Understanding the Health Risks of Smoking for Young People

Cigarette smoking can cause many health problems, such as decreased lung capacity and cardiovascular problems in both children and adults. In addition to long-term health problems, smoking can adversely affect a person's life in the present. According to KidsHealth.org, children are often unable to appreciate how current behaviors can affect future health. Because of this, sharing facts about how smoking can negatively affect children's lives may help discourage them from starting.

Cigarettes Are Expensive

• Children in most countries cannot purchase cigarettes; however, parents can still stress that smoking costs money that could be used for other fun activities. According to CostofSmoking.com, a smoker can spend upwards of $1,500 a year to purchase cigarettes. That money could be used for activities your child enjoys, e.g., snowboarding, video games or other fun and safe activities.

Smoking Makes You Smell Bad

• Smoking cigarettes can cause halitosis -- a condition characterized by consistently odorous breath. Many people are repelled by bad breath, which can affect a child's social relationships. In addition to bad breath, smoking causes your hair and clothes to smell like stale smoke, which is also unpleasant. It is often hard to get the smell of stale smoke out of clothing.

Smoking Affects Athletic Performance

• Many children are involved in some type of sport or physical hobby and feel gratified by performing well. They should know that non-smoking athletes tend to perform better than athletes who smoke. This is because cigarette smoking causes adverse physical effects, including a rapid heartbeat, decreased circulation and shortness of breath, according to KidsHealth.org. Additionally, athletes who smoke tend to recover from injuries, such as strained ligaments, more slowly than non-smoking athletes.

Unsafe Alternatives

• A child may be tempted to try other drugs, such as hookahs or e-cigarettes, as a "safe" alternative to cigarettes. However, experts say hookahs and e-cigarettes are no safer than cigarettes. Hookahs are unfiltered and often have resinous gunk that is transfered from the hose into a users mouth and lungs. E-cigarettes contain cancer-causing chemicals, including a compound found in antifreeze.