Is it OK for a 18 year old to smoke?

Currently, most US states allow 18-year-olds to purchase and smoke tobacco products, although 14 states set the age limit at 21.

What are the effects of smoking as a teenager?

Teens and Health Risks

• Stained teeth, periodontal disease, including tooth loss.
• Chronic coughing, increased phlegm, emphysema and bronchitis as well as being more susceptible to influenza.
• Mild airway obstruction, reduced lung function and slowed growth of lung function.
• Shortness of breath and phlegm.

What age does smoking start to affect you?

The younger you are when you begin to smoke, the more likely you are to become addicted to nicotine. According to the 2014 Surgeon General’s Report (SGR), nearly 9 out of 10 adults who smoke started before age 18, and nearly all started by age 26.

How many cigarettes is too many?

Smoking five or fewer cigarettes a day can cause almost as much damage to your lungs as smoking two packs a day. That’s according to a recent study from Columbia University that examined the lung function of 25,000 people, including smokers, ex-smokers, and those who have never smoked.

What are the health risks of smoking for teens?

Teens who smoke as a way to manage their weight often light up instead of eating. So their bodies can lack the nutrients needed to grow, develop, and fight off illness well. All forms of tobacco — cigarettes, pipes, cigars, hookahs, and smokeless tobacco — are health hazards.

Is it easier for adults to start smoking than teens?

Statistics show that about 9 out of 10 tobacco users start before they’re 18 years old. Most adults who started smoking in their teens never expected to become addicted. That’s why people say it’s just so much easier to not start smoking at all.

How many children die from smoking each year?

Every day, almost 2,500 children under 18 years of age try their first cigarette, and more than 400 of them will become new, regular daily smokers. 3 Half of them will ultimately die from their habit. 4 People who start smoking at an early age are more likely to develop a severe addiction to nicotine than those who start at a later age.

Should teens who smoke use nicotine replacement therapies?

Teens who smoke may benefit from nicotine replacement therapies. But these should be closely managed by a health care professional. Not all nicotine replacement products made for adults are safe for teens to take, and a doctor should be firmly in charge of a teen’s dosing schedule.