Smoking cigarettes has become one of today’s most popular bad habit. It has become a socially acceptable ideal that proves that many still don’t say the effects of the longevity of its inhalation, whether it be a smoker or non-smoker. College students have been uprising to be a popular group for smoking, which would then explain why some continue into adulthood with this habit. Although not everyone began smoking for the same reason, there are common causes that led them up to it.
Peer pressure by peers is known as a gateway to smoking for teens. In a dorm surrou
...nded by friends around the same age, it builds a lot on one’s character. Being in a circle of friends that smoke without having the will power to say no, would be the beginning of it all. Without hearing the direct pressure of it, one would start to think about it and conclude, “If they can do it so can I.” This is not to say that everyone is the same because there are those who have enough strength to say no.
There was a research done by CBC News in the United States that did a survey of 20,000 teenagers. From this research they determined that teens that had at least two friends that smoke were at higher risk to begin smoking. This is not to say that they would only try it around peers,
but on their own time, being idle probably watching TV, could bring back they thought of it. This then brings about a second cause, what they see on TV that gives motive to smoking.
People begin smoking because it’s been portrayed as fashionable. On TV the actors are smoking and in magazines models are doing the same. It comes off as something that is cool and common to do and admits no harm. With that continually being built into ones’ brain, they would eventually lapse into the medias portrayal.
Seeing someone you idolize or just admire gives one the feeling that they are one step closer to being like them. In same way advertisers persuade people to smoke they also give them reason why not to. Take for instance the commercials that show people the devastating state of what can happen after smoking over a long period of time. Although these commercials are proven to be effective, there are people that would always have the mindset that it would never happen to them.
To some smoking just helps define their maturity. Growing up around certain things, a child might be told, “that’s grown up stuff”. Having that phrase continually repeated to them it sparks a sense of adrenaline inside for when they do hit adulthood. So, at the peak of their freedom they try it. At first, for a split second, some may not enjoy but in the end continue to do
it because they just think it something people, well adults do.
With each smoking journey, a big surprise about 5-10 years down the road because of prolonged tobacco inhalation, it would then start to take a toll on their body. For those who publicly smoke, they need to realize that although they might not have shared out a cigarette or directly blown the smoke into someone else’s face, the non-smoker is also being affected.
Non-smokers can be anyone that is in an enclosed or open area near someone who is smoking giving off second hand smoke. For an adult inhaling the fumes on a daily/weekly basis, for example by their spouse who does smoke, eventually could develop cardiovascular and/or a respiratory disease. Children living in a home with one or both parents who smoke can develop breathing problems, extra phlegm and shortness of breath.
Second, there is the effect of smoking on infants/unborn babies from the womb and after. Believe it or not, some women do smoke while they are pregnant. While doing so, they may be aware of the danger of smoking towards themselves, but probably not fully educated on the harm it may cause to the unborn child.
A woman who smokes while pregnant puts a child at risk for either
being prematurely born, born with defects or even die. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) has been known to be tied to the effect of having ones’ mother smoke while pregnant. If a mother decides to get pregnant again after smoking with previous child, that chances of her getting pregnant would be low.
Lastly, there is the effect on those who have been smoking for a prolonged period. Over time, the nicotine inside of the cigarette would start to create a tar that would then build into a tar substance. Heavy buildup of this tar would then start to coat around the lungs which would then lead to cancer for that smoker. The constant pull of the smoke would make one lose smell and taste because of a decrease in sensitivity. This can then be followed by yellowing of teeth, decay and bad breath.
Even though people are aware of these effects, some may wonder why they continue to smoke. Well for starters, they have probably already become addicted. The nicotine inside the cigarette has this substance inside that makes a smoker feel-good and more alert. This is why you would find some who work long office hours smoke regularly because to them it helps relieve some stress while also getting them to concentrate again.
Some people continue to smoke just because it was something they’ve been doing for years and it has become a habit they
just can’t bring themselves to break. There are others that continue to smoke because they’ve rationalized the situation. If they know of someone whose lived a long life with no complications while smoking, they would think the same can happen for them. There is the group that says. “I don’t smoke often.” Then lastly the ones who just don’t care about the effects. They Think you can just a likely die and get cancer from many other things so why stop now.
This topic on smoking, even though it can be a common sense one, between the causes and effects and those rationalizing the situation, can also become a very informative topic. There are many people whose bodies are slowly deteriorating because of it, but yet the companies still make them, advertise and put them up for sale. The effects on smoking may not be stressed on as much as alcohol abuse, but it is still a big issue.
