Why smoker smoke

A lack of exercise further increases the risk of health problems. According to the National Institutes of Health NIH , smoking reduces bone density, making the bones weaker and more brittle. Smoking can also impair bone healing after a fracture. Researchers find it difficult to say whether this is a direct effect of smoking, or due to other risk factors prevalent in people who smoke.

These include lower body weight and doing less physical exercise. This may affect females more than males. Females are more prone to osteoporosis and broken bones. According to one study , smoking reduces immune function and causes inflammation in the body. This can lead to autoimmune conditions, including:. Smoking also has links with type 2 diabetes.

It often takes many years before a person notices any symptoms of smoking-related lung disease. This means that people may not receive a diagnosis until the disease is quite advanced. Smoking can impact the lungs in several ways. The primary reason is that smoking damages the airways and air sacs — known as alveoli — in the lungs. Other lung diseases caused by smoking include pneumonia , asthma , and tuberculosis.

Smoking irritates the gum tissues. The American Dental Association ADA state that smoking increases the risk of gum disease , which can add to halitosis. Smoking can also affect the reproductive system and fertility. Females who smoke can have more difficulty becoming pregnant. In males, smoking can cause impotence by damaging blood vessels in the penis. It can also damage sperm and affect sperm count. According to some studies, males who smoke have a lower sperm count than those who do not.

Smoking reduces the amount of oxygen that can reach the skin. This speeds up the aging process and can make skin appear dull or gray. Smoking reduces how quickly skin wounds heal, increases the risk of skin infections, and increases the severity of skin conditions, including psoriasis.

That's because nicotine replacement products deal with the physical addiction while our Quit Specialists can help with ways to deal with emotional and situation-based triggers.

Some people crave alcohol when they are smoking, and crave cigarettes when they are drinking. Why is this? Read more. Looking for Reasons to quit smoking A plan to get ready to quit Tips to stay on track Advice on having another go at quitting Ex-smokers' stories Fact sheets. Even still, possible long-term consequences such as pneumonia and coronary heart disease are expected in smokers. Smokers tend to have a routine they follow, whether consciously or unconsciously.

This can be found in the little things like smoking when driving, drinking coffee, or whenever they crave to do so. Other mental triggers have to do with the mood a smoker is usually in when a smoker decides to grab a cigarette. For example, if a person smokes every time they are anxious about a situation, they may feel as if they will not be able to get through a situation next time they are anxious unless they grab a smoke.

Furthermore, if a person is trying to quit, they will experience what is known as withdrawal symptoms. This is when they start to feel restless about not doing something with their hands or mouth and start craving for the smell and taste of a cigarette, thus, leading some to just go back to smoking.

Asking for a light is usually a common icebreaker among smokers. So, if they go out together where they will still be exposed to their friends smoking or go out to places where people smoke like concerts, bars, etc. Situations like these may make these individuals take out a cigarette and internally convince themselves that they can limit with just one or that they can control themselves to just social events. It is said that smokers attempt to quit at an average of 6 — 11 times before they finally succeed.

It will be a difficult journey, but with the proper guidance and help, you will eventually get to a place where you will no longer be heavily reliant on a cigarette. A few tips that can help you out are:. In the same way that hanging around other people who smoke can entice you into smoking, hanging around with people who do not smoke will probably keep you occupied without the need to grab a light for a break.

On the same note, inform your friends that you are trying to quit. Sharing your struggles will help you feel lighter, and they may help distract you as well. Furthermore, they can be told beforehand to keep topics positive to keep you from getting tensed.

By keeping your hands engaged in other activities like playing a game or using a stress ball, you will be able to fidget with something else instead of using smoking as an excuse. Aside from keeping your hands busy, you can keep yourself busy in a general sense. Exercise, drink lots of water, eat healthy, plan activities like watching a movie or dinner in a smoke-free restaurant, are just a few examples of what you can do. Having an end-goal of why you want to achieve something helps people stay motivated.

The tobacco industry spends billions of dollars each year to create and market ads that show smoking as exciting, glamorous, and safe. Tobacco use is also shown in video games, online, and on TV. And movies showing people smoking are another big influence. Studies show that young people who see smoking in movies are more likely to start smoking.

Often wrongly seen as harmless, and easier to get and use than traditional tobacco products, these devices are a way for new users to learn how to inhale and become addicted to nicotine, which can prepare them for smoking. Anyone who starts using tobacco can become addicted to nicotine. Studies show that smoking is most likely to become a habit during the teen years. The younger you are when you begin to smoke, the more likely you are to become addicted to nicotine.

The report estimates that about 3 out of 4 high school students who smoke will become adults who smoke — even if they intend to quit in a few years. Addiction is marked by the repeated, compulsive seeking or use of a substance despite its harmful effects and unwanted consequences. Addiction is mental or emotional dependence on a substance. Nicotine is the known addictive substance in tobacco. Regular use of tobacco products leads to addiction in many users. Researchers are also looking at other chemicals in tobacco that make it hard to quit.