Why People Smoke.

People start smoking for a variety of reasons. Most people start smoking during adolescence or early adulthood. But people continue to smoke because smoking is addictive. This is the main cause of smoking.

Why is smoking addictive. Smoking tobacco is addictive because tobacco contains nicotine which makes one dependent on smoking tobacco. Nicotine is a drug which when inhaled through tobacco smoke is absorbed into the blood through the lungs. On reaching the brain, it induces the artificial release of dopamine.

Dopamine is a chemical which induces a feeling of pleasure, a feeling akin to a feeling of achievement. Your body therefore yearns for this feeling of pleasure caused by this artificial release of dopamine due to tobacco inhalation. This feeling dies down after the nicotine levels fall and you wish for another tobacco smoke to get that feeling back. That’s how tobacco smoking makes one addictive to it. This is the main reason why people smoke. And the smoking habit, though not impossible, is one of the most difficult addictions to break.

Causes of Smoking.

Why do people smoke is something which a non smoker may find difficult to digest. But there are causes of smoking which make the weak minded start smoking for the most feeble of reasons. Check out these causes.

1. As explained above, smoking is very addictive. If a habitual smoker stops smoking abruptly, he or she will develop withdrawal symptoms such as difficulty in getting sleep and cravings for a cigarette. The difficulty to stop smoking can be gauged from the fact that 70% of the people who give up smoking start smoking again. This is the cause of smoking which  compels one to continue smoking and is the most important reason why people smoke.

2. Advertisements of tobacco products such as cigarettes has a big influence on teenagers to start smoking. Previously cigarette advertisements were seen everywhere, including hoardings, ads on television, ads in the theatres and press ads. Even the glamorizing of cigarette smoking in movies is a big motivation for young people to start smoking. Now of course most countries have banned smoking advertisements due to the ill effects of smoking on health. This is one of the causes of smoking which makes one start smoking.

3. Smoking and Weight Loss. It is surprising but many people smoke because smoking disallows weight gain. It is a fact that many people put on weight after giving up smoking. It is probably due to the following reason.

• Smoking reduces the sensitivity of the taste buds. It reduces the sense of taste and the smoker does not relish or enjoy his food so much. He is in a hurry to finish his food for that post meal smoke. Secondly to enjoy his or her smoke, tea, coffee or beverages are drunk in between meals for that enjoyable smoke afterwards. This also kills his appetite.

This cause of smoking may sound ridiculous to a non smoker or even to a smoker, but studies indicate that some people do continue to smoke to stay lean.

4. Smoking is also seen as a social activity. In a party, many people smoke to interact and be part of a crowd that has some smokers in it. This is true especially of the young crowd.

5. In a boring situation, many people light up a cigarette to be engaged.

6. A stressful or emotional situation can be a good cause of smoking. People smoke because it helps them to relax. It gives them a feeling of confidence and satisfaction  which makes it difficult to give up smoking.

Why Teenagers Smoke.

7. Many youngsters start smoking as an act of rebellion against parental pressure. Smoking gives a sense of maturity to the young teen and makes him feel more confident. This is an example of the bad effects of peer pressure.

8. A teenager often starts smoking due to the influence of friends who are smokers. Constant interaction with such friends and their goading often makes him or her start smoking. This is probably the most common cause of smoking amongst the teenagers and is the main reason why teenagers smoke.

9. Children of smoking parent/s are more prone to start smoking simply out of sheer familiarity to smoking and the influence of the parental behavior on the children.

Summary. Though some of these causes of smoking may sound convincing, the established fact remains that smoking kills you health wise and makes a hole in your finances. A non smoker enjoys his life more than a smoker and his or her morbidity rate till late in life is better than a smoker’s. No cause of smoking can justify one to start smoking. Why people smoke is best left for the smoker to identify. What the smoker should know is why he should not smoke.

 

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2. Quitting Smoking|Why Stop Smoking.
3. Smoking Statistics.
4. Secondhand Smoking Facts and Statistics.
5. Quitting Smoking Help|Help to Quit Smoking.
6. Smoking Withdrawals Symptoms|Nicotine Withdrawal Symptoms.
7. Quitting Smoking on Your Own|How To Stop Smoking on Your Own.
8. Effects and Dangers of Secondhand Smoking.