Updated on October 2, 2020
It’s no secret that smoking is the leading preventable cause of death in the United States. This highly addictive habit can lead to life-long consequences and accounts for one-third of cancer deaths. Nicotine, the main ingredient in cigarettes, is as addictive as heroin and cocaine and acts as both a stimulant and sedative.
Aside from the fatal consequences of smoking such as cancer and lung disease, users will also experience changes in their appearance, energy levels, taste, and smell. Teenage smokers also cough and wheeze three times more than non-smoking teens. Smoking prevents oxygen from reaching the heart and can affect every organ in the body.
On a daily basis, 3,900 teenagers will try cigarettes for the first time, 950 of those teens will become regular smokers, and half of that number will die from the consequences. Alarmingly, 80% of adult smokers became addicted before the age of 18.
Life-long consequences of cigarette smoking include but are not limited to:
- Lung Cancer
- Bladder Cancer
- Pancreatic Cancer
- Kidney Cancer
- Colon Cancer
- Esophageal Cancer
- Head and Neck Cancers
- Stomach Cancer
- Cardiovascular Disease
- Lung Disease
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
- High Blood Pressure
- Fertility Issues
- Respiratory Problems
This is why it has become crucial for parents to educate their teenagers on the serious side-effects and highly addictive nature of nicotine. By doing so parents are potentially saving their teenagers from experiencing the various cancers and diseases caused by cigarette smoking.
