The Harmful Effects of Smoking

   Most teenagers start smoking without having the intention of becoming addicted.  However, by the time they reach adulthood, they are addicted to smoke.  It is suprising how addictive smoking can be.
  Young people want to smoke because they think that smoking makes them look more mature.  Moreover,teenagers who grow up in an environment where their parents, siblings and relatives smoke will also take up the habit.  Additionally,peer preasure plays an important part.  When their peers smoke,teenagers may feel pressured into doing the same thing.The excitement of trying something new, especially if it is forbidden, may cause them to take up smoking.
  The effects of smoking on health are devastating. Every year hundreds of thousands of people around the world die from tobacco-related diseases.Cigarettes smoke can trigger various types of cancers including cancer of the throat,mouth,lungs,stomach,cervix and pancreas.Nicotine and carbon monoxide in cigarettes raise both the heart rate and blood pressure.This can cause heart attacks and strokes.Tobacco smoke can also cause gum disease,tooth decay and bad breath.In addiction,smoking can cause teeth to become yellow and unsightly.Small wonder,as cigarette smoke contains over 4000 chemical compounds and toxins all of which are very harmful to human death.
   There is good news for those who want to quit smoking.The good news is that when you quit smoking,your body begins to repair itself.A few years after you quit,your body would have repaired most of the damage caused by smoking.However,those who wait until cancer sets in are not as fortunate, as cancer is usually fatal.That is another reason to take the big step and quit now before it is too late.A person who wishes to quit smoking will need strong willpower.Once you are firm in your determination to quit smoking,you should decide on a specific date to quit.As the date draws near,reduce the number of cigarettes you smoke.Once you have decided to quit,concentrate on you aim and on the benefits of quitting smoking