Posts Tagged teen cigarette abuse

It is common for teenagers to explore many things and be eternally curious.  While this type of behavior is perfectly normal, smoking is one of the most dangerous paths they can take.  The social effects alone can be damaging, but the more serious risks a teenage smoker faces are those related to health.

Many studies have been conducted on teenage smoking and results have been the least promising.  Heart disease is one of the more serious risks due to teenage body’s continued exposure to nicotine.  This is because the gases produced tend to weaken the heart muscle and cause plaque buildups in the arteries.  Respiratory disease is another, asthma and pneumonia being the most commonly reported.   Smoking in teens also increases the risk of stunted bone growth which means teen smokers might grow up to be shorter adults than their nonsmoking friends.

Other common effects of teenage smoking include infertility both for girls and boys, dry skin and a weakening of the immune system. Because of their young age, kids’ antibodies are fairly underdeveloped and are, thus, very sensitive to hazardous elements such as nicotine.  This becomes a problem when these antibodies remain immature even as the person ages, causing reduced capability to ward off infections. The individual then ends up falling ill more frequently and sometimes more seriously than others.

Halitosis or bad breath might be one of the more taken for granted risks but experts regard it with importance as it may escalate into an oral cancer symptom. While there are no conclusive studies proving this link, it is not necessary to wait.

When it comes to their health, some teenagers can be quite reckless.  Parents can explore devoting a few minutes of their time educating their children about the health hazards of smoking from an early age.  When reinforced by schools, there is a better chance of channeling these kids’ attention away from this habit that has claimed one too many lives.