Prevention

For Teens: What You Should Know About Smoking

Choose a preferred language

Smoking has been linked with many serious illnesses. It's also been shown to increase signs of aging. When you smoke, your breathing becomes shallow, and your lungs fill with smoke. This means you get less air. Cigarettes also fill your body with chemicals, such as nicotine and tar.


How smoking affects you

Smoking can:

  • Make other people not want to be around you

  • Stain your teeth yellow

  • Make people feel like they're kissing an ashtray

  • Make you, your clothes, your car, and your surroundings stink

  • Make some people not want to date you


To learn more

Find helpful tips and resources to help you quit smoking at:

Featured in

© 2000-2026 The StayWell Company, LLC. All rights reserved. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your healthcare professional's instructions.
schedule icon

Schedule an Appointment

Find the right provider and schedule anytime.

View Providers
Related Articles
Read article
Lung Health
For Teens: Know the Risks of Smoking

Many teens start smoking because they think it looks sophisticated. But the reality is very different. Read on to understand the real risks of smoking.

Read article
Wellness
Teens and Smoking: Do You Know the Truth?

Right now, you have a chance to make one of the biggest decisions of your life. It's about smoking. It may not seem like a big deal. But if you start smoking now, there's a good chance that you'll be addicted for life. Think it can't happen to you? Check out these facts.

Read article
Wellness
Preventing Obesity in Children, Teens, and Adults

The longer a person is obese, the more they are at risk for problems. Many chronic diseases are linked with obesity. And obesity is hard to treat. Because of these reasons, prevention is very important.

Read article
Wellness
Helping Teens Embrace Self-Care

Before your teens leave home, teach them to make their own healthcare decisions. One way is to provide information and include them in their own self-care from an early age.