Smoking & Nicotine / Question
Published: May 9, 2002

Dear TeenHealthFX,

I would really like to know if smoking stops the growth cycle in an adolescent boy who is the age of 16?

Signed: Does Smoking Stop The Growth Cycle

Dear Does Smoking Stop The Growth Cycle,

 

TeenHealthFX cannot say enough about not smoking. Smoking does not stop the growth cycle, but it can hinder the progress. Here are the definites:

 

Smoking definitely is associated with weight loss, poor weight gain and excessive tiredness apart. Smoking also causes increased respiratory infections, ear infections and chronic cough. Smoking is also known to significantly increase the risk for heart attacks, high blood pressure and cancer of lungs/stomach/intestines/ and mouth. In females, it is also associated with early menopause, facial wrinkles and cancer of the cervix. Smoking during pregnancy can lead to small/ premature babies.

 

FX has answered several questions about the bad effects of smoking and ways of quitting. Check out these questions:

• Can Breath Out But Not In - Asthma?
• Quitting Smoking
• Smoking & Sports
• New Smoker
• Drugs That Equal Bad Breath & Wrinkling
• Friend Who Smokes A Pack A Day
• Cigarettes Stunt Growth

Again, FX highly recommends that you quit smoking even if you like it and do not want to quit. There is help out there for a person that want to quit.

Signed: TeenHealthFX

The teen pregnancy rate in the United States is the highest of any industrialized democracy, nearly twice that of Great Britain and 10 times that of Japan. ⁴