(http://news.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/1695000/images/_1697227_smoking300.jpg)
Let us have a look at the picture. Young Teenage smoking at a young age.
"14% of people aged 13-15 throughout the world smokes cigarettes and 25% of them started this habit before the age of 10".
(http://www.ktl.fi/portal/english/research__people___programs/health_promotion_and_chronic_disease_prevention/projects/enypat/about_youth_smoking/statistics_on_youth_smoking_in_different_countries)
The legal age in UK for smoking is 18 years old. Looking at the statistics that shows 14% of teenage between 13-15 years starts smoking.
This is a very irresponsible act to do, but with the current generation, "the cool factor" and the peer pressure that teenagers receive today, is very likely for them to start smoking. They do know it is bad for health but they still do smoke so that they are accepted to groups and some are due to family issues.
Smoking harms their health and brings many diseases. Many medical bodies have been trying to create and they have created ways of cutting down smoking but it just does not seem to help.
If you had a 15-year-old child under your wings, with many diseases that smoking brings what would you do to help him/her to stop smoking?
15 comments:
Hey Eelynn nice issue to discuss in the sense of touching the subject which “I do believe” that more than 90 percent of the families don’t know how to over come with it. Let me give you my own popular example to answer your question. I used to smoke since I was 17 years old. The exact age I went to university. I remember how much my parents were struggling and pushing me to stop it but it didn’t affect on my behavior and I didn’t stop it till I reached to the age of 22 “last year”. It sound nice but one day I was swimming and I noticed I can’t swim as I used to, due to the weak lung and aspiration. You know what I did? I stopped it at all, and now it is over than 1 year that I’m completely clean!!! I call this “strategy” pull strategy since I was pulling my self with no pressure and stopped it whereas I used to be prohibited from smoking back in Iran and it was just “push” strategy and I was just keep doing it regardless on my parent’s advices. What I wan to share with you, based on my own experience, giving enough knowledge on the side effects of smoking to the youths is much more effective rather than pushing them to not do it because it may push them to over do due to their own dominant characters at this stage of life.
In my opinion, yes, smoking does bring a lots of disease. But, it is nothing we can do about it if someone really want to smoke. As what Mr Brad had been mentiond, he quit smoking when he want to quit. It is about the determination of that person whether he really want to quit smoking or not. It is something that we cannot do about it.
To stop somebody to do his or her habit is not easy, everything must come from their self. we as outside people only can be motivator but motivate to stop it must come from their self. I have one friend who had same experience like Mr.Brad but it did not give impact for him, he know it was because of cigarette but it still can not motivate him to stop. Same thing happened with my close friend, I tried to stop him smoking and I tried so many things but it still can not stop him to smoking. therefore in my opinion everything must come from them self to stop it.
Smoking- the express lane to the cemetry!
There are two factors that will determine your success in quiting smoking for good.They are ; Will-you must have the desire to give up your habit of smoking and create a strong will to avoid a smoking relapse. The second factor would be Mindset-You must learn about the effects of smoking , understand its consequences and face the fact that you need to stop smoking and follow , finish and maintain a quit smoking plan.
http://www.stop-smoking-tips.com/
Well, I personally believe teens can be effected depending on what type of culture they have been brought up. It depend on there parents how well they make their children’s understood about bad effect of smoking. They should be proactive to making their children’s understand certain bad things which they are easily to grasp. But that won’t be all there many several reasons why teenager starts smoking such are:-
Peer pressure plays an important part. Many children start smoking because their friends have tried it or smoke themselves. Those children may have started as they have grown up in an environment where their parents, grandparents and older siblings smoke, and so they smoke in order to look and act like them. Other children start smoking as an act of rebellion or defiance against their parents or people of authority. Some children may also begin to smoke if they have low self-esteem. Smoking may get them in with the "in crowd" and help them to make friends. If they smoke, then they will be accepted by their peers. Some children have said that they smoke to appear older and more grown up, especially if they are surrounded by young adults who smoke. A number of children are only experimenting with smoking and just want to try it so see what all the fuss is about. As it is prohibited to smoke until the age of sixteen or even eighteen in some countries, children who smoke and get away with it without being caught, can get a thrill or feeling of excitement out of flaunting the law and doing what grown up adults do all the time. Whatever the reason that a teenager has for starting to smoke, it is apparent that no matter how much you try to tell them that smoking is bad for you, a great number of them are going to try it anyway.
