Smoking. It’s something everyone knows about. Something they teach you to stay away from in school, and unfortunately, something many many people do.

When someone “smokes” they light a cigarette that produces smoke. May not seem like a big deal, right? But smoking has three major dangers to it.

One danger is that as smoke is exhaled from a cigarette, it is also inhaled. Te smoke goes into your lungs through your windpipe, and over time, destroys the lung cells. This leads to many lung diseases, including Pneumonia, bronchitis, and lung cancer. It is proven you will live a shorter life span if you are a smoker.

Another major danger is air pollution. Whenever you smoke, smoke goes into the air, which causes air pollution, which can lead to asthma, global warming, and can even kill other species on our planet.

The last major danger of smoking, one that is not given much thought, is how your smoking affects other people. You know when you’re at the doctor office, and they ask you if anyone smokes in your house? That is because all the harm that is given to a person when he/she smokes is also given to a family member or friend. Secondhand smoke is just as dangerous as first hand smoke. Your family is at a high risk of getting the same lung diseases caused by smoking, just because they are breathing in your smoke. And smoke kills. As you smoke, you are killing your family! I was recently in a PSA about second hand smoke, and the catch line was “Secondhand smoke kills. Don’t bury your family” It is not given much thought, but smoking puts you, your loved ones, and the Earth at risk.

Given this, some might ask why people still smoke if they know this? People get addicted to a substance inside cigarettes called nicotine the same way you may get addicted to a show on Netflix. Except their brain learns to crave this nicotine, and eventually created the mind set it needs the nicotine to function. So once people start, they cannot stop.

Two ways people have learned to deal with their addictions are visiting rehab and eCigarettes. Rehab is always a fantastic option. Although many hate the idea of having to go to it, rehab provides a loving and safe environment where you can get help from caring doctors, and even support from people in the same situation as you. The second way some deal with their addiction is eCigarettes. eCigarettes provide the nicotine their body craves, without producing smoke.

So, if you know anyone who smokes, or ever get the temptation to pick up a cigarette, remember the harm smoking does to you, your loved ones, and the environment. Be smart and don’t start!!!