World No Tobacco Day 2025: As the world observes World No Tobacco Day 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) is placing a powerful spotlight on an urgent and underappreciated crisis — the tobacco industry’s manipulative tactics and its devastating impact on heart health. This year’s theme, ‘Unmasking the Appeal: Exposing Industry Tactics on Tobacco and Nicotine Products’, aims to uncover how companies deceptively market harmful products, especially targeting the youth.
But beneath the surface of slick marketing lies a grim truth: tobacco kills — and it’s taking a heavy toll on our hearts.
Tobacco and the Heart: A Silent Killer
When most people think of smoking, their minds jump to lung cancer. However, what often goes unrecognized is that tobacco is one of the leading causes of cardiovascular disease (CVD) — the world’s number one killer.
“Smokers face a two to four times higher risk of developing coronary artery disease than non-smokers,” explains Prof Rajesh Vijayvergiya, a senior cardiologist from the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER). According to him, 20% of all cardiovascular-related deaths are linked to smoking.
Every puff of a cigarette spikes blood pressure, damages blood vessels, and increases the risk of:
Stroke
Heart failure
Arrhythmias
Sudden cardiac death
In India, the situation is even more alarming. A recent study showed that 56% of Indian men who suffered a heart attack were active smokers. Not only is tobacco causing more heart attacks, but it’s also doing so earlier in life. The median age of heart attack in India is 53, much younger than the global average of 58.1 years.
Passive Smoke: Danger Without a Puff
You don’t have to be a smoker to be at risk. Second-hand smoke — also called passive smoke — is just as deadly.
“Even brief exposure to second-hand smoke can cause inflammation and clotting,” says Prof Vijayvergiya. Here are just some of its effects:
25-30% increased risk of heart disease
20-30% increased risk of stroke
In women: Low birth weight, fertility issues
In children: Respiratory infections, asthma attacks, and ear infections
Shockingly, harmful effects can begin within just 60 minutes of exposure — and linger for hours.
The Deceptive Lure of ‘Safer’ Alternatives
In recent years, e-cigarettes and vaping have been aggressively marketed as trendy and safer. But Prof Vijayvergiya warns that this is a myth — and a dangerous one.
“These products often contain toxic metals, nicotine, and chemicals like formaldehyde and acrolein,” he says. “Acrolein levels in e-cigarette users’ lungs can be 320 times higher than what’s considered safe.”
Rather than a safe alternative, e-cigarettes:
Damage blood vessels
Trigger inflammation
Increase the risk of irregular heart rhythms
Hookahs, cigars, and pipes aren’t any better. They expose users to massive doses of carbon monoxide, nicotine, and cancer-causing chemicals, further raising the risks of cardiovascular disease.
India’s Tobacco Challenge: A Public Health Alarm
India faces a severe tobacco epidemic. The latest data reveals:
38% of Indian men use tobacco (29% in urban, 43% in rural areas)
28.6% of India’s population consumes tobacco in either smoked or smokeless form
42.4% of men and 14.2% of women are tobacco users
These numbers highlight the scale of addiction — and the massive health burden it causes.
A Hidden Culprit: Air Pollution and Heart Disease
While tobacco remains a primary villain, air pollution — especially PM2.5 from traffic, industry, and crop burning — is another potent threat to heart health.
PM2.5 causes:
Oxidative stress
Systemic inflammation
Higher rates of heart attacks and strokes
Prof Vijayvergiya emphasizes that tobacco cessation and clean air policies must go hand-in-hand to effectively reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease in India.
Call to Action: Empowering Change
Prof Vijayvergiya calls on cardiologists and healthcare professionals to go beyond diagnosis and treatment. He believes:
Tobacco cessation support should be a routine part of cardiac care
Patients must be educated about the heart-specific risks of smoking
Awareness should be raised about the false safety claims of e-cigarettes and similar products
