Smokers die an average of 16 years sooner than nonsmokers.
Over 66% of smokers WILL die from his/her addiction....
THIS IS AMAING ...................
- Average lifespan of a non-smoker is 78.4 years
-Average lifespan of a smoker is 62.8 years !!!
The average age in becoming a grandparent is 51 years old.. That means that if YOU smoke, odds are you will never see your grandchild grow up. Your granchildren will also remember you as a cranky, sick, unhealthy grandparent.... hmmmm imagine them talking to their children about YOU.... my cranky, sick grandpa....
QUOTABLE QUOTES (smoking)
Thank you for Not Smoking. Cigarette smoke is the residue of your pleasure. It contaminates the air, pollutes my hair and clothes, not to mention my lungs. This takes place without my consent. I have a pleasure, also. I like a beer now and then. The residue of my pleasure is urine. Would you be annoyed if I stood on a chair and pissed on your head and your clothes without your consent? ~Sign from Ken's Magic Shop
~Jaon Morgan
The public health authorities never mention the main reason many Americans have for smoking heavily, which is that smoking is a fairly sure, fairly honorable form of suicide.
~Kurt Vonnegut
There's a lot of people who, a cigarette is about the only vacation they have.
~Trey Parker
A cigarette is a pipe with a fire at one end and a fool at the other.
~ James Harrow
I'm glad I don't have to explain to a man from Mars why each day I set fire to dozens of little pieces of paper, and put them in my mouth.
~Mignon McLaughlin
The cigarette does the smoking - you're just the sucker.
~ Paul Ordel
It’s easy to quit smoking. I’ve done it hundreds of times.
–Mark Twain
~Jaon Morgan
The public health authorities never mention the main reason many Americans have for smoking heavily, which is that smoking is a fairly sure, fairly honorable form of suicide.
~Kurt Vonnegut
There's a lot of people who, a cigarette is about the only vacation they have.
~Trey Parker
A cigarette is a pipe with a fire at one end and a fool at the other.
~ James Harrow
I'm glad I don't have to explain to a man from Mars why each day I set fire to dozens of little pieces of paper, and put them in my mouth.
~Mignon McLaughlin
The cigarette does the smoking - you're just the sucker.
~ Paul Ordel
It’s easy to quit smoking. I’ve done it hundreds of times.
–Mark Twain
Is it legal to discriminate against smokers, in the workplace?
Yes, Of course it's legal. Smoking affects the worker and it affects the other people in the workplace.
Smokers HAVE to get their nick fix periodically, which means that they are taking breaks that they aren't entitled to, even if they smoke at their desk (which of course they usually can't do any more). This means that the nonsmokers have to take up the slack. I used to work with a heavy smoker, and she'd disappear into the bathroom about every 45 minutes. This meant that I had to quit doing what I was working on (I was working in the deli, and had to make salads and sandwiches) and cover her cash register. Then the boss would yell at ME because I hadn't made up all the salads and sandwiches. I finally said that I wasn't willing to work on a shift with her. None of the other workers would, either, because she was always running off and lighting up, and because the bathroom always smelled of smoke.
In some jobs, it's hazardous to smoke, for instance around flammable materials.
Plus, many smokers just smell like a dirty ashtray, and are not nice to be around. Some smokers don't seem to smell like this, but with most smokers, the smell is in their skin, not just in their clothes.
In this specific case, the company is looking for someone to be at that desk, not out back having a cigarette, and they are also looking for someone who is presentable. It's a totally reasonable requirement.
In some jobs, it's hazardous to smoke, for instance around flammable materials.
Plus, many smokers just smell like a dirty ashtray, and are not nice to be around. Some smokers don't seem to smell like this, but with most smokers, the smell is in their skin, not just in their clothes.
In this specific case, the company is looking for someone to be at that desk, not out back having a cigarette, and they are also looking for someone who is presentable. It's a totally reasonable requirement.
