For all you smokers out there, aren’t you so tired of listening to people telling you not to smoke and how it’s bad for your health? Also have you wondered why the government would pay tobacco companies to put a warning message on every pack of cigarette? The pictures can be so disturbing that you might even ask for another one with a different picture.
Great, now that I’ve got your attention, you might as well read on. I am a smoker myself, but after doing a little research about the effects of smoking for women, I am trying to pass on a little more then just a message. What’s smokers face? The great wonders of what smoke can do to cause your skin to wrinkle and turn ugly like the wicked witch of the west.
First of all, tobacco smoke released into the environment has a drying effect on the skin’s surface. Secondly, because smoking restricts blood vessels, it reduces the amount of blood flowing to the skin, thus depleting the skin of oxygen and essential nutrients. Some research suggests that smoking may reduce the body’s store of Vitamin A, which provides protection against some skin-damaging agents produced by smoking. When you smoke, your mouth puckers on the cigarette and your eyes squints when you try to avoid irritation of the smoke. That’s what causes the wrinkle lines around the lips and eyes.
How to avoid deep wrinkles? Good news! A South Korean study of smokers, non-smokers and ex-smokers aged 20 to 69 found that the current smokers had a higher degree of facial wrinkling than non-smokers and ex-smokers. Previous smokers who smoked heavily at a younger age revealed less facial wrinkling than current smokers. Research has also shown that the skin ageing effects of smoking may be due to increased production of an enzyme that breaks down collagen in the skin. What is collagen? It is the main structural protein of the skin which maintains skin elasticity. Smokers in their 40s often have as many facial wrinkles as non-smokers in their 60s. In addition to facial wrinkling, smokers’ may develop hollow cheeks through repeated sucking on cigarettes; this is particularly noticeable in under-weight smokers and can cause smokers to look gaunt. Here are some other leeches that smoking can cause,
- smokers have a risk or Psoriasis, but not life threatening
- Halitosis (bad breath)
- Yellow teeth
- discoloration of the fingers and fingernails on the hand used to hold cigarettes
- blindness
- early menopause
- osteoperosis
If I were to go on about the countless effects smoking can cause, it could actually scare you. But if you’re interested in reading more, this is a good website that can
tell you more about how smoking can harm your body, and even hurting the people around you. http://www.center4research.org/ibrief-05-04smoking.html
Personally, I think its time to quit smoking. At least try to cut down and research around for different ways to quit. There are support programs, call centers, and even online help for support. Remember, quitting is to help yourself be stronger, and healthier. Its best to get rid of toxins to prevent heart disease. Here is a website where you can find more information on how to quit. http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hl-vs/tobac-tabac/quit-cesser/ready-pret/index_e.html
1 comment:
Being a reformed smoker myself I'd like to post that this would be a great article to add to the magazine because majority of the students that we see everyday are out for smoke breaks. This is a very informative and structural article that the masses of students can read, not only just the fashion students. Good Job!
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