Many teens have heard about the days when their parents were young and people could buy cigarettes and smoke pretty much anywhere. Even in older movies, actors were smoking just to be cool. Back in the day, ads for cigarettes were all over the place.
Thankfully, this isn’t the case anymore. Today, we are much more health conscious and more aware about how dangerous smoking is for our health. In fact, smoking is prohibited in almost all public places and cigarette companies are no longer allowed to advertise on TV, radio, and in many magazines.
What are some facts about smoking that almost everyone knows?
Smoking Causes Cancer
Smoking Causes Emphysema
Smoking Causes Heart Disease
Smoking can shorten your life by 10 years or more.
As a teenager, these side effects may seem so far into the future that they do not phase you. However, let’s take a look at some side effects that affect even those who are still in High School.
Smoking can cost a smoker thousands of dollars a year. (Spring Break?)
Smoking causes Bad Skin. It’s tough being a teen. Your skin is something that makes you extremely self-conscious. Why contribute to acne, paleness and wrinkles?
Smoking causes Bad Breath. Who will you impress with smokers breath?
Smoking causes bad Smelling Clothes and Hair. Again, do you really want to smell bad on your big date?
Smoking causes reduced athletic performance. We all know that the jocks are the popular kids in High School. But not if they can’t perform..
This is just a small list of the many consequences of smoking. Smoking is a hard habit to break because tobacco contains nicotine, which is highly addictive. Like heroin or other addictive drugs, the body and mind quickly become so used to the nicotine in cigarettes that a person needs to have it just to feel normal.
All forms of tobacco including cigarettes, pipes, cigars, hookahs, and smokeless tobacco are hazardous to your health. The only thing that really helps a person avoid the problems associated with smoking is staying smoke free or quit while you are ahead. The good news is that the number of teens who smoke has dropped dramatically over recent years. Today, about 20% of high school students smoke – which means 4 out of 5 don’t.
If you do smoke and want to quit, there are different approaches to quitting that work for different people. For some, quitting cold turkey is best and others find that a slower approach is the best way to go. Perhaps using an alternative approach, such as Cold Laser Therapy, will do the trick.
When quitting, it can be helpful to realize that the first few days are the toughest. So don’t give up too easily. Some people find they have a few relapses before they conquer quitting for good. To keep your attitude positive, remember that staying smoke free will give you a whole lot more of everything – more energy, better performance, better smell, better looks, more money in your pocket, and, in the long run, a longer life to live!