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What are the Most Common Smoking Symptoms?
Before even seeing someone light up a cigarette, people can typically tell that the person smokes due to smoking symptoms. There are the outer signs, such as yellow fingers and teeth, in addition to internal signs, such as shortness of breath. Although the short-term problems are bad, they are no comparison for what they can lead to in the future.
Due to a smoker holding the cigarette, he or she may develop yellow skin on the fingers as well as yellow fingernails, both caused by the nicotine in the cigarettes. It is one of the major smoking symptoms that can develop fairly quickly. While there are some options to remove the stains, it depends on the individual and none are guaranteed.
Yellow teeth and bad breath are smoking symptoms that are additional unpleasant side effects that come from smoking. The combination of the cigarette and the bacteria in the mouth leads to the bad breath. The yellow can be minimized with teeth whitening procedures, however, degrees vary by individual. It will have to be an ongoing process to keep up with the teeth yellowing caused from constant smoking, however, the whitening isn't good for teeth either when it is overused and abused.
One of the internal smoking symptoms that some smokers experience is shortness of breath. Running or jogging can be a problem, especially for a prolonged period of time. Even something as simple as climbing a flight of stairs or a small hill can cause a smoker to stop to catch his or her breath. Other smokers complain of shortness of breath even while sitting in a chair.
One of the smoking symptoms that people other than the smoker may notice is a stench of light or heavy cigarette smoke coming from the person's hair, clothes and skin. The smoker may not notice it himself. Scented body washes, perfumes and colognes only mask the smell, but it can also make it worse or not cover it up at all.
Even after someone quits, all of the smoking symptoms may take a long time to go away, if they go away at all. Regular visits to a dentist and a doctor can help combat some of the symptoms. In addition to recommending quitting smoking, they can also suggest preventive measures to keep some of them from getting worse.
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![Light cigarettes do little to reduce symptoms or the health risks of smoking.]()
By: bizoo_nLight cigarettes do little to reduce symptoms or the health risks of smoking. -
![For many, one of the most unpleasant dental side effects of smoking is bad breath.]()
By: Piotr MarcinskiFor many, one of the most unpleasant dental side effects of smoking is bad breath. -
![Smokers often have yellow fingernails due to the nicotine in cigarettes, which stains the hands.]()
By: ehabeljeanSmokers often have yellow fingernails due to the nicotine in cigarettes, which stains the hands. -
![Research suggests that 90% of deaths from lung cancer are directly correlated to smoking.]()
By: leonardo2011Research suggests that 90% of deaths from lung cancer are directly correlated to smoking.
Discussion Comments
@Iluviaporos - I was always just embarrassed that people could tell I was a smoker. Maybe it was because no one in my group of friends smoked and most of the people I knew looked down on smoking. I was quite horrified when I realized my fingers had started to yellow slightly around where I gripped the filter.
That was the smoking symptom that was easiest to notice, but I'm sure the wheezing in my lungs was a close second.
@clintflint - It's funny, but most people who quit seem to do best if they are motivated by cosmetic issues rather than health issues. They might really be scared about their long term health and completely understand that smoking is probably going to kill them, but it still isn't enough to stop them from lighting up.
Emphasize the fact that it can ruin your skin and teeth and fingernails and make you smell terrible, inside and out, though, and people will be way more receptive to change.
I think that's just a natural part of the human psyche though and has more to do with long vs. short term gains rather than being superficial about looks. I remember being much more diligent as a teenager about taking medications that were going to help me immediately, rather than ones that would probably help me later in life.
The yellow teeth and bad breath are one of the main reasons I quit smoking. I know that it's supposed to be about health in the long term, and I do care about that, but thinking about the long term it's easy to make excuses that just a single cigarette isn't going to hurt anything.
I hate the idea of having bad breath though and I just don't think it's possible to avoid it if you smoke long enough. I met a friend of a friend once who had been smoking for most of his life and his teeth were just disgusting. I decided then and there that I didn't want that to happen to me.
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