United News of Bangladesh

The Mothers' Forum Against Tobacco on Wednesday called for the rapid passage of the proposed amendments to the Tobacco Control Law, citing the harmful impact of secondhand smoke on mothers and children. The demand was made during the formation meeting of the Anti-Tobacco Mothers' Forum, organized by Nari Maitree at Krishibid Institute Bangladesh. Eighteen mothers at the event raised awareness about the dangers of smoking, both direct and secondhand, and to push for stronger tobacco control measures. The forum emphasized that passive smoking poses a significant health risk to women and children, even if they do not smoke themselves. Shivani Bhattacharya, former Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Social Welfare, convened the meeting, which was co-convened by Shahnaz Begum Poly, management committee member of the National Press Club, and Afsana Nowrin. Shaheen Akter Dolly, Executive Director of Nari Maitree, chaired the event. Prioritise harm reduction in battling tobacco addiction: speakers Abdus Salam Mia, Programs Manager at Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids Bangladesh, highlighted the urgent need for the government to act swiftly. During the meeting, Nari Maitree’s project coordinator, Nasrin Akter, presented alarming data, revealing that 37.8 million people in Bangladesh use tobacco, with an estimated 442 deaths per day from tobacco-related diseases. The forum called for the immediate approval of the Ministry of Health’s proposed amendments to the Tobacco Control Law, which include eliminating smoking areas in public places, banning tobacco product displays at points of sale, prohibiting corporate social responsibility activities by tobacco companies, and restricting the marketing of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products. Other key provisions include banning loose sales of tobacco products and increasing the size of pictorial health warnings on tobacco packaging from 50% to 90%. Convener Shivani Bhattacharya pointed out that 38.4 million people in Bangladesh, predominantly women and children, are exposed to secondhand smoke, which leads to serious health issues such as miscarriages, premature births, low birth weight, and stillbirths. The forum pledged to provide ongoing support in pushing for the passage of the amendments and to work tirelessly to educate mothers on the dangers of tobacco use and secondhand smoke. The forum also stressed the importance of effective taxation on tobacco products and urged the National Board of Revenue and the Ministry of Finance to take action. Abdus Salam Miah underscored the role of mothers in protecting young people from tobacco addiction, which is becoming more common among teenagers. Citing a World Health Organization Global Youth Tobacco Survey, he noted that nearly 12% of Bangladeshi adolescents aged 13 to 15 are regular smokers. Notable attendees included writer and columnist Sapna Reza, News Editor of Views Bangladesh Maria Salam, Senior Reporter of Ittefaq Rabia Hossain Baby, President of Kheya Women and Child Development Organization Farzana Shammi, and mothers from diverse professional backgrounds.

Cerebral haemorrhage is often referred to as intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) or hemorrhagic stroke. It is a critical medical condition characterised by bleeding within the brain tissue. This condition requires immediate medical attention. This article delves into some basic knowledge about ICH to ensure proper diagnosis and treatment.  What is Cerebral Haemorrhage? Cerebral haemorrhage or ICH, is a type of stroke that occurs when a blood vessel in the brain bursts and bleeds into the surrounding brain tissue. This bleeding disrupts the blood supply to the brain and damages brain cells. According to research, cerebral haemorrhage is the second most common cause of stroke. Research also shows that ICH is the deadliest type of stroke, with a mortality rate of around 40%-50% within the first month.  