Even chewing tobacco is a health risk. With the increase of tobacco chewing, studies have noted an increase in gum disease, tooth decay, and cancer of the lip, tongue and throat. These cancers usually don't show up until the later years, but they can be debilitating and disfiguring. WHY TEENS SMOKE
In spite of all the proof and all the warnings that smoking causes disease and death, over four million teens still smoke. Why? Experts agree that teens start smoking for many reasons. To those who lack self-confidence, smoking makes them feel grown-up and important. Teens can also be influenced by the pressures of peers, and some smoke to feel part of the group. Also, most teens who smoke have parents who smoke; that means that they've grown up around cigarettes and smoking is part of their daily lives. And then there are the ads! The tobacco industry spends $1.5 billion dollars every year to persuade people that smoking is okay--even chic.
But what about the health risks of smoking? "What 14-year-old thinks about getting cancer? They think that's just for old people," says Mike Bruno, a coach at Collingswood High School (New Jersey). "By the time teens learn the effects of smoking on the body, they're already hooked. They don't get the message until they see someone who's dying from cancer. People usually learn the hard way."
George, a teenage runner from Illinois, seconds that opinion. "When I started smoking in high school, I didn't think about cancer. I didn't worry until I noticed I couldn't run as far or as long as I once could. It was tough, but I quit. And it's amazing how my running's improved."
"Athletes can really see the harm smoking does," adds Coach Bruno. "When an athlete smokes he or she just doesn't have the endurance nonsmokers have."
What they didn't know is that they can easily buy electronic cigarettes to quit smoking. The E-cigarette Festival will compare electronic cigarettes for you, helping you find the best electronic cigarettes! Also, they have a great smokeless image coupon that can save you a ton on your electronic cigarette purchases.