The Effects of Smoking for Adolescent Health

More than 4,000 adolescents a day try their first cigarette, according to the American Lung Association. Most smokers are aware of long-term effects such as cancer. However, smoking can cause immediate harmful effects on the body, especially adolescents. Cigarettes contain up to 4,000 chemicals, including nicotine, arsenic, methane, butane, cadmium, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide. Teenagers and adolescents who smoke suffer a multitude of health risks from inhaling these poisonous chemicals.

Lung Function

• Weaker lung's are a direct result of adolescent smoking.

  Small air sacs within the lungs known as alveoli are destroyed every time cigarette smoke is inhaled. Forced expiratory volume in the first second, or FEV1, and forced vital capacity, or FVC, are measurements of air forced out of the lungs. These measurements are used to gauge pulmonary function. Studies show reduced growth rates of FVC and FEV1 in young smokers. In essence, mild airway obstruction, weaker lungs as well as restricted growth of lung function are associated with adolescent smoking. In addition, once smoking becomes a habit, the lungs become lined with tar, making them less efficient.

Asthma

• Asthma may develop or worsen as children smoke.

  Asthma is a long-term lung disease that causes constriction and inflammation in the airways. Wheezing while breathing is also caused by asthma. In a study reported in The New England Journal of Medicine, children who began smoking had higher rates of asthma or wheezing. These rates increase as the children age and smoking continues. Wheezing rates for girls were reported at 6 percent higher than for boys. Boys and girls already suffering from asthma run the risk of increased attacks and are less likely to outgrow or see improvements in their symptoms.

Athletic Performance

• Decreased physical fitness is a side effect of young people smoking. The hair-like structures, known as cilia, are paralyzed during smoke inhalation. Cilia are used by the body to remove foreign objects from the airways. Because they are paralyzed, dust, pollen and other particles invade the lungs and form tar, reducing athletic performance. Due to constricted airways and weaker lung function, young smokers are unable to compete as well as a non-smoker. Additionally, increased asthma and more severe asthma attacks make after-school sports more difficult.

Decreased Overall Health

• Teenagers and young people who smoke get sick more often than those who don't smoke. Once sick, smokers are more likely to develop a long-lasting cough. Also, secondary health risk like bronchitis or pneumonia are more likely to develop in smoking teenagers. Their heart and lungs are smaller than non-smokers. Hormone levels are lowered by smoking. Premature aging and wrinkles are caused by underage smoking. Young smokers are three times as likely to get cavities, have stained teeth and bad breath. Overall, adolescents who smoke are less healthy and are more likely to die prematurely from smoking.