According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC), tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death in the United States. As a result of aggressive tobacco prevention efforts over the past few decades, the number of children and teens who smoke has been dropping since the late 1990’s. However, there is still more work to be done. Rates of cigarette smoking among high school-age teens are still higher than the rates of adult smokers and a constantly stream of advertising, television and movies that glorify smoking make kids vulnerable to trying tobacco products.
According the American Cancer Society, almost all smokers start when they are young. Each day more than 4,000 youth under the age of 18 try their first cigarette and another 1,100 become regular, daily smokers, putting them at risk for a host of smoking-related problems, including:
CoughingShortness of breathMore frequent headachesIncreased phlegm (mucus)Respiratory illnessesWorse cold and flu symptomsReduced physical fitnessPoor lung growth and functionWorse overall healthAddiction to nicotineIn fact, the younger one is when they begin to smoke, the more likely they are to smoke as an adult. This is because most young smokers are already addicted to nicotine and thus find it hard to quit. Over time, smoking can lead to more serious problems such as early heart disease and stroke; gum disease and tooth loss; chronic lung diseases like emphysema and bronchitis; hearing loss; and, vision problems.