Health Effects of smoking
Smoking and Death
•The adverse health effects from cigarette smoking account for an estimated 443,000 deaths, or nearly one of every five deaths, each year in the United States.2,3
•More deaths are caused each year by tobacco use than by all deaths from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), illegal drug use, alcohol use, motor vehicle injuries, suicides, and murders combined.2,4
•Smoking causes 90% of all lung cancer deaths in men and 80% of all lung cancer deaths in women.1
•An estimated 90% of all deaths from chronic obstructive lung disease are caused by smoking.1
Smoking and Increased Health Risks
Compared with nonsmokers, smoking is estimated to increase the risk of—
•coronary heart disease by 2 to 4 times1,5
•stroke by 2 to 4 times1,6
•men developing lung cancer by 23 times1
•women developing lung cancer by 13 times,1 and
•dying from chronic obstructive lung diseases (such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema) by 12 to 13 times.1
Smoking and Cardiovascular Disease
•Smoking causes coronary heart disease, the leading cause of death in the United States.1
•Cigarette smoking causes reduced circulation by narrowing the blood vessels (arteries) and puts smokers at risk of developing peripheral vascular disease (i.e., obstruction of the large arteries in the arms and legs that can cause a range of problems from pain to tissue loss or gangrene).1,7
•Smoking causes abdominal aortic aneurysm (i.e., a swelling or weakening of the main artery of the body—the aorta—where it runs through the abdomen).1
Smoking and Respiratory Disease
•Smoking causes lung cancer.1,2
•Smoking causes lung diseases (e.g., emphysema, bronchitis, chronic airway obstruction) by damaging the airways and alveoli (i.e., small air sacs) of the lungs.1,2
Smoking and Cancer
Smoking causes the following cancers:1
•Acute myeloid leukemia
•Bladder cancer
•Cancer of the cervix
•Cancer of the esophagus
•Kidney cancer
•Cancer of the larynx (voice box)
•Lung cancer
•Cancer of the oral cavity (mouth)
•Cancer of the pharynx (throat)
•Stomach cancer
•Cancer of the uterus
Smoking and Other Health Effects
Smoking is associated with the following adverse health effects:
•infertility,
•preterm delivery,
•stillbirth,
•low birth weight, and
•sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).1,8
Smoking is associated with the following adverse health effects:8
•Postmenopausal women who smoke have lower bone density than women who never smoked.
•Women who smoke have an increased risk for hip fracture than women who never smoked.
•The adverse health effects from cigarette smoking account for an estimated 443,000 deaths, or nearly one of every five deaths, each year in the United States.2,3
•More deaths are caused each year by tobacco use than by all deaths from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), illegal drug use, alcohol use, motor vehicle injuries, suicides, and murders combined.2,4
•Smoking causes 90% of all lung cancer deaths in men and 80% of all lung cancer deaths in women.1
•An estimated 90% of all deaths from chronic obstructive lung disease are caused by smoking.1
Smoking and Increased Health Risks
Compared with nonsmokers, smoking is estimated to increase the risk of—
•coronary heart disease by 2 to 4 times1,5
•stroke by 2 to 4 times1,6
•men developing lung cancer by 23 times1
•women developing lung cancer by 13 times,1 and
•dying from chronic obstructive lung diseases (such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema) by 12 to 13 times.1
Smoking and Cardiovascular Disease
•Smoking causes coronary heart disease, the leading cause of death in the United States.1
•Cigarette smoking causes reduced circulation by narrowing the blood vessels (arteries) and puts smokers at risk of developing peripheral vascular disease (i.e., obstruction of the large arteries in the arms and legs that can cause a range of problems from pain to tissue loss or gangrene).1,7
•Smoking causes abdominal aortic aneurysm (i.e., a swelling or weakening of the main artery of the body—the aorta—where it runs through the abdomen).1
Smoking and Respiratory Disease
•Smoking causes lung cancer.1,2
•Smoking causes lung diseases (e.g., emphysema, bronchitis, chronic airway obstruction) by damaging the airways and alveoli (i.e., small air sacs) of the lungs.1,2
Smoking and Cancer
Smoking causes the following cancers:1
•Acute myeloid leukemia
•Bladder cancer
•Cancer of the cervix
•Cancer of the esophagus
•Kidney cancer
•Cancer of the larynx (voice box)
•Lung cancer
•Cancer of the oral cavity (mouth)
•Cancer of the pharynx (throat)
•Stomach cancer
•Cancer of the uterus
Smoking and Other Health Effects
Smoking is associated with the following adverse health effects:
•infertility,
•preterm delivery,
•stillbirth,
•low birth weight, and
•sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).1,8
Smoking is associated with the following adverse health effects:8
•Postmenopausal women who smoke have lower bone density than women who never smoked.
•Women who smoke have an increased risk for hip fracture than women who never smoked.
