Effects of Smoking  on Teenagers

 

Smoking is a major health problem among people today. There are many risks involved with smoking, and with those risks come effects.  The most common effects include a variety of disabling and fatal conditions including lung disease, heart disease, several forms of cancer, hormonal problems, and that is just to name a few!

For teenagers, there are many short-term and long-term consequences from smoking.  Some short-term consequences are:

  • addiction to nicotine

  • respiratory and non-respiratory infections 

  • an associated risk of other drug use

Some long-term effects include:

  • a faster heart rate than nonsmokers

  • shorter life span

  • poor physical fitness regardless of exercise habits

  • lower level of lung function

  • increased risk of lung cancer

  • heart disease and stroke

  • shortness of breath

  • twice the amount of phlegm than nonsmokers

Because of smoking, teens are three times more likely to use alcohol, eight times more likely to use marijuana, and twenty two times more likely to use cocaine.  Other risks such as fighting and unprotected sex are also more likely to occur.

 

Question: Have you ever woken up feeling short of breath? Ever feel out of breath walking up stairs?  Have trouble running like you used to?

If you smoke and answered yes to any of these questions, here is a very brief explanation:

Cigarettes completely destroy the minute hairs, known as cilia, that line smoker’s upper airways and protect against infection. It destroys the alveoli, or air sacs, which absorb oxygen and get rid of carbon dioxide. Smoking irritates the lungs, creating phlegm and narrows the airways making it much more difficult to breathe. Smoking destroys lung tissue, not allowing the lungs to function properly. If your lungs don't work right, that means that you aren't getting enough oxygen into your blood.  Carbon monoxide is forced into your blood, causing shortness of breath and coughing.  It can also cause chronic bronchitis and repeated chest infections.  If you has asthma, smoking will only make it worse. 

Effects on Those Around You

Smoking not only affects smokers, but also everyone around  them.  Smoking during pregnancy does affect the unborn baby. Developmental growth and birth weight in babies of smoking mothers is lower than babies of non-smoking mother. Children of smokers are more likely to be shorter in height, slower learners than children of nonsmoking mothers. They are also 2 ½ times more likely to die of sudden infant death syndrome, or crib death. One study found that nearly 60 percent of all SIDS cases could be prevented if smokers stopped smoking around babies and pregnant women.

A meta-analysis of studies conducted after 1965 showed significant risk to children exposed to secondhand smoke of numerous ailments including asthma, tonsillectomy, lower respiratory tract infections, plus many others. Children were also at risk of death due to fires caused by cigarettes.

SECOND HAND SMOKE?

Other Effects of Smoking

First of all, smoking stinks! Never mind the health risks. The offensive odor intrudes the noses of people everywhere. While some smokers may feel it is their right to smoke in public places, consider how it would be if your next door neighbor suddenly opened a chicken farm in his back yard. The stench is sickening! Smoking is more about consideration for others than about the rights of smokers.

Now, consider the cost of smoking habits.  Think about the hundreds and even thousands of dollars spent on cigarettes each year.   One cigarette at a time and no one notices. But do the math and then think about all the other ways that money could be used.

The financial costs don’t stop at the cigarettes alone. Smokers are more likely to pay more money for their insurance just because they smoke. They are also much more likely to incur doctor visits and medical expenses than nonsmokers. The value of cars and homes of smokers may be reduced as a result of the odor and filth of cigarettes.

Smoking can also have a great effect on personal relationships.  Many nonsmokers find smoke to be very offensive.  Many avoid relationships with smokers and will not choose a smoker as a spouse because of their smoking habits.