ICICI Lombard conducts an interesting survey on 1500 ex-smokers on this World No Tobacco Day. Some significantly encouraging results have come out of it. More than fifty percent of female respondents say smoking was a tedious task to quit. It might be a game of willpower and strength to beat the drum. Though this is a fact that smoking is increasing in females and youth worldwide. But on the other hand, awareness and education are helping many to quit. More than forty percent respondents had to quit smoking because of pressure from family. Like, in a non-smoking family if the father smokes, kids and mother would never like it. And thus comes the pressure factor that helps in quitting. Rising cost of tobacco and cigarettes is also a key factor in this. Almost twenty percent of respondents agree that rising cost of cigarettes was the reason behind quitting smoking.
Photo credit: Go-tea 郭天 via Visual hunt / CC BYHealth is another factor that forces many to take a final call. At times it becomes too critical to be this side or that side. But many play smart otherwise. More than Forty-two percent respondents on this World No Tobacco Day admit that they opted a critical illness cover in their health insurance policy in order to safeguard them from serious risks that arise from smoking. I think people who are not able to quit are just at a little distance from getting to the other side. There are many factors to smoking. Childhood, Peers, Family Background, Society, Individual are some of the key factors that are responsible for a person to start smoking. But it is a fact that most smokers feel healthier after kicking the bud. Initially, when a person starts smoking, it doesn’t impact much. In fact, it acts as a slow poison that works silently.
World No Tobacco Day is on May 31
There were 1,500 former smokers who were part of this survey by ICICI Lombard in the week following up to World No Tobacco Day on May 31. The participants of this survey were from all across the country. This was, in fact, a part of the insurance company’s brand campaign and wellness program with the hashtag #DoTheDifficult that brings out a number of interesting facts. Like, thirty-two percent of the respondents are able to stay off tobacco by keeping themselves busy. This includes taking up new hobbies or reviving their old passions and hobbies. Twenty-two percent respondents play the trick of avoiding trigger areas that prompt them to smoke. Twenty percent joined ‘Quit Smoking Plan’. While ten percent are now using nicotine patches to give up the habit.
Another interesting fact that comes out of this survey on World No Tobacco Day is that most of the respondents who started smoking more than a decade ago blame hectic work schedules. In fact, such an environment prompted them for smoking and consuming as many as 10-12 cigarettes a day. The World Health Organization observes May 31 every year as World No Tobacco Day. As a matter of fact, this year, the theme is ‘Tobacco – a threat to development’. The aim is to demonstrate the serious threats the tobacco industry imparts to the sustainable development of nations and the health and economic wellbeing of their citizens.
World No Tobacco Day Survey Brings Amazing Facts
In the wake of this, ICICI Lombard, through its wellness campaign, is spreading awareness about the hazards of smoking. Rather, it is also honoring those who managed to #DoTheDifficult by giving up smoking.
Sanjay Datta, Chief – Underwriting, Claims & Reinsurance, ICICI Lombard says, “Smoking as a habit is not only harmful to the smoker but also for the passive smoker. Our survey highlights the serious health risks of using tobacco and urges smokers to give up the habit and lead a healthier lifestyle. We are pleased to see that more than 50 percent of those who kicked the bud are feeling healthier than before.” Let this World No Tobacco Day brings as much awareness as possible and encourages smokers to quit smoking and lead a healthier life.
