Teen Smoking
What You(th) Should Know About Tobacco
Despite all the tobacco use on TV and in movies, music videos, billboards and magazines, most teens, adults and athletes DON'T use tobacco. Know the truth.
Tobacco and Athletic Performance
- Don't get trapped. Nicotine in cigarettes, cigars and spit tobacco is addictive.
- Nicotine narrows your blood vessels and puts added strain on your heart.
- Smoking can affect lungs and reduce oxygen available for muscles used during sports.
- Smokers suffer shortness of breath almost three times more than nonsmokers do. Gasp!
- Smokers run slower and can't run as far, affecting overall athletic performance.
- Cigars and spit tobacco are NOT safe alternatives.
- Tobacco smoke can make hair and clothes stink. Yuck!
- Tobacco stains teeth and causes bad breath.
- Short-term use of spit tobacco can cause cracked lips, white spots, sores and bleeding in the mouth.
- Surgery to remove oral cancers caused by tobacco can leave life-long scars on your face.
- Don't waste time on tobacco! Make friends, develop athletic skills, control weight, play sports, be independent, be cool.
- Don't waste (burn) money on tobacco! Spend it on CDs, clothes, computer games and movies.
- Get involved! Make your team, school and home tobacco-free. Teach others; join community efforts to prevent tobacco use.
