Smoking is a bad habit. But does anyone really know how bad? The number of smokers is still so high that it is doubtful, especially that the amount of smokers around us makes it extremely hard to break that habit. That's why many smokers lull themselves into a false security, repeating the stories about healthy 90-year old smokers. The truth however, is quite different.
Why are people smoking? Te problem is that no one really knows, even the smokers themselves. Cigarettes devastate one's image and good look, they cause terribly bad breath and they are quite expensive. What is worse, they also affect the health of everyone around you, especially children. To make things even worse, the initial effects of nicotine intake - the feeling of relaxation - does not last long and soon disappear completely when body accommodates for the nicotine and ceases to react on this drug.
The Terrible Truth
The statistics are staggering. With over 400,000 smoking-related deaths in the US every year, smoking proves to be far more dangerous to US citizens than any war. The US Army has lost only a fraction of this number during the whole WWII! The Japanese and German armies tried for five years (and failed) to cause the damage Americans are now doing to themselves every year! With almost 9 out of 10 cases of respiratory illness caused directly by smoking cigarettes, it is hard to believe that smoking is still not banned.
Respiratory problems are only a peak of an iceberg. Smoking is also known for increasing the chance of a stroke and heart diseases even if you're only a second-hand smoker. It gets worse if one has been exposed to the cigarette smoke when one was a child. Then, there is a good chance of developing severe asthma and allergies as well as nose, throat and ear infections. While these conditions do not normally kill, they may change a happy life into a nightmare - only because parents wanted to take a puff from time to time.
Another problem is the health of children. If a woman smokes during pregnancy, or if she spends a lot of time around smokers, the child will probably develop heart problems and smaller lungs. To tell the truth, this is not even a chance, but a certainty. Those children who apparently do not suffer from such problems had a potential of being extremely healthy sportsmen. They lost that chance only because their mothers inhaled cigarette smoke.
Smokers' deaths are only the beginning...
The problem with cigarettes is not only the death - we will all eventually die. The problem is that the smoke will ruin our physical appearance long before that.
First of all, smoking affects the color of your teeth, staining them yellow or brown. This makes dental cleaning every year a must. However, the gum problems that develop soon after are not so easily disposed of. Cigarette smoke prevents gums from receiving all necessary nutrients, making them weaker and eventually resulting in inadequate periodontal support for your teeth.
The teeth problems are what should really count to smokers. The chance of cancer or respiratory diseases may not seem real enough (though it is 100% real, too). On the other hand, losing teeth due to smoking is not theoretical. It will happen to every smoker, even though they may not notice the connection. If you start smoking at the age of 19, you will probably have five teeth less by the age of 36. To make things worse, cigarettes are also responsible for most after-dental surgery complications, slowing down the healing rate and making your mouth an ideal place for infections to settle in. This may not be obvious if you are generally in a good physical condition, but when the inside of the mouth is already under great strain after, say, teeth removal, the effects may be immediate.
Compared to teeth loss and dry-socket problems other "niceties" of smoking look trivial. Nevertheless, they are also infuriating as well as 100% sure to show up. The changes include losing color by your skin, thinning of hair and its breaking off, and the terrible stink surrounding you, your clothes and your stuff. Even though you may not notice it at first - the change takes months and it's not easy to spot a difference building up during so long time - other people will see it for sure. So, if you notice that people start distance from you during parties or try not to sit next to you, it is probably either due to the odor they smell or to your weary and unattractive look. Either way, do not blame them - you have done it to yourself.
The time is running. With every cigarette you smoke, you cause irrevocably damage to your health and (reversible) negative change in your appearance. The only right thing to do is quitting smoking right her and right now. Of course, nicotine is addictive and giving up cigarettes is much more difficult than one may think. Fortunately, Cig-Arette is able to minimize the negative symptoms you may suffer during the withdrawal period. Try it and it'll help you get back in shape faster than you think!