Smoking
Smoking and Health
Young people who smoke are two to six times more susceptible to coughs and increased phlegm, wheeziness and shortness of breath than those who do not smoke. One study revealed that children who smoke are 3 times more likely to have time off school. The earlier children become regular smokers and persist in the habit as adults, the greater the risk of dying prematurely. A recent US study found that smoking during the teenage years causes permanent genetic changes in the lungs and forever increases the risk of lung cancer, even if the smoker subsequently stops.
Addiction
Young people who experiment with cigarettes quickly become addicted to the nicotine in tobacco. A MORI survey of poeple aged 11 to 16 years found that teenagers have similar levels of nicotine dependence as adults, with one third of those who smoke one or more cigarettes a week lighting up their first cigarette within 30 minutes of waking up and one in twelve lighting up within the first 5 minutes. Over half (58%) of regular smokers aged between 11 and 15 years say that they would find it difficult to go without smoking for a week while 72% thought they would find it difficult to give up altogether. During periods of abstinence, young people experience withdrawal symptoms similar to the kind experienced by adult smokers.
Some facts:
• More than 80% of smokers take up the habit as teenagers.
• In the United Kingdom about 450 children start smoking every day.
• About one fifth of Britain's 15 year-olds – 18% of boys and 26% of girls - are regular smokers - despite the fact that it is illegal to sell cigarettes to children aged under16.
• People do give up - 21% of women and 27% of men are ex-smokers. Surveys show that about 70% of current smokers would like to give up altogether.
• Tobacco is the only legally available consumer product which kills people when it is used entirely as intended.
• Every year, around 114,000 smokers in the UK die as a result of their habit.
Most local Primary Care Trusts across the country run regular stop smoking courses which are free
Thank you to "ASH- Action on Smoking & Health"
Smoking and Health
Young people who smoke are two to six times more susceptible to coughs and increased phlegm, wheeziness and shortness of breath than those who do not smoke. One study revealed that children who smoke are 3 times more likely to have time off school. The earlier children become regular smokers and persist in the habit as adults, the greater the risk of dying prematurely. A recent US study found that smoking during the teenage years causes permanent genetic changes in the lungs and forever increases the risk of lung cancer, even if the smoker subsequently stops.
Addiction
Young people who experiment with cigarettes quickly become addicted to the nicotine in tobacco. A MORI survey of poeple aged 11 to 16 years found that teenagers have similar levels of nicotine dependence as adults, with one third of those who smoke one or more cigarettes a week lighting up their first cigarette within 30 minutes of waking up and one in twelve lighting up within the first 5 minutes. Over half (58%) of regular smokers aged between 11 and 15 years say that they would find it difficult to go without smoking for a week while 72% thought they would find it difficult to give up altogether. During periods of abstinence, young people experience withdrawal symptoms similar to the kind experienced by adult smokers.
Some facts:
• More than 80% of smokers take up the habit as teenagers.
• In the United Kingdom about 450 children start smoking every day.
• About one fifth of Britain's 15 year-olds – 18% of boys and 26% of girls - are regular smokers - despite the fact that it is illegal to sell cigarettes to children aged under16.
• People do give up - 21% of women and 27% of men are ex-smokers. Surveys show that about 70% of current smokers would like to give up altogether.
• Tobacco is the only legally available consumer product which kills people when it is used entirely as intended.
• Every year, around 114,000 smokers in the UK die as a result of their habit.
Most local Primary Care Trusts across the country run regular stop smoking courses which are free
Thank you to "ASH- Action on Smoking & Health"