Read more: Why are Suicide Rates Higher Among Men? Types of Cerebral Haemorrhage . Intraparenchymal Haemorrhage Intraparenchymal haemorrhage (IPH) is a type of bleeding that occurs within the brain tissue. According to Wikipedia, IPH is the most common type and accounts for around 8-13% of all strokes and can arise from various underlying conditions. IPH may lead to death or significant disability This is why it is an urgent medical situation requiring immediate attention. Intraventricular Haemorrhage Intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH) is caused by bleeding in the ventricles, which are fluid-filled cavities in the brain. These produce and circulate cerebrospinal fluid, a protective cushion for the brain and spinal cord. It can arise from physical trauma or as a result of a hemorrhagic stroke. According to Wikipedia, around 30% of IVH cases are primary, while 70% are secondary. It has been observed that IVH occurs in approximately 35% of moderate to severe traumatic brain injuries. Consequently, IVH typically accompanies extensive associated damage, leading to unfavourable outcomes in most cases. Read more: Reasons Why Ramadan Fasting is More Beneficial Than Dieting What Causes Cerebral Haemorrhage . Head Trauma Head injuries from accidents or falls can damage blood vessels in the brain. It may lead to brain haemorrhage in individuals under the age of 50. High Blood Pressure Untreated hypertension can weaken blood vessel walls. It increases the likelihood of a brain haemorrhage.  Aneurysm  Abnormal bulges in blood vessel walls are known as aneurysms, which occur when blood vessel walls weaken and swell. It potentially leads to a burst and subsequent brain bleeding and can result in a stroke. Read more: Daily Strategies for Neuroplasticity: Enhancing Focus and Alleviating Anxiety Blood Vessel Abnormalities Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) cause weakness in blood vessels in and around the brain, often only detected when symptoms arise. Amyloid Angiopathy  This blood irregularity is typically seen in older adults with high blood pressure. It can lead to small unnoticed bleeds that may eventually result in a larger brain haemorrhage. Blood Disorders  Conditions like haemophilia and sickle cell anaemia contribute to lower blood platelet levels and clotting. These increase the risk of brain bleeds.  Blood Thinner While essential for some conditions, blood thinners can increase the risk of bleeding, including cerebral haemorrhage. Read more: Good Stress: What Are the Benefits of Eustress? Liver Disease People with liver conditions have an elevated risk of bleeding issues, including brain haemorrhage. Brain Tumours  Individuals with a history of brain tumours are at a heightened risk of developing cerebral haemorrhage. Symptoms and Signs of ICH Key symptoms of cerebral haemorrhage may include: - Sudden and severe headache- Nausea and vomiting- Weakness or paralysis on one side of the body- Difficulty speaking or understanding speech- Vision problems- Loss of consciousness- Seizures- Dizziness- Loss of coordination- Difficulty balancing- Abnormal sense of taste- Difficulty swallowing- Difficulty writing or reading- Loss of fine motor skills. Read more: Which Vitamins are Essential for Women? How to Diagnose and Treat ICH  To diagnose a brain bleed, a healthcare provider conducts an immediate physical and neurological examination, alongside reviewing the patient's medical history and symptoms. Following this, they may order imaging tests such as a CT scan, MRI, or MRA to assess the location, extent, and potential cause of the bleeding.  Additional tests, including an electroencephalogram, chest X-ray, urinalysis, complete blood count (CBC), eye exam, lumbar puncture (spinal tap), or angiography, may also be utilised to detect underlying causes.  The treatment for a brain bleed varies depending on the severity and location of the bleed. Healthcare providers strive to halt the bleeding and tackle the root cause. Treatment options may encompass surgery and medication.  Prompt medical intervention can minimise brain damage, enhancing the prospects of recovery. Additionally, patients may receive supplemental oxygen through a ventilator, nutrients and fluids intravenously or via a feeding tube, and close monitoring in an intensive care unit to ensure stable vital signs.  Read more: How to Improve Focus by Training the ‘Attention Muscle’