How many smokers and Non-smokers are still alive (CHART)
VERY INTERESTING!
How Many Smokers and Nonsmokers
Are Still Alive At Each Age
(Starting With 100,000 Each and Dying Down Each 5-yr Period)
Age Nonsmoker heavy Smokers
30 100,000 100,000
35 95,883 90,943
40 91,546 81,191
45 86,730 71,665
50 81,160 62,699
55 74,538 54,277
60 66,564 46,226
65 57,018 38,328
70 45,919 30,393
75 33,767 22,338
80 21,737 14,494
85 11,597 7,865
How Many Smokers and Nonsmokers
Are Still Alive At Each Age
(Starting With 100,000 Each and Dying Down Each 5-yr Period)
Age Nonsmoker heavy Smokers
30 100,000 100,000
35 95,883 90,943
40 91,546 81,191
45 86,730 71,665
50 81,160 62,699
55 74,538 54,277
60 66,564 46,226
65 57,018 38,328
70 45,919 30,393
75 33,767 22,338
80 21,737 14,494
85 11,597 7,865
Smoking and Death
Deaths from Smoking: 440,000 annual deaths each year, are smoking-associated (CDC)
That's 440,000 per year, 36,666 per month, 8,461 per week, 1,205 per day, 50 per hour wow!!!
Smoking doesn't just cut a few months off the end of your life. It reduces the life of the average smoker by 14 years. (Source: excerpt from Smoking It's Never Too Late to Stop)
Death statistics for Smoking
The following are statistics from various sources about deaths and Smoking:
•Death rate is 2-3 times higher than non-smokers
•Estimated to cause 10 million deaths per year worldwide by 2020 (WHO Web Site)
•1.2 million deaths in Europe (The European Heart Network)
•45,000 African American deaths each year in America (CBCF Health Organisation, 2004)
•1.2 million deaths from smoking in Europe (The European Heart Network, 2000)
•400,000 deaths annually in the US (Mayo Clinic)
That's 440,000 per year, 36,666 per month, 8,461 per week, 1,205 per day, 50 per hour wow!!!
Smoking doesn't just cut a few months off the end of your life. It reduces the life of the average smoker by 14 years. (Source: excerpt from Smoking It's Never Too Late to Stop)
Death statistics for Smoking
The following are statistics from various sources about deaths and Smoking:
•Death rate is 2-3 times higher than non-smokers
•Estimated to cause 10 million deaths per year worldwide by 2020 (WHO Web Site)
•1.2 million deaths in Europe (The European Heart Network)
•45,000 African American deaths each year in America (CBCF Health Organisation, 2004)
•1.2 million deaths from smoking in Europe (The European Heart Network, 2000)
•400,000 deaths annually in the US (Mayo Clinic)
General Videos
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SEX AND SMOKING
MEN who regularly smoke may be prematurely stubbing out their sex lives, Australian research shows.
Men who smoked daily were found to be four times more likely to have trouble reaching orgasm than men who did not inhale, according to the La Trobe University study.
Other daily male smokers experienced premature ejaculation at nearly three times the rate of non-smokers.
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Nicotine is a vasoconstrictor, meaning it tightens blood vessels and restricts blood flow. In the long term, it has even been shown to cause permanent damage to arteries. Since a man's erection depends on blood flow, researchers assumed smoking would affect erections. Studies have confirmed this time and again. In a study published in Addiction Behavior, it was shown that just two cigarettes could cause softer erections in male smokers. Results are corroborated by a review of all studies done on impotent men over the last two decades. The research showed that 40 percent of men affected by impotence were smokers, as opposed to 28 percent of the general male population. That is either a really amazing coincidence, or there is a relationship between smoking and male impotence.
Men who smoked daily were found to be four times more likely to have trouble reaching orgasm than men who did not inhale, according to the La Trobe University study.
Other daily male smokers experienced premature ejaculation at nearly three times the rate of non-smokers.
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Nicotine is a vasoconstrictor, meaning it tightens blood vessels and restricts blood flow. In the long term, it has even been shown to cause permanent damage to arteries. Since a man's erection depends on blood flow, researchers assumed smoking would affect erections. Studies have confirmed this time and again. In a study published in Addiction Behavior, it was shown that just two cigarettes could cause softer erections in male smokers. Results are corroborated by a review of all studies done on impotent men over the last two decades. The research showed that 40 percent of men affected by impotence were smokers, as opposed to 28 percent of the general male population. That is either a really amazing coincidence, or there is a relationship between smoking and male impotence.
