Affinity Health, leading providers of high-quality and affordable medical insurance covers teen smoking  and how to nip it in the butt.

How Does Smoking Affect Teenagers?

Smoking is harmful to one’s health regardless of age, and quitting can be difficult. Nicotine addiction, however, is more potent and develops faster in teenagers than in adults.

Did you know that your child’s brain does not fully develop until they are 25 years old? Smoking during adolescence increases a child’s risk of developing psychiatric disorders and cognitive impairment in later life. That’s because nicotine – the main ingredient in cigarettes – can delay a teen’s brain growth, reducing their capacity to manage impulses.

“Adolescence is a genuinely revolutionary phase in one’s life, a time when both the emotional and cognitive aspects of the mind are rapidly developing. Friendships and first loves spark passions, creativity and hard lessons. In that light, there is a dark side to adolescence. Uncontrollable emotions establish a danger zone for behavioural issues and addiction,” says Murray Hewlett, CEO of Affinity Health.

“Unlike previous generations, today’s teens are more aware of the dangers of smoking, yet many are still lighting up. If present tobacco usage habits continue, an estimated 5.6 million young people under the age of 18 will die prematurely because of a smoking-related disease.”

Cigarette smoking throughout adolescence causes a variety of health issues, including an increase in the number and severity of respiratory diseases, a decline in physical fitness, and possible impacts on lung growth and function.

The statistics speak for themselves. Almost 2,500 youngsters under the age of 18 attempt their first cigarette every day, with more than 400 of them becoming new, daily smokers. Half of them will eventually succumb to their addiction. The majority of teens who have smoked at least 100 cigarettes in their lives say they want to quit but are unable to do so.

The good news is that teen smokers who wish to quit can get help.

How Cigarettes Harm Your Health

We know that smoking one to four cigarettes every day doubles your chances of dying from heart disease in your adult years. Even heavy smokers who cut down on their smoking by half have a severely substantial risk of dying young.

Cancer, heart disease, stroke, lung disease, diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including emphysema and chronic bronchitis, are all diseases caused by smoking.

Smoking also raises the chance of tuberculosis, some eye illnesses, and immune system problems, such as rheumatoid arthritis.

Cancer, heart disease, stroke, lung disease, diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including emphysema and chronic bronchitis, are all diseases caused by smoking. Smoking also raises the chance of tuberculosis, some eye illnesses, and immune system problems, such as rheumatoid arthritis.

Smoking one to four cigarettes every day doubles your chances of dying from heart disease in your adult years. Even heavy smokers who cut down on their smoking by half have a remarkably high risk of dying young.

Learn More: How Your Lungs Work

While experts agree vaping is less dangerous than tobacco cigarettes, they linked it to increased lung injuries in teenagers. Again, this boils down to nicotine found in vaping devices. It is difficult for teens to know what e-cigarette products contain. For example, reports state that some e-cigarettes marketed as containing zero percent nicotine contain nicotine.

Learn More: Anti-Tobacco Month

Why Communication Is Key 

From an early age, children should learn what cigarettes are, how to detect them, the dangers they pose, and how to deal with peer pressure.

Always maintain open lines of contact with your teen; they should be free to communicate to you about anything going on in their lives without fear of punishment or anger. It’s important to realise that your teen’s usage of cigarettes is most likely the result of an underlying problem. Before your teen can kick the habit, you need to figure out what’s going on.

Some Reasons Teens Start Smoking May Include:

• A way of dealing with stress at school or in their personal lives
• Peer influence or pressure from friends
• Parents or other family members are smokers
• They see smoking as a way of rebelling and showing independence.

What To Do If You Suspect Your Teen Is Smoking

You can seek guidance from your local GP if you suspect your child is smoking. As a final option, clinicians may use a urine test. Snap tests, such as nicotine, are available at your local pharmacist and can detect a variety of chemicals in one’s bloodstream, including nicotine.

If you discover your teen is, in fact, smoking, don’t react too quickly. Instead, concentrate on finding out why they are smoking. Remind your teen that quitting smoking implies improved athletic fitness, lower costs, a more attractive appearance, and freedom from addiction.

Learn More: TB Awareness Month

About Affinity Health

Affinity Health is South Africa’s leading provider of health insurance, offering you a range of options at affordable rates including access to the widest national provider network. We understand the importance of having medical insurance that meets your needs, your budget, and your lifestyle. Our range of healthcare products are designed to protect you and your family when it matters the most. We strive to give our clients peace of mind and the highest standard of service at all times. For more information, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.