The Bangladesh Economic Association (BEA) has proposed a 70 percent tax on all types of cigarettes and tobacco in the next budget. The association reckons that doing so will reduce smoking by about 66 percent, alongside generating revenue of Tk1,700 crore for state coffers. The proposal was submitted to the National Board of Revenue (NBR) during the pre-budget discussion held at the NBR Building on Sunday (February 18). The General Secretary of the BEA Professor Dr. Md. Aynul Islam presented the budget proposal. Vice President of the association Professor Hannana Begum was present. Read more: Govt cut VAT, duty on import of 4 essential items ahead of Ramadan According to the BEA's proposal, imposing a single supplementary duty of 70 percent on all types of cigarettes would increase the price of cigarettes by an average of 130 percent. Smoking will be reduced by 66 percent. About 70 lakh smokers will quit smoking, and about 71 lakh young people will stop habituating to smoking. Also, the additional tax revenue of the government will be earned at least Tk1700 crores, the proposal stated. Similarly, the BEA demanded to impose a tax of 70 percent on all types of tobacco products including smokeless tobacco such as jorda, gul, sadapata, etc. On the other hand, in the case of bidi, if the tax is imposed at the rate of Tk 4.90 on the retail price of every 25 shalak (piece) packet, the government will be able to collect additional revenue of Tk 800 crore. Read more: ICMAB delegation takes part in pre-budget discussion with NBR The BEA thinks with such a tax increase; revenue earning will be raised and it would help to revive the economy from the ongoing economic crisis. The BEA has a total of 27 new sources of revenue income. At this time, Prof Aynul said, as a method of gathering resources for the upcoming budget, no pressure can be applied on the general population, such as the poor, lower class, lower middle class, and middle class. Due to various reasons, this class of people is now in a severe economic crisis. It would be unfair at this moment to rely completely on them as in the past for tax collection. In that case, the imposition of additional income tax on these three groups – the super-rich, the rich, and the upper-middle class – can be considered, said Prof Aynul. Read more: PROGGA, ATMA for imposing specific taxes on tobacco products

The habit of smoking cigarettes may cause numerous health issues, such as lung diseases, cancer, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), stroke, diabetes, tuberculosis, eye diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, etc. Therefore, you should try to quit smoking although it is hard. However, some foods and drinks can help you quit smoking, while some other kinds of food and drinks can make you feel the urge of smoking. Let’s check out which foods and drinks are best and worst to quit cigarettes. Best Foods to Help You to Quit Smoking Your Favorite Food Smoking also dulls every smoker’s capacity to taste and smell says Michael Fiore, MD, MPH, the director of the Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention.  Once you quit smoking, you will feel the flavor and texture of the food much better. So, the best thing you can do is to try the food that you used to love before you started smoking. Your favorite food will help you to revive your former taste. No matter what they were, just try to enjoy the food while savoring your newfound senses. It may give you hope during those times when quitting is a struggle for you. Read: Effects of Air Pollution on Unborn Children, Neonates, Infants Frozen Grapes You may start eating sweets after you quit. If you can indulge yourself in those cravings, it is a good thing because it can prevent you from reaching for a cigarette. But make sure you don’t dip into a pint of cookies and cream regularly. Grabbing processed desserts would be unhealthy for you.  Instead, you can take frozen grapes, recommends the AHA. The sweetness of grapes will help you curb sugar cravings, and because they are frozen, they will take longer to eat than fresh fruit. Cinnamon Sticks Some people say that cinnamon sticks can help keep cigarettes at bay. Cinnamon sticks deliver a nice taste. It is easy to carry on your pocket and you can chew it to revive your taste. Carrot and celery sticks may have a similar shape but they don’t have the same jolt of flavor as cinnamon. Read Effects of Passive Smoking on Children’s Health High-Fiber Foods Remember you need to maintain a healthy weight in your post-cigarette life. But quitting smoking may lead to unwanted weight gain. If you want to lose a few extra pounds, you can add high-fiber foods like beans, broccoli, berries, avocado, apple, dried fruits, nuts, etc to your diet. By eating more fiber you can lose weight in a natural and healthy way.  