SMOKING AND MARRIAGE
A 1990s study by Eric Doherty and William J. Doherty of the University of Minnesota has found that smokers have an increased risk (53%) of divorce. Apparently, age, race, education, income or gender makes no difference.
Earlier studies have shown that younger smokers seem to enter adulthood with more psychological problems than non-smokers. Additionally, adult smokers have been shown to have higher levels of depression and anxiety. These are the type of problems which can lead to relationship problems.
The study from ISR tracked more than 33,000 young adults and found that smoking rates were far above average among those men and women who would later divorce; thus, smoking is a predictor of divorce.
Doherty worked with nationally representative data from the General Social Survey, which is administered annually by the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago.
It appears that separated and divorced persons are less likely to quit smoking than married persons. It is thought that the social support that a spouse can provide helps increase the probability of ceasing to smoke. However, a smoker with marital problems has more stress in his/her life, and has a lower chance of success in quitting smoking.
Whether or not one openly says so, smoking cigarettes is making a statement that "I don't care about my health" and having that kind of attitude has to be bad for the morale of the other partner.
It invites thoughts of having to care for a sick partner and becoming an early widow/widower, and that's before you think about consequences for any children involved. Smoking, as much as alcoholism or drug addiction, is a truly selfish act.
It puts the minor pleasure of a "drag" above one's family. They used to have a series of anti-smoking ads where people who were dying of lung cancer had to write letters apologizing to their families for leaving them so soon.
I think that really shows that, to the smoker, Marlborough is more important than marriage and Kools are more important than kids."
Earlier studies have shown that younger smokers seem to enter adulthood with more psychological problems than non-smokers. Additionally, adult smokers have been shown to have higher levels of depression and anxiety. These are the type of problems which can lead to relationship problems.
The study from ISR tracked more than 33,000 young adults and found that smoking rates were far above average among those men and women who would later divorce; thus, smoking is a predictor of divorce.
Doherty worked with nationally representative data from the General Social Survey, which is administered annually by the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago.
Quitting Smoking:
Quitting, even with a supportive spouse and when one wants to quit, is not an easy thing to accomplish. A quote by the famous author Mark Twain supports this theory: "To cease smoking is the easiest thing I ever did; I ought to know because I have done it a thousand times."It appears that separated and divorced persons are less likely to quit smoking than married persons. It is thought that the social support that a spouse can provide helps increase the probability of ceasing to smoke. However, a smoker with marital problems has more stress in his/her life, and has a lower chance of success in quitting smoking.
Marriage Effect Studies:
We found several research projects that connect marriage and smoking. One study demonstrates that marriage has positive health benefits, especially for men. While another one shows that, unfortunately, marriage does not have a positive effect on smoking habits. Mr. Bachman says that although marriage can cut down the amount a person drinks, what he calls the "marriage effect" brought about only a slight reduction in cigarette smoking habits.Non-Smoking Spouse Concerns:
Many non-smoking spouses have very strong feelings about their partner's smoking habit. The feelings can range from concern, fear, and disgust to feeling unimportant, disappointed and hurt. Some partners interpret their spouse's not quitting smoking as saying that they don't care about their own health, and ultimately don't really care about their spouse or family.Secondhand Smoke:
ETS or secondhand smoke is finding its way into custody cases. Some parents have lost their parental rights or have had major restrictions placed on their visitation rights.Travel:
Another area that can cause conflict in a marriage between a smoker and a non-smoker is traveling. Many romantic places are becoming entirely non-smoking. Additionally, deciding whether or not to sit in smoking sections of restaurants and airports, where offered, can also cause conflict. So a great opportunity for some alone time for such a couple would only cause more stress.Other Health Risks:
Non-smoking spouses and children are exposed to second-hand smoke, may adopt the same negative behaviors, and often have poor nutrition and diets.Bottom Line:
It appears that smoking can have a negative effect not only on your physical health, but on your emotional health and marriage relationship, too.Whether or not one openly says so, smoking cigarettes is making a statement that "I don't care about my health" and having that kind of attitude has to be bad for the morale of the other partner.
It invites thoughts of having to care for a sick partner and becoming an early widow/widower, and that's before you think about consequences for any children involved. Smoking, as much as alcoholism or drug addiction, is a truly selfish act.
