Being a teenager is a time where young adults attempt to learn and discover who they are. This is quite a stressful stage because one is still trying to establish his or her identity, find a crowd or group to belong, and practice some independence. And along the way, teenagers make good and bad decisions that contribute to what they become. Some of these decisions, little they know, are making a huge impact on their health and future. One big example is teen smoking.
The problem with teen smoking is that the younger you start, the more damage your body will suffer when you get older. And by the time you start experiencing the downsides of smoking, you might just regret.
Not motivated enough to quit? Maybe the following reasons can help:
- You will look better. Buying expensive creams and lotions is useless if you smoke. That’s because the chemicals in cigarettes restrict blood flow to your skin, which means fewer nutrients can reach it. As a result, you’ll have a dull-looking, unhealthy skin. Studies suggest that teen smokers are more likely to have wrinkled, saggy skin by their mid-20s if they don’t stop smoking.
- You will live longer. The younger you start smoking, the more damage there will be to your body as an adult. This ups your mortality risk due to the wide range of health problems associated with smoking.
- You’ll save some cash. Do you want to buy those pair of Nike shoes, a complete set of MAC makeup, or that Gucci bag? It’s time that you quit smoking. The average smoker spends £27.54 a week and £90,000 over their lifetime on cigarettes. If you will drop such deadly habit, you can have enough money to buy cool stuff.
- You will be healthier. This is perhaps the biggest reward you can get if you quit smoking now. You must realize that your health is your wealth. When you have poor health, you are less likely to reach your goals in life. By making positive lifestyle changes and ditching unhealthy habits, you are helping yourself become the person you want to be.
- You can help save our planet. As a teen, you also have a responsibility to the community. According to a study published in the British Medical Journal, deforestation due to tobacco production accounts for nearly 5% of overall deforestation in the developing world. Cigarette butts are pieces of trash that don’t decompose until after 20-30 years! Worse, they still release toxic compounds that harm people, animals, and the environment.
Hope these facts have increased your motivation to quit. If you are having a hard time quitting, consider seeking professional help from your doctor or a smoking cessation specialist. Support from your family and friends are also important so you may want to tell them about your intention to quit.