Parents should take every possible steps to prevent their child from start smoking, but if somehow their effort wont prove effective enough to stop their child from smoke I would like to suggest to take following step to prevent their child from smoking:-Recognizing that your teen is going to need help to quit smoking is the first step to helping him/her is successful. Your teen needs your loving and firm support. Here are three steps that should help: Talk to your teen. Say out loud that you know this is going to be hard and you will be there for him/her. Don’t assume your teen knows this already. Get help. See a professional and seek their advice on how to go about quitting. Which types of smoking cession aids your teen can use should be used under the guidance of a doctor. Ask your teen’s doctor about smoking cession classes in your area. Know that most smokers fail the first couple of times they try to quit. If your teen has a set back, be understanding. Nicotine is an awful drug addiction and your teen will need your positive attitude to continue fighting it.
Just give your kid the right education, and make her/him know and understand the consequences of smoking,instead of just forbidding the kid from smoking.
In my opinion, yes.there are two problem to discuss.first why they smoking and how to help them stop smoking.the first why the young teenage smokers,maybe they feel cool,boring,and so on.second when you know the reasons why young teenages smoking and you need to find out how to help the teenage and give them the different way to stop somking.
Well,quitting smoking is not easy.If I would have a 15 years old child who is a smoker,I would advice him/her with positive thoughts on what are the bad effects of smoking.Firstly,we as a parents should educate our children the effects of smoking at the beginning and should talk to them that smoking is not a COOL or GOOD habit to have as a student.It is a negative thought of whoever that thinks "We cannot do anything about it(Quitting Smoking)".This habit can be stop but should have start from the beginning.It is common now that youth are smoking but there are still NO effective way to reduces these habit.Therefore,youth who matured enough should think well on the effects and have a positive thought to quit smoking!!
Smokers who have heart failure can automatically eliminate a major source of damage to their heart by quitting. Each puff of nicotine from tobacco smoke temporarily increases heart rate and blood pressure, even as less oxygen-rich blood circulates through the body. Smoking also leads to clumping or stickiness in the blood vessels feeding the heart. I don’t know what these people getting by these smokes they knew that there is an effect by smoking even though they still smoking. It is there responsible for there health.
In spite of all the health warnings, teenagers continue to get hooked on tobacco even though they all know that it's bad for them. It is therefore logical to conclude that a shallow knowledge of the health risks is not enough to convince teenagers to not smoke. I have given this issue a lot of thought and feel like we are missing the real reasons and the real issues behind smoking.
http://www.perkel.com/politics/issues/smoke.htm
Teenagers sometimes smoke because they want to rebel. Peer pressure and watching their parents may also influence them. It can be hard to convince them of the serious health risks they are taking.
Let's look at some of the cardiovascular risks,30% of deaths due to heart attacks and coronary artery disease are due to smoking. , The risk of a heart attack is increased six times in women and three times in men (this is at one pack per day),People who continue to smoke after a heart attack increase their risk by 25-50% ,The risks of stroke is markedly increased. , Cancers other than lung cancer: Associations are noted with bladder, stomach, pancreas, esophagus, larynx, mouth, cervix. ,Peptic ulcer disease ,The fact that smoking causes problems for the heart arteries is not surprising when you consider that smoking has been demonstrated to.
http://www.heartpoint.com/smoking.html
all the teenager should know about this.And basically it depends on their own if they wany they can give up but if dont want then no body can do any thing.
Ee Lynn, you will love this stuff, I have made some research and this is the most brilliant way of how we can help teenagers quit smoking for good...
Teen smoking is a big deal. After all, teens who smoke are likely to turn into adults who smoke. If you find your teen smoking, take it seriously. Stopping teen smoking in its tracks is the best way to promote a lifetime of good health.
Start talking
Sure, you could simply tell your teen to stop smoking. It's an important message. But commands, threats and ultimatums aren't likely to work. Instead of getting angry, be curious and supportive. Ask your teen what made him or her start smoking. Perhaps your teen is trying to fit in at school, or maybe your teen thinks that smoking will help relieve stress or pressure. Sometimes teen smoking is an attempt to feel cool or more grown-up.
Once you understand why your teen is smoking, both you and your teen will be better equipped to work on smoking cessation.
Encourage your teen to share his or her concerns
The consequences of smoking — such as cancer, heart attack and stroke — are real. But teens who smoke aren't likely to respond to lectures on the long-term dangers of smoking. Instead, you might ask your teen what he or she considers the negative aspects of smoking.
