Smoking Women on YouTube are a Draw for Young Women

With the latest explosion in streaming video and social networking sites, tobacco companies have found a new arena to plug their products. While we all are aware of the health risks of smoking, parental talks with young daughters sometimes are not sufficient to deter them from wanting to emulate the behavior they see online. Thanks to the internet, girls are increasingly exposed to harmful behaviors that can affect their long-term health and well-being.

What are some of the risks of smoking?

Smoking has a far-reaching effect on women's health. The younger a woman when she starts smoking, the more likely she is to experience serious long-term health issues.

Let's start with lung cancer. Over 80% of new cases of lung cancer each year are directly caused by smoking. In the 1980's, smoking was the leading cause of cancer deaths in women, above even breast cancer in fatality rates. Besides cancer, though, there are many other pulmonary issues caused by smoking. Asthma, COPD (the abbreviation for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic bronchitis, and emphysema are all directly related to cigarette smoking.

Cardiovascular disease is even more prevalent than lung cancer among smokers, and is in fact the leading cause of premature death in the United States alone. Heart attack, chest pains, stroke, high blood pressure, and more are all consequences of cigar smoking.

Besides lung cancer, cigarette smoking is a factor in many other types of cancer, including:

Women who smoke also face a greater risk of developing osteoporosis, a serious disease which can significantly impair the health of older women smoking cigarettes.

Aside from these health issues, let's talk about the cosmetic problems associated with smoking. While the tobacco companies would like to portray smoking as "cool" and sophisticated, nicotine actually damages skin, hair, and nails, causing premature aging. Smoking also stains the teeth and causes bad breath, definitely not a sign of sophistication. For girls who wish to appear older by smoking, they can rest assured that eventually, they will look much older than they had in mind.

Fortunately, many of the harmful effects of smoking can be reversed. If you are thinking about quitting cigarettes, there could not be a better time. If you need help, your doctor is your best source for planning a strategy and for finding out which medications can help you.

You can also take a look at some of your other habits and make some changes which will help you quit and improve your health in general. Make sure you are eating a healthy diet, with plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean protein. Get plenty of exercise, and find time to relax and de-stress. Avoid substances like recreational drugs and alcohol, which will only increase your urge to smoke.  Take your vitamins - they will help to replenish your skin, hair, and many of the nutrients lost to cigarette smoking.

With the support of friends and family, you can ditch the cigarettes and improve your health for a lifetime.

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