http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/03/110302152820.htm
Tobacco smoking is the leading preventable cause of death and disease in the US, with more than 400,000 deaths each year, and yet teens still smoke. Smoking usually begins in the teen years, and approximately 80 percent of adult smokers became hooked by the time they were 18. Meanwhile, teens who don't take up smoking usually never do. In a study, 25 smokers and 25 non-smokers between the ages of 15 to 21 were asked to perform a test that activated the prefrontal cortex which is the area of the brain that guides decision-making. The results of the study were; the greater a teen's addiction to nicotine, the less active the prefrontal cortex was, suggesting that smoking can affect brain function.
Tobacco smoking is the leading preventable cause of death and disease in the US, with more than 400,000 deaths each year, and yet teens still smoke. Smoking usually begins in the teen years, and approximately 80 percent of adult smokers became hooked by the time they were 18. Meanwhile, teens who don't take up smoking usually never do. In a study, 25 smokers and 25 non-smokers between the ages of 15 to 21 were asked to perform a test that activated the prefrontal cortex which is the area of the brain that guides decision-making. The results of the study were; the greater a teen's addiction to nicotine, the less active the prefrontal cortex was, suggesting that smoking can affect brain function.
It sounds to me like a smoking addiction affects the brain like alcohol. It smears a teen's decision making ability and could lead to them making a bad choice. I think more teens need to be aware of this because it might stop a few of them from picking up that first cigarrete. I had no idea that it affected one's brain like that, i thought it was simply an addiction.
ReplyDeleteYeah I agree with Alyssa. It seems like tobacco affects the brain a lot like alcohol and drugs do and if more people knew that then there would be fewer people who would start smoking in the first place.
ReplyDeleteNot only is smoking a bad idea for one's health, but it is bad for our environment as well. If people took the time to research the affects smoking has on their body and others around them, they may think twice about starting the bad habit. It is sad to think our generation is starting to become addicted to the drug at such a young age. Knowing tobacco use interferes with the brain makes me feel even stronger about smoking being a bad idea.
ReplyDeleteI think this test should be conducted wide scale to prove it so there is an even stronger argument to ban tobacco in America since it not only affects our health but the environment too.
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