pros and cons
Teens often hear of the life-threatening consequences that come along with smoking such as lung cancer, emphysema, and heart disease, and they still ignore them. Although, research from the National Cancer Institute indicates, "Tobacco smoke contains thousands of chemical agents, including over 60 substances that are known to cause cancer"(Cigarette). That is, because when you're young it's hard to think that in the far future, maybe even thirty years, that you might be struck with a terminal illness. In that case, let's take a look at some early effects of smoking/cons:
The smoke from the cigarette after it has been smoked leaves a musty smell on everything from car upholstery to couches and clothes. Also, young smokers especially experience feeling tired and out of breath after extremely minimal activity. Smokers also find it hard to cover up the yellow teeth and skin, bad breath, and wrinkled body due to smoking. A dermatologist from Mayo Clinic states, "Smoking causes narrowing of the blood vessels in the outermost layers of your skin" (Gibson). Another important effect of smoking is the cost. Although it does depend on what type of smoker you are, such as the brand you smoke and how often you smoke, but the cost smokers spend each year on cigarettes is roughly $1,600.00.
Now, more cons that may develop later in life:
Most smokers eventually develop a constant nagging cough that they experience everyday. Secondly, many smokers will begin to experience mini cigarette withdrawals throughout the day. Eventually, smoking will cause asthma. The Cleveland Clinic states, "Smoke from cigars, cigarettes and pipes harms your body in many ways, but it is especially harmful to the respiratory system" (Cleveland). Many smokers begin to feel a stinging feeling in lungs when they try and take a deeper and slower breath, which is a sign of an early stage of lung cancer. According to an anti-smoking website directed at women, it states that, "Since 1987, lung cancer hs been the leading cancer killer among women ("Chapter"). Smokers may also suffer from numerous lingering colds and bronchitis. Lastly, the more terminal effects of smoking include diseases such as cancer of the throat and mouth, emphysema, and eventually death.
Now, let's compare that to the pros that come along with smoking:
Smokers may feel a bonding experience when they are smoking with another smoker. Also, some smokers believe as if they are creating a ritual by smoking. Some smokers feel that smoking a cigarette is a sort of momentary gratification and that it is relaxing. And lastly, a reason why many young girls smoke, is that it replaces eating. This is one of the main reason why young girls are pressured to smoke, because it is supposedly a substitute for eating and it will make you skinny.
It's clear that there are plenty more significant and harmful effects of smoking as opposed to the momentary gratification of lighting that single cigarette.