Page 167 - (DK) Help Your Kids with Growing Up: A No-Nonsense Guide to Puberty and Adolescence

SMOKING 1 6 5
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Passive smoking
Passive, or second-hand, smoking occurs when a person
inhales smoke in the air, emitted from a burning cigarette
or exhaled smoke. Prolonged exposure of non-smokers to
second-hand smoke increases their risk of cancer, heart and
lung disease, respiratory problems, and premature death.

▷ Second-hand smoke
There is no known safe level of exposure to second-hand
smoke, and it’s especially harmful to young children.

Stopping smoking
After smoking a cigarette, a person’s body will start the process of recovery
from the harmful effects within 20 minutes. If a teen wants to quit, there is a
variety of methods, from nicotine patches and gum, to hypnotherapy.

8 hours
20 minutes The level of carbon
The last Blood pressure monoxide in the blood
cigarette returns to normal. from the last cigarette
has reduced by half.

12 hours
Oxygen levels in the
2 days
bloodstream have
Nerve endings start to repair returned to normal.
and both sense of smell and
taste have improved.

4 months
Lung function
has increased by 10 years
up to 10%. The risk of lung cancer
is half that of a smoker.

10–15 years
5 years The risk of a heart attack is
Risk of a heart attack is the same as someone who
half that of a smoker.
has never smoked.

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