| Smoking has been a popular pastime in the United | | | | sore throat, the cost of smoking, faster heart beat, |
| States ever since the colonial period. With the | | | | raised blood pressure, and increasing the risk of |
| introduction of tobacco, smoking became firmly | | | | second hand smoke for the people around you. |
| ingrained into society. It wasn't until the nineteen fifties | | | | Long term, the consequences are much more |
| and nineteen sixties that health experts finally began to | | | | detrimental. They can even be fatal, and have been |
| assert what people had long suspected: smoking is | | | | for many people. The toxic chemicals found in |
| extremely dangerous to your health. | | | | cigarettes can lead to many types of cancer, including |
| Regardless of warnings, it has taken the past several | | | | lung cancer. Additionally, smoking cigarettes can lead to |
| decades for people to finally get the message that | | | | severe breathing problems, a risk for heart disease, |
| they need to stop smoking. Why is it necessary to quit, | | | | wrinkles, increased risk for stomach ulcers and acid |
| and why are people in denial? The answers could | | | | reflux disease, and a risk for gum disease. Many |
| save your life. | | | | people have died because they did not stop smoking, |
| A Dangerous Habit | | | | either directly or indirectly. |
| It is important that smokers stop smoking because it is | | | | Quit For Those Around You |
| extremely hazardous for health. There are so many | | | | If you won't stop smoking for yourself, then stop for |
| consequences associated with smoking, that it is a | | | | those around you. Second hand smoke is just as |
| wonder that smokers don't stop immediately! Some | | | | dangerous, if not more, than first hand smoke. |
| consequences are long term, while others are short | | | | Additionally, smokers set bad examples for their |
| term. Some consequences are vanity-related, while | | | | children. Pregnant women who smoke put their unborn |
| others are health related. Whatever the consequences | | | | child at risk. The consequences involved if you do not |
| may be, they should be enough to make people stop | | | | stop smoking do not only affect you, but the people |
| smoking. | | | | around you as well. |
| In the short term, smoking can lead to many problems. | | | | Breaking The Habit |
| Smokers tend to have bad breath, stained teeth, and | | | | People who do not stop smoking increase their |
| their clothes and hair smell like smoke. These reasons | | | | chances of an early death-and that's a fact. Whether |
| are vanity-related. However, other short term | | | | you stop for yourself, or for someone you love, the |
| consequences include: lower athletic ability, cough and | | | | important thing is that you give up the habit for life. |