The latest survey shows that 20% of kids between the ages of 13 and 17 light up, a figure that has generally held steady since 2003. And 20% of adult in this country still smoke. It is mind boggling to me with all of the information that is out there about the health risks associated with smoking that people are still doing it.
If you need a list of reasons to quit here is a short one:
- Smoking makes your skin look bad -Because smoking restricts blood vessels, it can prevent oxygen and nutrients from getting to the skin - which is why smokers often appear pale and unhealthy. Studies have also linked smoking to an increased risk of getting a type of skin rash called psoriasis.
- Smokers have bad breath - Cigarettes leave smokers with a condition called halitosis, or persistent bad breath.
- Smokers' clothes and hair smell bad - Bad-smelling clothes and hair. The smell of stale smoke tends to linger - not just on people's clothing, but on their hair, furniture, and cars. And it's often hard to get the smell of smoke out.
- Smoking reduces athletic performance - People who smoke usually can't compete with nonsmoking peers because the physical effects of smoking (like rapid heartbeat, decreased circulation, and shortness of breath) impair sports performance
- Smokers have greater risk of injury and slower healing time -Smoking affects the body's ability to produce collagen, so common sports injuries, such as damage to tendons and ligaments, will heal more slowly in smokers than nonsmokers.
- Smoking increases risk of illness - Studies show that smokers get more colds, flu, bronchitis, and pneumonia than nonsmokers. And people with certain health conditions, like asthma, become more sick if they smoke (and often if they're just around people who smoke). Because teens who smoke as a way to manage weight often light up instead of eating, their bodies also lack the nutrients they need to grow, develop, and fight off illness properly.
So make today the day you decide to quit!!
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