The dangers of cigarette smoking used to be unknown to the public. Back in the 1920′s, smoking became a new fad for the younger generations to dive into. Women gained rights, and used their bodies to their advantage at times. One such right was the need to be sexy. Smoking seemed to personify that need (as seen by all of the smoking ads of flapper girl’s back then) That decade was called the Roaring 20′s because the changes that the US went through were so quick, and so phenomenal, it was as if the US industries roared to life. Life was changing; from the abolition of alcohol to its reinstatement, and the addition of gangs and major mobs — to the beginnings of large-scale wars, and technological industry.
It was many decades before the dangers of cigarette smoking became more apparent. Nowadays, the lists of dangers from smoking can be found on television, on the radio, in books and magazines, and on the Internet. Nicotine, the addictive drug within tobacco, is as addictive as the larger drugs, such as heroin and cocaine. That is a danger in and of itself Nicotine gives the smoker a feeling of pleasure that makes the smoker want more and more. It is a depressant (not a stimulant as people have thought), that builds a necessity to smoke. Soon, the smoker reaches a specific tolerance to the nicotine, and therefore, needs to smoke more to get the same effect.
Health concerns usually are the main reasons that people choose to quit. everyone is aware that cigarette smoking (and the general use of tobacco) can cause lung cancer. But, it can also include other cancers like throat, voice box, mouth, esophagus, kidney, stomach, pancreas, bladder, and cervical cancers. COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) is a progressive lung disease that many who began to smoke in the 1960′s, are now facing. in addition, the blood vessels in a person’s arms and legs can narrow due to cigarette use, and cause a blood clot to form – leading to strokes. Smokers are also twice as likely to die from a heart attack.
If that is not reason enough to quit, did you know that quitting smoking could improve your appearance? Smoking causes a yellowing of fingernails, skin, and teeth. It also prematurely wrinkles the facial skin. You have terrible breath, terrible smelling clothes and hair, and your children REEK of cigarette smoke Secondhand smoke that a child is subject to can lead that child to asthma, more ear infections than normal, bronchitis on a more regular basis, and more colds and illness than a child in a non-smoking environment.
Women have several extra dangers when smoking and taking birth control. This may lead to stroke, heart attack, and blood clots in the leg. in addition, smoking while pregnant could cause miscarriage, low-birth weight, and is associated with SIDS. Obviously, there are more dangers to just you and your health. If you are not important enough to get yourself to quit, then perhaps your children are.