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Smoking - how it sucks you in
People have been smoking tobacco for centuries as a mood-altering
substance. These days cigarettes are the most common form of consumption.
Tobacco smoke contains thousands of chemicals but the most addictive
is nicotine, which stimulates the central nervous system. It raises
your blood pressure and heart rate, boosts adrenaline production and
affects your overall metabolism.
These changes are often experienced as a feeling of relaxation but
the damage is immense. Lung cancer and heart attacks are the biggest
killers from smoking. Yet despite the warnings, millions of people,
especially teenagers, still smoke. It's almost an act of defiance.
But is it really worth it?
Smoking - what it really does
On average the five minutes it takes to smoke a cigarette shorten
that person's life by the same amount. As well as the poisonous nicotine,
tobacco contains tars, which cause cancers, and carbon monoxide, which
lowers the ability of the blood to carry oxygen.
Pregnant women who smoke risk harming their baby. Kidney disease,
stroke, chronic bronchitis, emphysema and nutritional deficiency are
some of the other dangers. Smoking increases your body's need for
key vitamins and minerals, so you become more vulnerable to illness
generally.
Smoking - what can you do about it? The only good thing about smoking
is that millions of people manage to kick the habit every year. But
you have to want to.
It's pointless trying to quit before working out why you smoke, and
fulfilling those needs some other way. For instance, if you smoke
because your friends do, ask yourself if the friendship would be jeopardised
if you quit. If it would be, is it worth having anyway? If you smoke
because you're bored, think about it: there are a huge number enjoyable
things to do instead.
When you actually decide you want to quit, you might go through a
brief period when it's tough because of withdrawal symptoms. But you'll
feel the health benefits almost at once. And luckily there are loads
of organisations that can help you quit smoking. Just ask your doctor
for more information.
Read More:
Alcohol
Caffeine
Illegal drugs
Uppers, downers, LSD and
solvents
Link to:
Tips
for Teens about Smoking
How
Smoking affects your Body
20 Quick
Tips to Stop
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