Smoking Kills
...so why bother starting?
Tobacco use has harmful effects
short-term effects of tobacco
- withdrawl which can cause headaches, nervousness and trembling
- difficulty breathing
- irregular heart rate
- dulled taste buds
- bad breath
- yellowed teeth
Long-Term Effects of Tobacco
Severe damage to lungs
The lung on the right is the healthy lung and the one on the left is a lung damaged by tobacco smoke
- Smoking can also lead to lung cancer
- almost 90% of lung cancer deaths are caused by smoking
Arteriosclerosis
This is a condition in which arteries become hardened
- nicotine contributes to plaque buildup in the blood vessels which can lead to hardened arteries
Heart Attacks and Strokes
The risk of a non-fatal heart attack increases by 5.6 percent for every cigarette smoked and persists even at only 1-2 cigarettes per day.
Avoiding Tobacco
Surround yourself with positive influences
- choose friend who do not use tobacco
- be around people who have healthy-living values
Reduce peer pressure
- stay away from situations where tobacco products may be used
Be prepared with refusal skills
- practice in advance what you will say if someone offers you tobacco
- be assertive
- leave the situation if the pressure continues