Different types of fruits and vegetables The journal Nicotine & Tobacco Research published a study in 2013 that smokers prefer to eat less produce daily than those who don't smoke. So when you are quitting, it’s a good idea to take various types of fruits and vegetables regularly. Research has shown that those who ate the most fruits and vegetables were three times more likely to have stayed smoke-free for at least the past 30 days compared with those who noshed on the least. Read: Healthy Weight Gain Strategies: Add pounds fast safely, naturally Popcorn As quitting smoking can no longer keep your hands and mouth occupied with a cigarette, you may feel a necessity to take snacks all the time. In this case, you can eat popcorn, suggests the American Heart Association (AHA). It will keep you busy, and help you feel full as well reducing your urge to smoke.  Sugar-free Gum and Mints This works well when you are struggling with a craving for nicotine. As gum and mints last for a long time, you can keep chewing or sucking until your craving dissipates. This will provide the feeling of satisfaction you need to ease your cravings. Besides, it gives you something to do with your mouth. Read Quit Smoking: How to prevent Nicotine addiction Best Drinks to Help Quit Cigarettes Milk Milk is the best food to quit smoking. You can take a glass of milk instead of a cigarette when you feel the urge of smoking a cigarette.  The journal Nicotine & Tobacco Research published a report in 2007 where researchers asked a group of 209 smokers which foods interact with the taste of cigarettes to make them more or less appetizing. In this research, dairy products were at the top of that list.  And, among the dairy products, milk is perfect. As milk hardly pairs with cigarettes, you will not feel the urge for nicotine. Read E-cigarettes turn many young people into smokers: expert Ginseng Tea Whenever you feel the urge to take a cigarette, you can take an awesome drink. Ginseng tea is the perfect option for a drink that can help you quit smoking. Studies have shown that ginseng could truly minimize the effects of nicotine, which could ultimately reduce the appeal of smoking and thereby make it easier to quit cigarettes in the long run. You can take Ginseng tea at least two times a day to get a good result.  Water Drinking water keeps you stay healthy as well as helps you to quit smoking. By drinking enough water, you can distract yourself from smoking when you are struggling with cravings for Cigarettes. Drinking 8 to 10 glasses of water a day will work well. Read Railway bogies, stations declared smoking-free zone: Minister Worst Foods When You are Trying to Quit Smoking Low-Calorie Foods When you are trying to quit smoking, make sure you avoid taking low-calorie foods. Psychopharmacology publishes a study in 2005 which showed that smokers who reduce 700 calories a day smoked 8 percent more cigarettes than those who didn’t lower their calorie intake. Meat Do you really want to quit smoking? Make sure you don’t consume too much meat. Because meat is one of those goods identified as something that made smoking taste better. That doesn’t mean that you will be a vegetarian, but if you can cut down on the meat, it will be easier to cut down on cigarettes. Read WHO to launch initiative to help 1.3 bln people quit smoking Worst Drinks When You are Trying to Quit Smoking Alcohol No doubt alcohol and cigarettes are a good pair. Alcohol is considered something which made smoking taste better. Minimising alcohol intake or avoiding it simultaneously is good for quitting smoking. Caffeine Caffeine-containing drinks like coffee, tea, cola, or any other form – were also associated as something that made cigarettes taste better. If you can avoid caffeine or reduce your intake, it could be easier for you to stay away from cigarettes. Read Speakers for amending Smoking and Tobacco Usage (Control) Act Bottom Line Quitting smoking will cut your risk of developing conditions such as coronary heart disease, heart attack, stroke, peripheral vascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, etc. However, it is not easy to get rid of any addiction. If you want to quit smoking you need to stay careful about regular foods and drinks. So far we have discussed what to eat, drink and avoid if you want to quit smoking. We hope the above-mentioned discussion will help to quit smoking and minimize health problems.

