There are lots of reasons why someone might start smoking - maybe they see their parents smoke or maybe their friends smoke. But there is no good reason to start smoking.
Tobacco is addictive. It contains nicotine, a drug that affects the brain. It goes through your bloodstream and reaches your brain in seconds. At first, it makes you feel good, but in less than an hour these pleasurable feelings go away and you start to feel nervous or moody. Since you want to feel good, you reach for another cigarette. Just like you crave a pizza or a chocolate bar, your brain begins to crave nicotine. But even though you are usually able to resist your cravings for your favorite foods, it is much harder to stay away from another cigarette. Eventually, you become hooked.
This may not be the first time you've heard that smoking can make you sick. It can cause lung diseases like cancer, make your bones weak, and keep your heart from working right. But did you know that some symptoms start as soon as you smoke your first cigarette ¿ no matter how young you are.
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