The Issue of Smoking - Assignment Example

Smokers have many reasons to smoke. Some reasons are as simple as liking the taste or the thought of smoking, or that it relaxes them and helps them unwind, stay sane with all the stressful things around them. Medical experts believe that there are three main reasons why teenagers smoke. The first reason is that smoking makes the youth feel older. They often see their elders smoking and seem to look more mature so they want to be like them, mature, and all the connotations that come with being an adult.

The second reason is the reason most adults would like to believe as they do not want to be the cause or influence for the youth's bad habits: peer pressure. Young adults smoke so that they would look "cool" or "in" along with their friends. They have this notion that smoking is "cool" because their idols on TV do it all the time and, of course, they all want to be "cool" as well. The third common reason is that they try to experiment. They either underestimate the addictive nature of nicotine or just want to try it because it is prohibited by their parents.

But whether it's the explorative nature of the youth or their defiant nature, smoking presents to be a rather inexpensive opportunity.   The reasons for continuing to smoke are slightly more varied. Smokers say that smoking keeps them up, physically and emotionally, as nicotine has similar effects to caffeine. Others say it boosts their self-confidence at gatherings and that it helps them make new friends. Most people are just addicted, unable to quit or just smoking without even noticing it.

Some others, though rare, use it to relieve physical pain or even to lose weight. These are things they value and unconsciously risk their health for. The effects of smoking are very popular. They vary in intensity from yellowing teeth, bad breath, and smelly clothes, to strokes, heart attacks, cancers and, of course, death. Recently, lung cancer isn't only cancer associated with smoking, there's also cancer of the oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, esophagus, bladder, stomach, cervix, kidney, pancreas and even the breast.

Smoking has also led to lung problems like asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, and many others because of the tar it brings into the lungs.