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SUMMARY: CONSEQUENCES OF TOBACCO USE IN YOUTHS AND ADULTS
IN YOUTHS IN ADULTS
| IN YOUTHS | IN ADULTS |
| HEALTH | |
| 1. Slows the growth and development of the lung | Same plus cancer of the mouth, throat lung, esophagus, bladder, kidney, pancreas, stomach and cervix; coronary heart disease; stroke; chronic bronchitis; emphysema; osteoporosis, infertility and complications of pregnancy in females; impotence in males. |
| 2. Causes cough and phlegm production and increases the occurrence of asthma, bronchitis and respiratory infections | |
| 3. Increases carbon monoxide in the blood which robs the blood of oxygen | |
| 4. Decreases breathing capacity and athletic ability | |
| 5. Changes fat content in blood to favor early coronary heart disease | |
| 6. Stains the lungs black | |
| 7. Mutates lung cells and permanently increases the
risk of lung cancer, even if you quit smoking later on (and the younger you start smoking the greater the risk) |
|
| COSMETIC | |
| 1. Causes bad smelling breath, hair, hands and clothes | Same plus, face wrinkles, yellow stained teeth and nails; in females higher waist to hip fat ratio. |
| 2. Causes gum disease and stains teeth and nails yellow (especially chewing tobacco) | |
| SOCIAL | |
| 1. Most kids don't smoke and don't want to be near or date kids who do. | Same |
| 2. Second-hand smoke offends many people because it causes disease and it stinks. |
|
| 3. Addiction to nicotine can occur within a few months
of use. Most kids who smoke regularly are already addicted, want to stop and can't. Addiction is even stronger when smoking begins at an early age. |
|
| FINANCIAL | |
| 1. At $4/pack at 1 pack/day, it costs $28/week, $120/month and $1440/year | Same |
The left column represents consequences of smoking that occur while you are still a teenager.
Pass this message on and save a life!
Reference: US Department of Health and Human Services. Preventing Tobacco Use Among Young People: A Report of the Surgeon General (1994) and Women and Smoking: A report of the Surgeon General (2001).
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