Cigarette smoking can have negative health effects on pretty much every part of your body. Cigarette smoke has 4,000 different toxic substances, so there’s no question that it can be very dangerous. Smoking causes hair to smell, it increases the risk of having a stroke, it can cause cataracts, loss of smell, thyroid disease, wrinkles, teeth discoloration, gum disease, cancers of the lips, mouth, throat, larynx, and esophagus, and a reduced sense of taste. That’s just the dangers smoking can cause to the head! On top of this, smoking can cause poor circulation, cancers of the lung, stomach, liver, pancreas, kidney, bladder, and colon, bronchitis, emphysema, shortness of breath, asthma, heart attack, osteoporosis, infertility, and weakened immune system. Does this sound bad? This long list doesn’t even cover many of the other health related effects of smoking, so why pick up this habit?
If smoking didn’t have some positive aspects to it, why would so many people do it? Many smokers feel that smoking actually does have its benefits. One of the benefits to smoking is that it helps a person deal with stress. Going out for a cigarette can put someone in a new setting that’s away from the stressful environment, and allows the person to clear their head. Taking deep puffs and holding them for a few moments is very similar to relaxation breathing, so smoking is able to relax a person. Another benefit is that it can help lessen a person’s feelings of anxiety and depression. This occurs when the nicotine in the cigarette travels to the brain and creates a chemical reaction that lifts a person’s mood or makes them less anxious. Yet another benefit to smoking is that it helps keep weight down. Cigarettes suppress appetite, keep food in your stomach for a longer period of time, and artificially speed up metabolism. Smoking can actually burn up to 300 calories a day.
Conclusion
Smokers have made it clear that smoking does have its benefits, but all of the dangerous effects clearly outweigh any positive elements smoking may have. Sure you can lessen your stress and keep your weight down, but increasing your risk for such a high number of health risks just isn’t worth it. Knowing this, if you don’t currently smoke don’t pick up the habit. If you do currently smoke, pinpointing what you think are the benefits of smoking can be a very good way to help you quit. Doing this will allow you to replace cigarettes with a healthier alternative. If you smoke to help fight stress, try going for a walk, playing with an animal, or taking time to do something you love instead of smoking a cigarette. Are you a smoker with depression? Taking a medication like Zyban will help you quit smoking by lessening withdrawal symptoms while also fighting depression. Are you afraid that when you quit smoking you’ll gain weight? Chew a piece of gum or have a piece of fruit or other healthy snack when your appetite kicks in.
If you’re a smoker and want more information on effective ways to quit, please visit the following link that has many useful tips: http://www.smokefree.gov/quit-smoking/index.html
-Message #3 (Complex, 2-Sided)
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Author: Stephanie
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