Once your teen has had his or her say, you might offer your own list of negatives. Consider appealing to your teen's vanity:
Smoking gives you bad breath.
Smoking makes your clothes and hair smell.
Smoking turns your teeth and fingernails yellow.
Smoking makes you look pale and unhealthy.
Smoking leaves you with a hacking cough and plenty of phlegm.
Smoking zaps your energy for sports and other favorite activities.
Of course, smoking is also expensive. Help your teen calculate the weekly, monthly or yearly cost of smoking. You might compare the cost of smoking with electronic gadgets, clothes or other items your teen considers important.
Set a good example
As a parent, you're one of the most powerful influences in your teen's life — and your actions speak louder than your words. If you smoke, quit. Ask your doctor about stop-smoking medications and other resources to help you quit smoking. In the meantime, don't smoke in the house, in the car or in front of your teen, and don't leave cigarettes where your teen might find them. Explain how unhappy you are with your smoking, and why it's so important to you to quit.
Help your teen make a plan
Many teens who smoke think they can stop anytime, but research shows this isn't usually true. In fact, most adults who started smoking in their teens never expected to become addicted to nicotine.
When you talk to your teen about quitting smoking, ask if any of his or her friends have tried to stop smoking. Consider why they were — or weren't — successful. Then ask your teen which stop-smoking strategies he or she thinks might be most helpful. You might offer your own suggestions as well:
Set a quit date. Help your teen choose a date to stop smoking. Avoid placing the stop date during a stressful time, such as final exams.
Put it on paper. Encourage your teen to write down all the reasons he or she wants to quit smoking. The list can help your teen stay motivated when he or she is tempted to smoke.
Hang out with friends who don't smoke. Ask your teen to think about his or her friends. Would they support your teen's stop-smoking plan? Would they try to stop smoking, too? If your teen feels pressured to smoke, encourage him or her to get involved in new activities. Making new friends who don't smoke could make it easier to avoid old friends who aren't willing to stop smoking.
Practice saying no. Peer pressure to smoke may be inevitable, but your teen doesn't need to give in. Help your teen practice saying, "No thanks, I don't smoke."
Be prepared for cravings. Remind your teen that if he or she can hold out long enough — usually just a few minutes — the nicotine craving will pass. Suggest taking a few deep breaths. Offer sugarless gum, cinnamon sticks, toothpicks or straws to help your teen keep his or her mouth busy.
Join a support group. Some hospitals and local organizations offer stop-smoking groups just for teens. Teen groups are available online, too.
Consider stop-smoking medications. Although stop-smoking medications — such as nicotine gums, patches, inhalers or nasal sprays — weren't designed for teens, they can be helpful. Ask your teen's doctor which options might be best for your teen.
Learn from mistakes. If your teen slips, remain supportive. Congratulate your teen on the progress he or she has made so far, and encourage your teen not to give up. Help your teen identify what went wrong and what to do differently next time.
Above all, celebrate your teen's success. You might offer a favorite meal for a smoke-free day, a new shirt for a smoke-free week, or a party with nonsmoking friends for a smoke-free month. Small rewards and plenty of positive reinforcement can help your teen maintain the motivation to stop smoking for good.
reference for the article above:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/teen-smoking/TN00016
At this age a person goes through certain changes in terms of both physical and mental. He usually feels he is no longer a kid and desperately wants to be recognized as an adult. As a result he takes up smoking. This sometimes occur due to the feeling of being not heard by people and the feeling of loneliness too. I think with proper guidance from parents this can be reduced. A common mistake made by parents is that they try to force their children to quit smoking which eventually pushes them away. Instead of forcing, we must help them to try to quit and with proper guidance this can surely be done.
Eelynn you know what will i do, i will do the same thing my parents did to us. My father was a smoker but quited long time ago when we were still young. He decided to quit smoking when one day my younger sister ask my dad if she could have a cigarette and why is he smoking if its bad. This actually motivated him to quit and so he did. Our parents always told us about many things what is good and what is bad. So since we were young they told us that smoking is bad for your health and all the diseases you may get if you smoke. Not only these they also use to tell us what benefits you will have if your a non smoker and so on. So they really like made it our on choice and made us to understand its hazards on us. They also used to tell us you will also come across friends who smoke and dont be carried away by them and so on. Thanks God i and no one of my brothers smoke and also thanks to my parents to the way they taught and brought us through these things.
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