World No Tobacco Day-III: Key facts about tobacco

By Syed Akbar
* Tobacco kills up to half of its users.
* The annual death roll of more than five million could rise to more than eight million by 2030 unless urgent action is taken to control the tobacco epidemic, says a WHO report.
* More than 80 per cent of the world's one billion smokers live in low-and middle-income countries, including India.
* Total consumption of tobacco products is increasing globally, thoughit is decreasing in some high-income and upper middle-incomecountries, the WHO report adds.
* Women who smoke are more likely than those who do not toexperience infertility and delays in conceiving.
* Maternal smoking during pregnancy increases the risks of prematuredelivery, stillbirth and newborn death and may cause a reduction inbreast milk.
* Smoking increases women's risk for cancer of the cervix. There is a possible link between active smoking and premenopausal breast cancer.