Topic 2 Consequences of Smoking in Childhood

Smoking is very harmful to young people. Girls and boys who start smoking at a young age acquire many diseases they are not even aware of. Smoking has been proven to have a particularly detrimental effect on children therefore those who start smoking too early have quite a few problems in their daily lives, namely:

• reduced ability to remember information and its perception;
• deterioration of visual acuity;
• slower reactions in movements;
• reduced muscle strength;
• depletion of nerve cells, leading to premature fatigue, reduced brain ability in solving logical problems;
• activation of the thyroid gland, which is accompanied by an increased heart rate, an increase in temperature, the appearance of thirst, irritability, sleep disorders;
• negative effect on the skin, manifested by the appearance of acne, seborrhea, change in skin tone;
• rapid wear of the heart muscle;
• the development of lung cancer;
• violation of the proper work and rest schedule due to the regular desire to smoke another cigarette;
• frequent headaches, irritability, and decreased productivity;
• growth retardation;
• adolescent sexual development problems;
• underdevelopment of the mammary glands and irregular menstruation in girls;
• behaviour problems.