Women's and Children's Health Network

Smoking and its effects Kids' Health Topic

Why people start to smoke

Most smokers start smoking when they are teenagers.

In the 'olden days' when your parents and grandparents were teenagers, people started

smoking because:

their friends smoked.

they thought smoking was the 'grown up' thing to do.

their heroes smoked, including many sports stars.

tobacco advertising in films, magazines, TV, sports and posters showed smoking as being cool, sexy, smart, tough and the adult thing to do.

smoking was allowed in public places everywhere.

people could buy cigarettes in smaller packets of 5 or 10 .

most people didn't know that smoking was bad for their health and for the health of people

who were around smokers.

Why people continue smoking

People who continue smoking give different reasons for smoking.

"It keeps me alert when I have a lot of work to do."

"It helps me to concentrate."

"It keeps me calm when I am under pressure."

"It makes me feel relaxed."

As soon as people become regular smokers they become addicted to the nicotine in the cigarettes which makes them want to continue smoking.

There are many different chemicals in cigarette smoke some of which are poisonous and some can cause cancer.

Some of these chemicals affect the brain making the person feel alert or calm - in other words

changing the person's mood.

The more people smoke, the more they feel the need to smoke.

The bad news for smokers

People who smoke have to put up with a lot of bad things to continue their smoking.

Their hair, clothes and breath smell of stale smoke.

Teeth and fingers go yellow.

Skin looks unhealthy and grey.

Their sense of smell and taste are affected.

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http://www.kids.cyh.com Last updated: January 2011

They are ten times more likely to get heart disease, lung disease, and have a major heart

attack or stroke.

In many countries laws have been made so that there are few places left where they can smoke in public. It is now illegal in South Australia for people to smoke in cars if there are

children in the car too.

People have been educated to know the dangers of smoking and passive smoking (when

you don't smoke but you are breathing someone else's smoke).

Cigarettes cost a lot of money which could be used for other healthier things.

The good news for smokers who quit!

In only a short time after quitting smoking:

taste and smell improves

skin improves

fitness improves

lungs begin to repair themselves and start getting rid of all the gunk

that has been clogging them up

they have lots more money

they can stay inside with their friends and family instead of being outside, alone, smoking

Drs Kim and Kate say:

"Giving up smoking is not easy for the smoker or their family and friends. Nowadays everyone knows that smoking is bad for health so look after your body and if you never start smoking you will never have to know how hard it is to stop."