Most women know that smoking can cause lung
cancer, heart disease and premature death. But
what you may not know is that women, regardless
of their age, can be harmed by smoking in so
many other ways.
Smoking can wreak havoc on a woman's
appearance, causing a sallow complexion and
premature ageing, as well as contributing to
infertility, early menopause,1 and osteoporosis.2
Women who smoke during pregnancy endanger
not only themselves, but their babies too.3
Mothers who smoke around their children also
put their kids' health at risk.3
The good news is that it is never too late to become
smokefree and join the thousands of women who
have quit smoking to improve their health. Huge
numbers of women quit each day – you can do it
too. The sooner you do it, the greater the benefit.
This guide will help you better understand why
smoking is particularly bad for women and show
you the health, lifestyle and cosmetic benefits to
quitting smoking whatever your age.
TEENAGERS
Smoking might seem exciting and cool but the
reality is that it harms your body and your health
from the first puff you take.
Skin
Tobacco smoke contains over 4,000 chemicals4
and can both dehydrate and deprive your skin of
oxygen.5 Some research shows that the damaging
effects of cigarette smoke on the skin may start
earlier than previously thought.6 Over the years, if
you continue smoking your face is more likely to
develop wrinkles, crow's feet, all-round bad texture
and can appear a washed-out yellow-grey colour.5
One of the best things you can do to help maintain
a beautiful complexion is to stop smoking. Quit and
you could see real benefits - skin can become
smoother and brighter.7
Hair
Did you know that smoking can potentially lead to
baldness and premature grey hair. Certain chemicals
in smoke break down in hair cells, which leads
to hair damage.8 Conversely, quitting can help to
restore the flow of nutrients to the hair, improving
nourishment and giving you back a healthy shine.
Breathe
Smoking stains your teeth and makes them yellow.9
It leaves an unpleasant smell that lingers in the
mouth and breath – smoking is one of the major
causes of bad breath.
QUITTING WILL STOP YOU STINKING.
Health
Smoking reduces fitness and sporting
performance.10 If you smoke it is likely that you
aren't going to be able to run as fast or as far as
your smoke-free team mates. A smoker's heart
has to work much harder than that of a nonsmoker
so, in competition, your body wastes a
lot more energy just trying to keep up with the
non-smokers.10
Quitting smoking should enable you to work out
much better than you could before and help you
obtain optimum fitness.
PERIODS AND SEXUAL HEALTH
Quitting smoking could ease the agony of painful
periods. Girls and women who smoke may be
more likely to have painful and irregular periods.3
Smoking can be risky for girls using the combined
oral contraceptive pill as it may increase the
chance of the pill failing.3 It can also cause breakthrough
bleeding.11
For help ring Quitline 0800 00 22 00
or visit www.quitbecause.org.uk
Ask yourself...is smoking really worth it?
20+
SKIN
Smoking can age you by 10 years or more!5
Your complexion is more likely to have a yellowgrey
pallor and lines on the cheeks and lower
jaw. The more a person smokes the greater the
risk of premature wrinkling.5
If you quit now your skin should become
healthier making you feel and look better.
PERIODS AND SEXUAL HEALTH
Although the following list might seem grim,
don't despair - you can see significant benefits
by stopping smoking.
- Risk of cervical cancer increases two-fold if
you are a smoker.12
- More than five-times greater risk of developing
genital warts.13
- Greater chance of menstrual irregularities.14
- Higher combined contraceptive pill failure rate3
and breakthrough bleeding.11
- Reduced chance of 10-40% per cycle,
if you want to have a baby (more details in
pregnancy section).12,15
The good news is that it's not too late to stop
smoking. You will quickly notice all the benefits.
To find the best way for you to quit ring
Quitline 0800 00 22 00.
FITNESS
It is not only the skin that ages prematurely; it is
a well-known fact that smoking reduces physical
fitness.10 Smoking is bad for physical fitness even
if you think you are fit. It lowers physical endurance
and causes increased fatigue both during and
after exercise.10
Quit and you will have much more energy!
Smoking in your 30s and 40s
Smoking and pregnancy
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