Smoking Glamor – What Makes it Glamorous?
Article by Cecilia Rodriguez
Did you know that people who smoke started the habit during adolescence or early adulthood? A study showed that in 2002, 20% of young teens (13 to 15 years old) are smoking. Around 80,000 to 100, 000 children begin smoking each day. And half of these will continue smoking for 15 to 20 years!
What makes smoking popular? Among teens, smoking is a form of risk-taking and rebellion. With their age, these words are very appealing. Some smoke because of peer pressure. Another factor that made smoking popular is how it was shown in films, television, and books. For women, smoking is a symbol of glamor, sensuality, and sophistication. And with men, smoking manifests mystery and distinction.
By the time that smoking hazards were discovered, more and more people have already become addicted to smoking. This is because nicotine only takes 10 seconds to travel to the brain.
Smoking will never equate to glamor because of the diseases that it can cause. What are these smoking-related diseases?
Emphysema and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are caused by long term exposure to cigarette smoke. These are results of the substances commonly found in smoke like carbon monoxide and cyanide. Smoking at least 10 cigarettes a day is equal to an increased risk of acquiring tuberculosis by 2 to 4 times.
Many lung cancer cases are attributed to smoking. For example, in the United States, 87% of lung cancer cases are smoking-related. And studies have established that people who smoked at some point in their lives have a 1 in 10 chance of developing lung cancer. This risk increases to 1 in 6 if they continue smoking. Secondhand smoke increases the risk of developing lung cancer by 20 to 30%. Other smoking-related cancers are pancreatic cancer, laryngeal cancer, and esophageal cancer, and cancers of the gums, cheeks, mouth, and tongue.
Nicotine causes constriction of blood vessels. This results to blockage and diseases like stroke, peripheral vascular disease, and heart attack. Smokers are 5 times more likely to suffer a heart attack. Secondhand smoke increases the risk of developing heart disease by 25 to 30%.
These are just a few of the smoking-related diseases. And what’s worse is that smoking reduces a person’s life expectancy by 2.5 to 10 years. And every cigarette consumed means trading 11 minutes of the smoker’s life! This has made smoking the second major cause of disease worldwide! Is being sick or dead what glamor means? How about mystery? I don’t think so. Smoking equates to diseases and death – not just to smokers but to secondhand smokers as well. And that will never be glamorous or mysterious. Quit smoking now!
Don’t let the fear of smoking and disease take over your life. Get the facts about how to stop smoking. To learn more about smoking glamor visit us at http://stopsmokingbasics.com now
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