Everyone knows smoking is bad, and dentists are strong advocates for promoting smoking cessation, but here are 5 WTF! things you probably didn’t know…
- Rat Poison – Did you know that cigarettes contain 600 ingredients which when burnt release 7000 chemicals, and one of these chemicals is called ARSENIC – a known RAT POISON. Arsenic was also used as an insecticide until it was discovered it was causing BRAIN DAMAGE among workers applying the spray. WTF!
- Think of the children – Menthol was originally added to cigarettes to reduce the harshness of smoking but shockingly flavours were further developed to help market smoking to a younger generation. Flavours such as cherry, chocolate and vanilla were created to encourage younger people to smoke in the hope they would become addicted. All in the name of profits. WTF!
- Breaking Bank – Smoking is expensive, really expensive! An average pack of 20 cigarette costs $7.00 in the USA. This equates to around $1,500-$2,000 a year for a 15 a day smoker. Where prices are higher, smoking can easily burn a hole in your wallet with some people spending thousands of dollars a year on the habit. WTF!
- Man Down! – Most people think of lung cancer when talking about smoking, but new studies have also shown it can affect what goes on downstairs. That’s right, research has proven that there is a link between smoking and erectile dysfunction (ED); a man’s ability to have and maintain an erection for sexual performance. This is because during sexual arousal an erection is achieved by blood vessels dilating and the penis filling with blood. Smoking damages the blood vessels throughout the body, which reduces the volume of blood able to be pumped through them, and not enough blood leads to a limp or short-lived erection. WTF!
- Tooth nightmare! – Ever had that one dream where all your teeth fall out. Well smoking can cause just that, albeit over years. Smoking damages the attachments between the gum and the teeth. This makes the gums shrink, causing the teeth to become loose and eventually needing removal or worse falling out. WTF!
Please be aware, smoking kills around 5 million deaths a year and causes a whole host of diseases, some incurable. Smoking is addictive due to its nicotine content, which causes dependence. This can make it very difficult to quit. Seek guidance from a healthcare professional for guidance on how to quit. Many communities offer free programs on helping people to stop smoking.
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