Experts at an event Sunday urged policymakers to incorporate a tobacco harm reduction (THR) strategy into their tobacco control plans and establish safer alternatives such as vaping products. To commemorate World Vape Day 2022, Voice of Vapers Bangladesh organised the panel discussion "The Need for a Tobacco Harm Reduction Strategy: Achieving the Government's Health Agenda and Revenue Ambitions" in Dhaka.  Dr Delon Human, president of Health Diplomats and an expert on harm reduction, said: "To achieve a tobacco-free Bangladesh by 2040, there needs to be a credible harm reduction strategy as practised by many developed countries. The authorities must consider regulating safer alternatives such as vaping and make them accessible to smokers wanting to quit."  Dr Altamash Mahmood, core faculty member (public health nutrition) at the Bangladesh Open University, said: "Cigarettes are harmful, but nicotine is not. This is because smoking involves combustion that creates tar and other toxicants. Vaping only heats the liquid to create vapour to deliver nicotine. It does not induce second-hand smoking." Schumann Zaman, president of Bangladesh Electronic Nicotine Systems Traders Association, talked about how vaping can help the government achieve its health agenda along with its revenue ambitions.  "We need to capitalise on this by regulating the vaping industry; ensuring that the right products brought through the right channels are made accessible. This can only be achieved if a THR strategy is adopted, curated for adult smokers looking to quit, along with the enactment of sensible regulations."   Also read: Bangladesh slightly improves in global tobacco tax index

Passive smoke means the smoke inhaled from other people’s tobacco or cigarette smoke. There are other kinds of smoke available: cooking smoke, fire smoke, paper burn smoke, etc. The impact of Passive Smoking on kids’ Health is vulnerable around the world, especially in poor and developing countries. To prevent your children from smoking causing health hazards you need to take some protective measures like quitting smoking, making sure the environment is smoke-free, smoke-free home and car, etc. Consequences of Passive smoke on a Child's Health Second-hand smoke  Secondhand smoke refers to the smoke which drifts from a lit cigarette and the smoke breaths out from a smoker.  Second-hand smoke is made up of mainstream smoke which the smoker breathes out and sidestream smoke which drifts from the end of a burning cigarette. While a second-hand smoker smokes, the people very near to him are exposed to harmful and damaging smoke of different toxic ingredients in them. Second-hand smoke contains toxins and gasses like Carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, etc. that babies and children can breathe in. Children most commonly come into contact with second-hand smoke while and after while their parents, family members, friends of any of your family members, or nearest one smoke. Read How to Protect Your Child from Sexual Abuse? Second-hand smoke is dangerous for children  Second-hand smoke is dangerous for children and babies as their smaller airways are developing at this period. During this developing stage, babies and children have less mature immune systems than grown-ups. That is why the repercussions are riskier for kids’ and neonates’ health than that of adults. Pregnant and premature infants are also more likely prone to suffer from various extreme health disorders.

The High Court on Tuesday issued a rule asking the government to explain as to why the ineffectiveness of the authorities concerned in preventing scenes depicting smoking in movies and plays, should not be declared illegal. The HC bench of Justice JBM Hassan and Justice Razik-Al-Jalil issued the rule following a writ petition. It also asked the authorities concerned to explain as to why directives should not be given to them for implementing the Narcotics Control Act. Also read: Polluting canal: HC issues contempt of court rule against 5 govt officials Secretaries to the Public Health and Family Planning, Law, Home, Information and Bangladesh Film Censor Board Chairman have been made respondents to the rule which is returnable in four weeks. Advocate Maniruzzaman Linkon stood for the petitioner while deputy attorney general Tushar Kanti Roy represented the state. On February 3, Bangladesh Cancer Society, Anti drug organisation ‘Prattyasha’ and Population Development Organisation (PDO) filed a petition seeking ban on use of smoking and showing smoking scenes in movies and plays. “There is a law on using drugs and tobacco but it is ineffective,” said Advocate Maniruzzaman. On March 11, 2020, a legal notice was sent to the Secretaries to the Public Health and Family Planning, Law, Home, Information and Bangladesh Film Censor Board Chairman seeking implementation of the law. But no response came from the respondent, he said. Also read: HC issues rule on ethics code for news media According to the writ, Bangladesh has signed the ‘Framework Convention on Tobacco Control’ (FCTC) in an effort to discourage people from smoking and tobacco during the 56th conference of World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2003. To make the issue a success, the government enacted a law on Smoking and Using of Tobacco Products (Control) Act, 2005. According to the law, smoking in public places is an offence and there is a provision to fine Tk 300 to those who are found smoking in public places or public transport. As per the section 5 (1) of the law, Prohibition of advertisement of tobacco products. -(1) No person shall-display advertisement on tobacco products in cinema hall or government and non-government radio and television channel, and shall not make any exhibition of photographs audible or made audible :print or publish or make published any advertisement in any books, magazines, handbills, bill-board, newspaper or printed papers published in Bangladesh; and distribute or supply to public any leaflet, handbill or documents containing the name of brand of tobacco product, colour, logo, trade mark, sign, symbol or advertisement.

