Smoke Free Zone
Everyone knows that smoking
isn't such a great idea for your body. But if you want the real
ugly facts, they're here.
What happens when you
smoke
When you smoke, you are giving yourself a shot of nicotine. This
is the addictive drug that keeps you coming back for more and
more.
Nicotine makes your heart pump faster – that's why some smokers
feel a sudden rush and their hearts start to beat quickly when they
first smoke.
What's the
damage?
Let's not mince words. Smoking causes cancer and increases the
risk of strokes and heart disease.
• Every time, you take a drag, you are taking in more than 4,000
chemicals. A few of the chemicals are radioactive and some
are known to cause cancer.
• The carbon monoxide in cigarette smoke causes your blood to
get sticky, making it more likely to clot. This means your chances
of having a stroke and serious brain damage shoot up.
• Smoke can also damage the lining of the arteries from your heart.
This can lead to the build-up of fatty deposits and narrowed
arteries, causing high blood pressure, heart disease and even heart
attacks.
So if you're
aiming for a long, healthy life, giving up smoking (or never
starting at all) is one of the best things you can do.
Kicking the habit
Looking for tips to help
you or someone else quit?
Find out more
10 good reasons to quit
From bad breath to
wrinkly skin.
Find out more
Newsflash!
In October 2007, the government raised the legal
age limit for buying cigarettes from 16 to 18. This followed hot on
the heels of the ban on smoking in public places.
yheart would love to hear your views on these
new laws. Did you know about them? Were they good ideas? Are they
working?
Contact us at yheart@bhf.org.uk
FAST FACTS
- Only 1% of 11 year olds smoke regularly in
England, but by the time they reach 15 years old, that figure has
gone up by a whopping 21%!.
- Far fewer adults smoke today than 50 years ago,
and there are now far more ex-smokers than smokers, but a quarter
of the population still smoke.
What does smoking do to your body? Check
out this picture. It's a clot on ruptured fatty plaque
completely obscures the vessel.