One of the major problems with smoking and chewing tobacco has to do with the chemical nicotine. Someone can get addicted to nicotine within days of first using it. In fact, the nicotine in tobacco can be as addictive as cocaine or heroine. Nicotine affects mood as well as the heart, lungs, stomach, and nervous system.

Other health risks include short-term effects of smoking such as coughing and throat irritation. Over time, more serious conditions may develop, including increases in heart rate and blood pressure, bronchitis, and emphysema.

Finally, numerous studies indicate that young smokers are more likely to experiment with marijuana, cocaine, heroin, or other illicit drugs.
Kids might be drawn to smoking and chewing tobacco for any number of reasons — to look cool, act older, lose weight, win cool merchandise, seem tough, or feel independent. But parents can combat those draws and keep kids from trying — and getting addicted to — tobacco.

Establish a good foundation of communication with your kids early on to make it easier to work through tricky issues like tobacco use. Some guidelines to keep in mind:

Discuss sensitive topics in a way that doesn't make kids fear punishment or judgment.
Emphasize what kids do right rather than wrong. Self-confidence is a child's best protection against peer pressure.
Encourage kids to get involved in activities that prohibit smoking, such as sports.
Show that you value your kids' opinions and ideas.
It's important to keep talking to kids about the dangers of tobacco use over the years. Even the youngest child can understand that smoking is bad for the body.
Ask what kids find appealing — or unappealing — about smoking. Be a patient listener.
Read, watch TV, and go to the movies with your kids. Compare media images with what happens in reality.
Discuss ways to respond to peer pressure to smoke. Your child may feel confident simply saying "no." But also offer alternative responses such as "It will make my clothes and breath smell bad" or "I hate the way it makes me look."
Encourage kids to walk away from friends who don't respect their reasons for not smoking.
Explain how much smoking governs the daily life of kids who start doing it. How do they afford the cigarettes? How do they have money to pay for other things they want? How does it affect their friendships?
Establish firm rules that exclude smoking and chewing tobacco from your house and explain why: Smokers smell bad, look bad, and feel bad, and it's bad for everyone's health.

Smoking remains the top cause of preventable death in the U.S., followed closely by high blood pressure, according to a new study that shows each accounted for about one in five adult deaths in 2005.

The report also shows being physically inactive, overweight, or obese accounted for nearly one in 10 preventable deaths; high salt intake was responsible for one in 25 deaths.

Researchers say the results show that targeting a handful of risk factors has the potential to substantially reduce preventable deaths.

Smoking also contributes to tooth decay and gum disease. According to researchers, gum disease is one of the reasons why people die with heart disease. So, smoking is really bad for our health.



Dental Camarillo | Dentist Santa Clara

thanks for sharing

Drug rehab

This is why we should try to avoid smoking because not only is it bad for our overall health, it also affects our dental health.
Dentists Costa Mesa Dental Newport Beach