About 7.69 million people died worldwide in 2019 from different smoking-related diseases, an estimate by an international team of researchers shows. China accounted for the largest number of deaths – 2.42 million, nearly 30% of the world total – followed by India at 1.01 million, the US at 530,000, Russia at 290,000 and Indonesia at 250,000, according to the estimate published in the British medical journal The Lancet. The study, which analysed data from over 3,000 health surveys covered more than 200 countries and regions. Also read: Speakers for amending Smoking and Tobacco Usage (Control) Act The team found the number of smokers in the world topped 1.1 billion in 2019, with 7 trillion cigarettes consumed annually. Although smoking rates are on a downward trend in developed countries, the number of smokers is on the rise in developing countries, including those in Africa, where the population is growing rapidly. The most common diseases that directly caused deaths among smokers were ischemic heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and strokes. Smoking is known to increase the risk of developing these diseases. However, the estimate does not include the health damage caused by secondhand smoke. Also read: Quit Smoking: How to prevent Nicotine addiction The team also found that 87% of the deaths were in people who continued smoking, and only 6% were people who had quit smoking more than 15 years before their deaths. As the tobacco industry is developing marketing strategies targeting youths to promote items such as flavoured cigarettes and e-cigarettes, banning the sale of such products will help reduce the number of young smokers, the team said and called for measures such as higher tobacco taxes and advertising restrictions.

Everyone knows that smoking is harmful to health that increases the risk of cancer, heart disease, and other diseases. Knowing this, many of those who once smoked a cigarette out of curiosity later became complete smokers. Those who have been smoking for a long time, fail to quit smoking. Most chain smokers think of quitting smoking again and again but are not able to quit even after trying. However, if you are a smoker, you may follow some rules that can help you quit smoking easily. Let's take a look at some tips given by smoking cessation experts. There are many products that can be used to recover from nicotine addiction. However, most of the products might not be available locally. Hence, it would be great if we can make a habit to leave smoking without using any products. How to Quit Smoking Tobacco Products Find a strong reason to stop smoking If you want to inspire yourself or move away from something, you always need some solid reason. To get rid of the habit of smoking, you need to have a goal of your own. For example, quitting smoking greatly reduces your risk of heart disease or lung cancer, and keeps your body young even as you get older. Also, there are many more reasons you can add to your list to quit smoking. Finally, a person who is addicted to smoking can easily restrain himself if he can understand the identified issues properly. Read Intermittent Fasting: Health Benefits and Risks Take help from nearest and dearest ones Tell your friends, family, and colleagues that you want to quit smoking. Tell them to encourage you. Maybe if you go to a party and grab a cigarette, it will be useful if the people around you refrain from smoking. The study says that the combined behavioral therapy is very useful in eliminating our various bad habits. Control your stress Many people think that smoking is especially effective in relieving their stress. In fact, it is more a matter of thought than of consumption. When a person settles his mind that smoking helps him with anxiety or emotional issues, it becomes very difficult to get rid of cigarettes very naturally. In this case, if you are stressed, all you have to do is take a break and go to a natural shelter. For example, staying in a circle of friends to overcome depression, listening to some beautiful songs, entertaining yourself in the natural scene, etc. As a result of implementing these, you will be able to realize for a while that it is not smoking, but natural or physiological activities that will alleviate anxiety and demand balanced energy. Read Types of Meditation: Which One is Right for You Changes in eating habits Having a cup of tea, with a cigarette; or smoking a little after eating a meal is like someone's daily routine. Some people hold a soft drink in their right hand and hold a cigarette in their other