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Nearly everyone will be tempted to try a cigarette at some
time. There are advertisements which make smoking seem cool,
film stars smoke, or friends may try to persuade you to have one.
On the other hand health experts - Doctors, Nurses, tell us they are dangerous,
ex-smokers are relieved to have kicked the habit and many smokers
wish they'd never started. So, what should you do?
This sections gives information about cigarettes and
smoking. Read through it and then you decide what choice you
will make.
In Northern Ireland around 2,500 deaths each year are caused by
diseases related to smoking - 6 deaths every day. Tobacco is
killing more people than illegal drug use, road traffic accidents,
suicides, 'The Troubles' and AIDS combined!
Cigarette smoke contains around 4,000 chemicals, many of which
are known to be harmful - 43 of the chemicals are known to cause cancer.
Smoking effects both smokers and people around smokers.
People who smoke put their health at risk and their breath, skin and
clothes smell. People around smokers who are forced to breath
in the smoke from cigarettes become passive smokers. Smokers
only inhale 15% of the smoke from their cigarette, that leaves 85%
in the surrounding air for other people to breathe in!
If you already smoke, giving up smoking will improve your health
straight away. Right now is the easiest time ever for you to
give up - the longer you leave it the harder it will become to
stop. Remember, most adults started smoking when they
were young and now wish they could stop but can't.
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