Sure, smoking can harm everyone, men and women alike. But some of the negative effects, from ectopic pregnancy to premature menopause, are set aside for women only. Let’s take a brief look at the consequences female smokers may face.
Health Problems
You probably know that your habit is dangerous but may not realize how much it affects your body.
• Smoking causes heart disease, heart attack, stroke, and cancer – the leading causes of death for women in the U.S. and worldwide. It puts them at higher risk of cervical and breast cancer.
• Women who consume tobacco are 40 times more likely to get ill with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) than women who have never smoked. It makes people struggle to catch their breath. It gets worse over time, and there is no cure.
• Smoking makes your periods worse as it causes more severe premenstrual symptoms and cramps lasting a few days.
• Cigarettes damage your fertility.
• Smoking accelerates menopause by 1-2 years.
Smoking and Beauty
In addition to health problems, cigarettes can have a negative impact on your physical appearance. Advertising presents smoking women as beautiful and attractive. Real life situation can be different. A woman addicted to nicotine risks to deal with so undesirable problems as:
• Bad breath
• Yellow teeth
• Yellowing of fingers
• Thin Hair
• Under-eye bags
• Premature Wrinkles
• Cellulite.
Many health and beauty effects of smoking are reversible. So, the sooner you drop your habit, the better for your well-being and appearance.
Risks for the Family
Second-hand smoke can harm people you love. Think carefully about the following facts:
• Passive smokers can suffer from tobacco-related diseases.
• A nonsmoker who lives with a smoker has about a 20% to 30% greater risk of developing lung cancer.
• Secondary smoke exposure increases children's risk for ear infections, lower respiratory tract illnesses, and more frequent and more severe asthma attacks (among children with asthma). It can also lead to the prevalence of wheeze and cough.
• Teens are more likely to try smoking cigarettes if one or both of the parents smoke.
Smoking and pregnancy also don't mix. This is fraught with an increased risk of future pregnancy complications, some of which can be fatal for the mother or the baby. The most common consequences for the baby include:
• a low birth weight
• slowed lung growth
• sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
Want to quit?
We all know that quitting can make us and our families healthier and thus happier. But we keep puffing on cigarettes. In fact, 13.6% of all women in the U.S. are smokers.
Every smoker, regardless of age and smoking history, thinks about quitting from time to time. But far not all succeed in their battle against tobacco. Why do many smokers fail? Maybe they choose the ways that don’t work for them.
The most common and effective methods are the following:
• Cold turkey. The majority of smokers who decide to quit do it abruptly and without outside support (no aids or therapy). According to different sources, only 4-7% of people manage to do it alone.
• Behavioral therapy. It involves getting professional help.
• Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). This involves using nicotine gum, patches, inhalers, sprays, and lozenges.
• Combo treatments. For example, some people combine behavioral therapy and NRT.
• An electronic cigarette. Vaping is becoming the most popular method of quitting.
Should You Try Vaping?
If you don’t know what an e-cigarette is (see here if you don't), you’ve been living under a rock. A vaper inhales and exhales the water vapor produced by an electronic vaping device. It looks thicker than smoke, but dissolves more quickly and smells nicer, depending on the flavor you choose.
The process of vaping is similar to smoking a regular cigarette. That’s why this alternative is so appealing to smokers.
Vaping products are tobacco-free, and sometimes nicotine-free. So, you get smoking minus 4000 dangerous chemicals, the smell and the side effects, say the supporters.
According to Daily Mail, women are more likely to switch to vaping. Over half of vapers are female. The research conducted by the Public Health England revealed that e-cigarettes were 95% safer than regular cigarettes. The PHE even added that one day an e-cig vaporizer could be offered as a licensed tobacco-substitute product such as a nicotine gum.
Some experts say that the boom in popularity of vaping could glamorize smoking, as many celebs, such as Katty Perry, Paris Hilton, Katherine Heigl, Kate Moss and Cara Delevingne, has switched to e-cigs. But others claim that it could help to reduce the statistics of smoking-related diseases in future.
It is never too late to give up. Even if you’ve been smoking for several decades. You’ll notice dramatic changes after you quit. And your family will grow in a safer environment. Just sum up the pros and cons!