It puts the minor pleasure of a "drag" above one's family. They used to have a series of anti-smoking ads where people who were dying of lung cancer had to write letters apologizing to their families for leaving them so soon.
I think that really shows that, to the smoker, Marlborough is more important than marriage and Kools are more important than kids."
1 spouse smoker poll:
Are you bothered about your spouse's smoking habit?
YES- 89%
NO- 7%
SOMETIMES- 3%
POSTED BY A BLOGGER..........Ok....so I've read a bunch of the posts and didn't see any along the lines of my issue. I'm married to a smoker and it stinks. It has completely turned me off of the idea of sex because I cant stand kissing. I like the sex and avoind kissing but its just not the same and just is part if it. She was a smoker when we got married but promised to quit which was about 13 years ago. I really miss the closeness and intimacy...especially the kissing. Smokers are just plain gross. No matter how much she brushes her teeth it doesn't help and she just doesn't get that its the breath and everything else. Does this sound familaiar to anyone else? how do you deal with it? I'm to the point where I'm looking outside the marriageto get what I want but with 2 kids could never leave,,,,,I feel it would screw them up too much.
The high cost of smoking
If the threat of cancer can't persuade you to quit smoking, maybe the prospect of poverty will.
The financial consequences of lighting up stretch far beyond the cost of a pack of cigarettes. Smokers pay more for insurance. They lose money on the resale value of their cars and homes. They spend extra on dry cleaning and teeth cleaning. Long term, they earn less and receive less in pension and Social Security benefits.
While your health should be the main reason to quit smoking, when you come to realize that you may be spending close to $10,000 a year because of your smoking habit, this may be one more motivating force to kick the habit:
Life Insurance: Smokers have a greater risk of dieing at a younger age than non smokers and this risk is reflected in higher life insurance premium payments.
Health Insurance: Smokers have a greater risk of medical problems than non smokers and this risk is reflected in their medical insurance premium payments.
Health Care: Since smokers frequently have more medical problems than non smokers, they must pay more to take care of these problems.
Medications: More medical problems for smokers usually results more prescription medicine taken by smokers than non smokers.
Home Owner's Insurance: Smokers have a greater risk of burning down their house than non smokers and this risk is reflected in higher home owner's insurance premium payments.
Value of the House: Smoking leaves a bad smell in a house thus decreasing the value to potential buyers.
Value of Your Possessions: Just as with the house, smoking leaves a bad smell to many of the items in your house thus decreasing their value.
Car Insurance: Smokers have a greater risk of getting into a car accident than non smokers and this risk is reflected in their car insurance premium payments.
Car Resale Value: Smoking leaves a bad smell in a car thus decreasing the value to potential buyers or when traded-in for another car.
Earn Less Money: Studies have found that smokers earn between 8% to 11% less money than their non smoking counterparts.
Less Social Security / Pension Benefits: Since smokers earn less than non smokers, they receive less overall social security and pensions benefits than non smokers.
Cost of Cleaning: Whether its the inside of their home, the inside of their car or their clothes, smokers have to spend more to keep things clean.
Dental Care: Smokers spend more on dental care and special dental products than non smokers.
Lost Interest: All the extra money that smokers must spend means that money can't be saved resulting in lost interest.
When you look beyond the cost of the pack of cigarettes and incorporate all the other monetary costs associated with smoking, you begin to see smoking is a huge drain on ones personal finances.
So far, we found that the annual cost of smoking looks something like this:Life Insurance: Smokers have a greater risk of dieing at a younger age than non smokers and this risk is reflected in higher life insurance premium payments.
Health Insurance: Smokers have a greater risk of medical problems than non smokers and this risk is reflected in their medical insurance premium payments.
Health Care: Since smokers frequently have more medical problems than non smokers, they must pay more to take care of these problems.
Medications: More medical problems for smokers usually results more prescription medicine taken by smokers than non smokers.
Home Owner's Insurance: Smokers have a greater risk of burning down their house than non smokers and this risk is reflected in higher home owner's insurance premium payments.
Value of the House: Smoking leaves a bad smell in a house thus decreasing the value to potential buyers.
Value of Your Possessions: Just as with the house, smoking leaves a bad smell to many of the items in your house thus decreasing their value.
Car Insurance: Smokers have a greater risk of getting into a car accident than non smokers and this risk is reflected in their car insurance premium payments.
