Today is World Tobacco Day and this year’s theme proposed by World Health Organisation is “Protecting youth from industry manipulation and preventing them from tobacco and nicotine use”. For several years, the tobacco industries all over the world have hired different types of tactics and methods to attract the youth into smoking or chewing tobacco and other nicotine products. In-depth research shows that every year several people die to the excessive use of tobacco and related co-morbid conditions. Also Read: World No Tobacco Day: This Is What Happens After You Quit Smoking - Infographic

This year’s campaign aims at exposing several ways tobacco manufacturing or selling industries to attract youths, enlighten them about the horrific disadvantages of using tobacco and help peer influencers to spread the knowledge and defend the youth of this generation against this harmful habit.

Be it smoking or chewing, tobacco contains nicotine and many other carcinogenic compounds that increase the risk of different forms of cancer like oral cancer, oesophageal cancer, lung cancer, etc. Regular consumption of the harmful product can also cause tooth decay, gum disease, staining of teeth, loss of a tooth, and other cardiovascular diseases. Also Read: No Smoking Day: 5 More Reasons To Kick The Butt ASAP

Although several organizations are encouraging people to drop the harmful habit, and industries are coming forth to publicise tobacco quitting products like nicotine gums, patches, and lozenges, yet people turn a deaf ear towards the increasing disadvantages of using tobacco and continue risking their lives for this unfaithful, injurious companion.

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This article brings forth the various ways the youth gets affected owing to this detrimental practice.

Harmful Effects Of Tobacco On Youth

Respiratory Functioning

The first and foremost effect that tobacco has on the health of a teenager is that it reduces the functioning of the respiratory system. Studies show that smoking from a younger age restricts the proper development and growth of the lungs ultimately causing several respiratory anomalies in the later stages like asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema etc.

Physical Fitness

Intake of tobacco has a toll on physical fitness as well in terms of both performance and endurance. The attraction towards this unhealthy practice quite often retards the growth of the body and can lead to inflammatory conditions, rheumatoid arthritis and even an impaired immune function. It is quite difficult for an adolescent having smoking habits to take part in any form of sports due to increasing fatigue and restlessness every now and then.

Affects Brain Function, Focus

Even academic accomplishments are faltered in these teenage smokers since the usage of tobacco not only reduces the development of lungs but also diminishes the growth of the brain tissue. As the use of tobacco and related products weakens the immune system, teenagers fall sick quite often which causes a shift in their concentration from studies and other academic activities.

Self-Esteem

The most common reason that teenagers pick up this practice is because of the myth that smoking enhances the mood. Although the presence of nicotine in tobacco alters the mood and energizes the body for a few minutes, the effect wears down soon enough causing irritability and anxiety in the adolescents. It lowers their self-confidence and impairs their cognitive functioning causing depression and uneasiness.

Severe Addiction

People who start smoking at an early age are more likely to develop a severe addiction to nicotine than those who start at a later age. The feeling of a good mood is what attracts teenagers at a young age and makes them crave for more. The addiction towards tobacco not only reduces the longevity and quality of life but also increases the risk of many co-morbid conditions causing premature death.