Smoking is the leading cause of preventable deaths in the United States. According to the Center of Disease Control and Prevention, cigarette smoking causes 440,000 deaths each year. Also, an adult's bad example can contribute to the number of deaths each year. Around 80% of the adults that smoke today began smoking before they turned eighteen. Every 24 hours, around 4,000 people under the age of eighteen try their first cigarette. This results to the 6.4 million children that are predicted to die prematurely in the future.

Although these facts about smoking are quite disturbing, it is easy to take them for granted because numbers don't really show the effects of smoking on people. For people who are unconvinced by these figures, here are some more facts about smoking to consider.

For people who plan on acquiring the habit, this is one of the facts about smoking that they should know. Cigarettes contain a substance called nicotine. This drug is addictive as heroin and cocaine. As the body's intake of nicotine increases, it becomes more physically and psychologically dependent on it. A lot of studies have shown that most smokers have to get rid of this dependency in order to quit. Most of them cannot let go of smoking because they keep on craving for the pleasurable feelings that this drug induces.

Some people also use it as an anti-depressant, not knowing that nicotine can interfere in the flow of information between nerve cells, making a person slower and more sluggish. Aside from smoking while driving, this is another reason why most drivers who get into accidents are smokers.

Among all the facts about smoking listed in this article, this is bound to hit people who are very conscious of their appearance. Cigarette smoke and tar can deprive the skin of the nutrients and oxygen that it needs to be healthy, making it look dull and lifeless. Because these can also lead to the formation of free radicals, they can weaken the collagen and elastin fibers, causing the skin to wrinkle prematurely.

Because cigarette smoking can also weaken the immune system, smokers are more vulnerable to diseases such as lupus erythromatosus, which causes hair loss. It can also cause the appearance of rashes on the face, scalp, and hands. Not only does smoking stain the teeth, it also affects the mouth's chemistry, making it more prone to plaque and can contribute to tooth decay. As a matter of fact, smokers have a bigger chance of losing their teeth than non-smokers.

Smoking is also a big turn off because of the odor that clings to the clothes, hair, and skin of smokers. It can also cause bad breath. So, before you decide on taking the lighted cigarette from your friend's hand, think about the habit that you are getting yourself into. Quitting this habit maybe more difficult than you think! And, for those who are already stuck with it, this article might help you think about kicking the habit.