Car Resale Value: Smoking leaves a bad smell in a car thus decreasing the value to potential buyers or when traded-in for another car.
Earn Less Money: Studies have found that smokers earn between 8% to 11% less money than their non smoking counterparts.
Less Social Security / Pension Benefits: Since smokers earn less than non smokers, they receive less overall social security and pensions benefits than non smokers.
Cost of Cleaning: Whether its the inside of their home, the inside of their car or their clothes, smokers have to spend more to keep things clean.
Dental Care: Smokers spend more on dental care and special dental products than non smokers.
Lost Interest: All the extra money that smokers must spend means that money can't be saved resulting in lost interest.
When you look beyond the cost of the pack of cigarettes and incorporate all the other monetary costs associated with smoking, you begin to see smoking is a huge drain on ones personal finances.
Cigarettes $1,095
Gas $122
Health insurance $630
Life insurance $250
Reduced wages/salary $1,000-5,000
Total annual cost: $3,097 to $7,097
Decreased car value $500-3,000
Decreased home value $1,000-10,000
Total asset depreciation cost: $1,500 to $13,000
Gulp! That's hard to swallow. These numbers may be more or less for you, but it's probably close.
The Final Insult: Interest
Now, what if you could invest that money in a safe investment that paid just 5% per year? For simplicity, we'll use the lower end of the annual savings, $3,097, and ignore the asset depreciation. Over the course of 30 years, your money would grow to $188,828. Even if you adjust for inflation, your investment is still worth $112,624!
As a smoker you are robbing yourself and your family of thousands of dollars! Your retirement is going up in smoke. And if you need extra cash right now, cutting out cigarettes will deliver instant results.
If the health issues don't convince you to quit smoking, perhaps the financial issues will.
Another intangible cost of smoking is impaired career advancement. Many companies have begun refusing to hire smokers. Employers know that smokers cost more money than non-smokers. Smokers take longer and more frequent breaks throughout the day, use more sick days, and as mentioned previously they cost more to insure.
Whether or not employers have an official policy of not hiring smokers, there may be an unspoken preference for non-smokers. Recently my wife went on a job interview. The owner of the company--who conducted the interview--told my wife that he had instantly eliminated job candidates if he could detect smoke on them during their interview. He was a non-smoker and did not want to hire smokers.
So, how much is your smoking hurting your chances for job advancement and higher pay? This is difficult to calculate, but is likely costing the average smoker several thousand dollars per year! And if you are earning less now, that means your retirement account and Social Security payments will be less when you retire, too.
Other costs of smoking include increased dental care and cleaning costs plus increased clothing cleaning costs. And while not a monetary costs, smokers will find a limited pool of dating candidates since most non-smokers won't date a smoker.
Here are some examples of companys that will NOT hire smokers:
- Kalamazoo Valley Community College in Michigan stopped hiring smokers for full-time positions at both its Michigan campuses.
- Alaska Airlines, based in Washington state, requires a nicotine test before hiring people.
- The Tacoma-Pierce County (Wash.) Health Department has applicants sign an "affidavit of nontobacco use."
- Union Pacific won't hire smokers.
The costs add up: Cigarettes, dry cleaning, insurance -- you can even lose your job. A 40-year-old who quits and puts the savings into a 401(k) could save almost $250,000 by age 70.
Check out the most accurate cost of smoking calculator: http://www.healthstatus.com/calculate/smc
Teen Smoking
A study that was done by the CDC found some interesting facts and estimates about teen smoking:1. About 3,900 teens under 18 start smoking each day.
2. Of the 3,900 teens that start smoking each day - 1500 will become regular smokers. ( That means that about 40% of teens who begin smoking will be smoking at age 30!!)
3. Those who smoke often have secondary behavioral issues such as violence, drug/alcohol use, and high-risk sexual behavior.
Some of the contributing factors of teenage smoking are:
1. Low socioeconomic status
2. Use or approval of smoking by siblings/peers
3. Smoking by parents
4. Availability and price of tobacco
5. Lack of parent support / involvement
6. Lower self-image or self-esteem
Consequences of teen smoking:
1. Chronic cough - if smoking is continued
2. Reduced stamina
3. Bad breath
4. Yellow teeth
5. Stinky clothes
6. Expensive habit - 1 pack/day = about $3000/year. 5 years= $15,000!
Teen smoking might begin innocently enough, but it can become a lifelong habit. In fact, most adult smokers began smoking as teenagers. Your best bet? Help your teen resist taking that first puff. These 10 tips can help.
