Thanks to scientific advances over the last several decades, we human beings are able to lead healthier lives than ever before. We know how important it is to exercise regularly. We know which foods are the best for our bodies. And we certainly know one habit that we shouldn’t pick up, because it’s unhealthy and can even be deadly.
Smoking can kill you. We've known that for at least 50 years -- and yet
millions still smoke, and thousands more pick up the habit every year.
Most people start smoking when they are in their teens and are addicted
by the time they reach adulthood. Some have tried to quit but have
returned to cigarettes because smoking is such a strong addiction. It
is a habit that is very difficult to break. Since teens see older people all around them smoking, especially their
parents and relatives, they smoke to act older. If their friends or
peers smoke, they may feel pressured into doing the same to be accepted.
There are many different
reasons why young people smoke. Three of the main reasons are :
- to look mature,
- to be like their friends,
- to get the excitement of experimenting with something that is forbidden
Usually parents do not allow their under age teens to smoke. Therefore,
smoking becomes very attractive. It is exciting to get cigarettes and
sneak away to smoke without being caught. Smokers typically start smoking as adolescents or young adults, with initial smoking occurring in social situations.
Smoking is still the No. 1 cause of preventable death around the world, and has been for decades. It kills
more people than obesity, substance abuse, infectious disease,
firearms, and traffic accidents in the United States, according to the CDC. Some 443,000
Americans die from smoking-related illnesses every year, according to
the U.S. Department of Health.
Adults smoke for other reasons. They may have a lot of stress and
pressures because of economic and personal problems. They may be
unemployed or working but not making enough money to take care of
themselves and their families.
Even President Barack Obama, who has pushed some of the toughest anti-tobacco laws in history, admitted in 2009 that he stopped smoking but still "falls off the wagon" sometimes. The urge to smoke is that strong.
While smoking harms your health, you don't notice it at first. That's why the World Health Organization calls tobacco a "gradual killer." By the time smokers may feel the effects, they're addicted.
There are people who say they love to smoke. Smoking gives them pleasure. It just makes them feel good. All these people may smoke to feel relaxed or to give them energy while going through a hard time.
<To be continued>
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