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