10 ways to help teens stay smoke-free
1. Understand the attraction.
Sometimes teen smoking is a form of rebellion or a way to fit in with a particular group of friends. Some teens light up in an attempt to lose weight or to feel better about themselves. Others smoke to feel cool or independent. To know what you're dealing with, ask your teen how he or she feels about smoking. Ask which of your teen's friends smoke. Applaud your teen's good choices, and talk about the consequences of bad choices. You might also talk with your teen about how tobacco companies try to influence ideas about smoking — such as paying actors to smoke in movies to create the perception that smoking is cool.2. Say no to teen smoking.
You may feel as if your teen doesn't hear a word you say, but say it anyway. Tell your teen that smoking isn't allowed. Your disapproval may have more impact than you think. Teens whose parents set the firmest smoking restrictions tend to smoke less than do teens whose parents don't set smoking limits. The same goes for teens who feel close to their parents.3. Set a good example.
Teen smoking is more common among teens whose parents smoke. If you don't smoke, keep it up. If you do smoke, quit — now. Ask your doctor about stop-smoking products and other ways to quit smoking. In the meantime, don't smoke in the house, in the car or in front of your teen, and don't leave cigarettes where your teen might find them. Explain how unhappy you are with your smoking and how difficult it is to quit.4. Appeal to your teen's vanity.
Smoking isn't glamorous. Remind your teen that smoking is a dirty, smelly habit. Smoking gives you bad breath. Smoking makes your clothes and hair smell, and it turns your teeth yellow. Smoking can leave you with a chronic cough and less energy for sports and other activities you enjoy.5. Do the math.
Smoking is expensive. Help your teen calculate the weekly, monthly or yearly cost of a pack-a-day smoking habit. You might compare the cost of smoking with that of electronic gadgets, clothes or other teen essentials.. Expect peer pressure.
Friends who smoke can be convincing, but you can give your teen the tools he or she needs to refuse cigarettes. Rehearse how to handle tough social situations. It might be as simple as, "No thanks, I don't smoke." The more your teen practices this basic refusal, the more likely he or she will say no at the moment of truth.
7. Take addiction seriously.
Most teens believe they can quit smoking anytime they want. But teens become just as addicted to nicotine as do adults, often quickly and at relatively low doses of nicotine. And once you're hooked, it's tough to quit.8. Predict the future.
Teens tend to assume that bad things only happen to other people. But the long-term consequences of smoking — such as cancer, heart attack and stroke — may be all too real when your teen becomes an adult. Use loved ones, friends or neighbors who've been ill as real-life examples.9. Think beyond cigarettes.
Smokeless tobacco, clove cigarettes (kreteks) and candy-flavored cigarettes (bidis) are sometimes mistaken as less harmful or addictive than are traditional cigarettes. Hookah smoking — smoking tobacco through a water pipe — is another alternative sometimes touted as safe. Don't let your teen be fooled. Like traditional cigarettes, these products are addictive and can cause cancer and other health problems. Many deliver higher concentrations of nicotine, carbon monoxide and tar than do traditional cigarettes.10. Get involved.
Take an active stance against teen smoking. Participate in local and school-sponsored anti-smoking campaigns. Support bans on smoking in public places.If your teen has already started smoking, avoid threats and ultimatums. Instead, be supportive. Find out why your teen is smoking — and then discuss ways to help your teen stop smoking, such as hanging out with friends who don't smoke or getting involved in new activities. Stopping teen smoking in its tracks is the best thing your teen can do for a lifetime of good health.
Reasons not to smoke (specifically for teens)
- Expensive
- Bad breath
- Stained teeth and hands
- Cough/sore throat
- Problems breathing
- Feeling tired and out of breath
- Wrinkles (more, sooner)
- Arguments with parents, friends
- Cancer risk
- Heart disease risk
- Gum disease risk
- Bad smell in your clothes, hair, skin
- Cigarette burns in your car or on your clothes
- Risk of secondhand smoke to people around you
Things to do instead of smoking
- Chew sugarless gum.
- Call a friend.
- Chew sunflower seeds, ground mint leaves or caffeine-free herbal tea leaves.
- Go to a movie or another place where you can't smoke.
- Take a walk or work out.
- Remind yourself why you want to quit.
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