Teenage smoking is fast becoming a national concern in the US. It is estimated that about 4000 teenagers start smoking cigarettes everyday. This fact goes to show how millions of dollars spent by the the US government to generate mass awareness about the dangers of nicotine addiction have literally burned down with tobacco. What is even more worrying is the growing incidence of smoking in teenage girls. Statistics show that the rates of tobacco use among teenage girls are higher than those for boys.
What are the dangers of smoking for teenage girls?
Smoking is dangerous for anybody regardless of age or gender. The more quickly you can give up the habit of smoking, the better. But the fact that more and more women are now getting hooked to nicotine at an early age does not augur well for a healthy future of the people of America – those who are living and those who are yet to be born. Let’s find out why.
Smoking and pregnancy
Addiction to smoking during teenage and continuing with the habit can cause serious health problems for a woman during pregnancy and childbirth. According to reports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), smoking in the perinatal period (before and after childbirth) can cause many health problems and death for mothers and their babies.
There is 30% risk of you never becoming a mother if you smoke. Also, smoking can cause delay in delivery and complicate your health during pregnancy. Compared to nonsmoking women, you are twice at risk of developing health problems such as premature membrane rupture and separation of the placenta from the uterus, and blockage of the cervix by the placenta.
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Premature birth, low birth weight and sudden death are the most commonly reported cases in children born of women who smoke during pregnancy. It is estimated that about 13% US women smoke during pregnancy.
Quit smoking medicine – Chantix
If you are finding it difficult to resist smoking, Chantix can help you. It is a prescription-only pill which can gradually reduce your dependency on cigarettes before you can finally quit smoking for good. But this drug is not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women. In case you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, ask your doctor if it’s appropriate for you to take the medicine. Do the same if you are breastfeeding.
Risks and benefits of Chantix
To stop smoking with Chantix, you need to be proactive and start the treatment well before pregnancy. It is up to you to acknowledge the value of a smoke-free life not just for yourself, but also for your loved ones and most importantly, for your unborn child. But there are still some risks associated with this medicine. Smoking cessation with or without medical help can cause tobacco withdrawal symptoms.
These symptoms include nausea, headache, sleeping difficulties and mood swings. You can also experience increased or decreased appetite and fatigue after you start using Chantix. But as long as these side effects do not outweigh the benefits of Chantix, there is no reason not to use the drug. But seek medical advice from your doctor about the use and dosage of Chantix. Also, a little support from your friends and family members can help you a lot to quit smoking.
Source: Smoking Addiction in Teenage Girls and Its Treatment
