmful consequences, but there is no safer option for cigarettes.
How to Observe Cigarettes are Hazardous to Your Health Day
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Avoid cigarette smoking
Cigarettes Are Hazardous to Your Health Day is a good day to abstain from cigarette smoking. That is the reason behind the name of the holiday — to encourage people to think about their health and avoid cigarettes.
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Volunteer for advocacy against tobacco consumption
You can volunteer to join any advocacy group within your locale against tobacco consumption. This will benefit both your community and yourself.
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Create awareness online
Cigarette smoking is a big deal globally, and despite many efforts, awareness of its adversities is not yet enough. Sharing information online could help bring awareness to more people in your network.
5 Important Facts About Cigarettes
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Cancerous chemicals
Cigarette smoke contains about 7,000 chemicals, and about 70 of those are cancerous.
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It kills millions annually
Tobacco use is responsible for about five million deaths every year in the world.
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90% of smokers start before age 18
Out of every group of 10 smokers, nine started smoking before the age of 18.
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Smoking deaths in the U.S.
One in five deaths in the United States is related to smoking cigarettes.
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A smoker’s life expectancy
The general life expectancy of the average smoker is about 10 years shorter than that of a non-smoker.
Why Cigarettes are Hazardous to Your Health Day is Important
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It creates awareness
Cigarettes Are Hazardous to Your Health Day helps create awareness about tobacco, a harmful product. Creating such awareness can benefit people around you or the general society.
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It advocates for a healthier society
The idea of this day of awareness is part of a much larger action of advocating for a healthier society in general. It is not easy to avoid cigarettes, so the community needs to combine efforts and help those who need it.
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It prevents unnecessary deaths
Creating awareness against tobacco use is a move towards preventing needless and unnecessary deaths. Everyone deserves a chance to live a healthy, long life.
Cigarettes are Hazardous to Your Health Day dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | January 11 | Wednesday |
| 2024 | January 11 | Thursday |
| 2025 | January 11 | Saturday |
| 2026 | January 11 | Sunday |
| 2027 | January 11 | Monday |
