Teens & Tobacco: Health Risks & Tips to Quit Tobacco

Dr.Akshay Budhraja, 4 mins read

Teens and tobacco is a very concerning and alarming topic, as it results in very serious health issues. Many teenagers experiment with smoking, chewing tobacco, and vaping tobacco products, despite significant efforts to increase awareness about the negative effects of tobacco use.

These all items are considered highly addictive due to nicotine; the body and mind get used to it, and it becomes hard to leave these habits, for which the person has to join rehabilitation. However, tobacco use is still widely prevalent.

In this blog, we'll look at the factors that contribute to teens' appeal to tobacco, the health risks related to tobacco use, and tactics for influencing them to make better decisions for their well-being.

Why are teens more prone to tobacco consumption?

• Peer influence: Teenagers are frequently influenced by their peers and look to their social networks for approval and validation. Their chances of experimentation may increase if their friends or classmates smoke.
• Social environment: Many tobacco companies are using deft marketing techniques to attract young consumers by glorifying smoking and making it seem trendy. Young people may want to try tobacco products because of how the media portrays them as a common activity.
• Stress and emotional challenges: Teenagers go through adolescence with a variety of difficulties and stresses. Some people may use tobacco as a coping mechanism for stress or emotional problems.

Health risks of tobacco consumption

Tobacco contains a lot of harmful chemicals like nicotine and cyanide, these are considered poison to the human body if consumed in large quantities and can affect a person gradually or instantly. It also brings a lot of diseases and other serious problems like eye diseases, gum/teeth problems, bad breath, diabetes, low immune system, etc. But there are more severe conditions that can be caused by tobacco consumption, such as:

• Respiratory Problems: Smoking and vaping can harm the lungs and cause several respiratory conditions, such as chronic cough, asthma flare-ups, and a higher risk of infections like pneumonia. Most of the lung cancer is caused by smoking cigarettes.
• Addiction: The addictive component of tobacco like nicotine can cause physical and psychological dependence, making it challenging for teenagers to quit once they start using regularly. People who begin smoking at a young age have a higher risk of becoming severely addicted to nicotine compared to those who begin at a later age. Addiction can be inherited from the parents also.
• Cardiovascular diseases: Even in young people, smoking is associated with an increased risk of heart disease, hypertension, and stroke. Smoking harms blood vessels and may cause them to thicken and become more constrictive. Your blood pressure increases and your heart rate accelerates as a result blood clots may develop.
• Mental health issues: The nicotine in cigarettes stimulates dopamine release in the body. Because of this hormone, positive feelings are sparked in the body. That’s why many people do tobacco smoking to relieve stress and depression. However, in the long run, tobacco consumption can affect a person’s mental health and overall well-being.

Tips to help teens prevent or avoid tobacco consumption

• Educating them and spreading awareness among them. Informing them about its harmful effects on their health.
• Parents should personally get involved in it as it can become a serious issue afterwards. They should communicate about the possible risks involved in this and stay alert about their children’s environment.
• Government should impose strict policies on advertising, sales, or on easy access to tobacco and cigarettes. They should increase the legal age to access these products.
• There are a lot of things that can be done to prevent serious problems like telling them to exercise or meditate, making them engage in media campaigns to quit addiction from these things and helping them enroll in rehabilitation programs.

Takeaway!

Teenage tobacco use is a serious public health issue that needs to be addressed. The negative effects of smoking on one's health can be extensive, affecting one's mental and emotional as well as physical health. We can work to lower tobacco use among this vulnerable population by increasing awareness, enacting effective policies, and supporting teens in making healthier decisions. In order to encourage a healthier and smoke-free future for the upcoming generation, it is essential to arm teens with the information and tools they need to resist the allure of tobacco.