By Sarah Hunt, AZFB Communications Intern
I will always remember those days in elementary and middle school when they would teach us about the “say no to drugs and tobacco!” program. They would bring in a presenter who usually showed us a cheesy and slightly scary video about why we shouldn’t use harmful substances.
It was enough to get the message across for me, especially since I already had been taught these things in my home. And in my 10 year old mind, I thought, “Yuck! Why would I want to put smoke in my body? I don’t even like the smell of campfires or gasoline!”
But not everyone had the opportunity to learn about why it is bad for your health, how extremely addicting it is, or what the harm is of trying just one cigarette or drug. Others know it is harmful, but cannot find the motivation to quit because it calms their nerves or provides a distraction.
If this is you or you know someone who has a hard time quitting smoking because of this, know there are so many healthier ways to relieve anxiety! Read this Fill Your Plate article on 8 Ways To Relieve Stress to find more healthy, calming substitutes for smoking.
Read on to learn more about why you, your friends, and your family should say no to drugs and tobacco.
“Smoking leads to disease and disability and harms nearly every organ of the body.
More than 16 million Americans are living with a disease caused by smoking. For every person who dies because of smoking, at least 30 people live with a serious smoking-related illness. Smoking causes cancer, heart disease, stroke, lung diseases, diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Smoking also increases risk for tuberculosis, certain eye diseases, and problems of the immune system, including rheumatoid arthritis.
Secondhand smoke exposure contributes to approximately 41,000 deaths among nonsmoking adults and 400 deaths in infants each year. Secondhand smoke causes stroke, lung cancer, and coronary heart disease in adults. Children who are exposed to secondhand smoke are at increased risk for sudden infant death syndrome, acute respiratory infections, middle ear disease, more severe asthma, respiratory symptoms, and slowed lung growth,” according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
Go to their full website (here) to find more resources on how to quit smoking and what health problems smoking can cause.
To further continue your health journey, find more articles on nutrition, exercise, and more on Fill Your Plate’s blog!