hand. Note that since you want to refrain from smoking, it is very important to change your eating habits for a while. For example, one can keep away from tea or soft drinks for a few days, brush one's teeth after eating rice. After a meal, chat with a friend or have a little conversation with a loved one. Nicotine gum and Lozenges Since regular smoking is a strong bad habit, when someone suddenly tries to refrain from smoking, the person's mental behavior or body changes in various ways. So, think of some alternatives to cigarettes. Studies show that using nicotine gum, lozenges, or chewing gum as an alternative to cigarettes can be somewhat helpful in avoiding bad habits. There are some chewing gums available in the market for quitting cigarettes that are quite effective. You can try them. Read Muscle Building Diet: Best Foods for Muscle Gains, Definition and Fat Reduction Seek help from a doctor Sometimes a brain addicted to nicotine needs to consult a doctor to get rid of smoking. According to the advice, certain rules can be used to keep track of the harms of smoking, such as meditation. Alternatively, if you use cigarettes to relieve stress, think differently. With the advice of a doctor, you can take mental illness medicine instead of cigarettes. Stop drinking alcohol Alcohol is overly connected with smoking and it is as harmful as smoking. So drinking alcohol should be avoided. If you are an alcoholic or casual drinker, you should refrain from alcohol too. Do physical work Physical activity will help you quit smoking. You can start walking or jogging when you desire to smoke. Physical activity can take away your craving to smoke. Moreover, this will eliminate extra calories from your body. Read Barbells vs. Dumbbells: Which is better for Workout, Strength, and Muscle Growth? Some traditional methods After smoking for a long time, nicotine goes deep into the body. There is no substitute for water to wash away the nicotine that accumulates in the body as a toxin. Drink plenty of water to quit smoking. Besides, you may eat ginger. Some of the ingredients present in it suppress the desire to smoke in various ways. You can eat ginger tea or raw ginger. You can eat grape juice. It increases the performance of the lungs by removing toxins that accumulate in the body due to nicotine. In addition, the desire to smoke began to decrease. You can eat oats to quit smoking. Mix 1 teaspoon of oats with 2 cups of boiling water and leave it overnight. The next morning, boil again for 10 minutes and continue to eat a little after each meal. This will get nicotine out of the body. With that, the desire to smoke will also decrease. Read Health benefits of Chamomile Tea Eat fruits and vegetables Under no circumstances should you refrain from healthy eating while quitting smoking. Instead, one should eat plenty of vegetables and fruits at this time. According to a study by Duke University, cigarettes start to taste bad when you eat a lot of fruits and vegetables. So keep fruits and vegetables on the food list regularly. Try again and again If you are highly addicted to smoking, you may not stop it on the first try. Hence, there is no substitute for trying again and again to quit smoking. Set a time for yourself on how quickly you want to quit smoking. Proceed that way gradually step by step. Also read: IKIGAI: The Japanese Secret to a Long Healthy life

Scores of prominent doctors have urged the government to hike tobacco tax in the budget to protect public health. In a joint statement on Friday, initiated by Dhaka Ahsania Mission, 121 doctors said tobacco was involved in six of the eight leading causes of preventable death worldwide. The statement noted that cigarettes are very cheap and readily available in the market due to the multi-layered tax structure of cigarettes in Bangladesh depending on the features and brands. As a result, consumers are able to choose cheaper cigarettes instead of quitting, and the use of cigarettes has been relatively similar in recent years. The availability of tobacco products must be reduced through tax increases, said the doctors. Also read: Speakers want specific taxes imposed to increase price of tobacco products According to the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS), tobacco users have a 57 percent higher risk of developing tobacco-related diseases such as heart disease, stroke, COPD or lung cancer, and a 109 percent higher risk of other tobacco-related cancers. According to the statement, more than 1,61,000 people die of tobacco-related diseases every year in Bangladesh.