Look at these two pictures. One shows a set of healthy lungs and the other shows the lungs of a smoker. Can you tell the difference? Smoking cigarettes can have a very bad effect on your lungs and heart. Look at all the things that can happen to your body if you smoke.

If you smoke you will get breathless much more easily than a non smoker and you will find joining in sports very difficult.

People who smoke are far more likely to get ill from chest illnesses. Some of these illnesses can be very serious indeed. Cigarette smoke makes your body quite smelly and can put people off talking to you!

As well as problems with your lungs, smoking cigarettes can also cause problems with your eyes, nose, throat and mouth. It also makes your heart beat faster, putting more pressure on your heart!

There is a substance in cigarettes that can make your teeth go yellow. This is called nicotine. Nicotine is VERY addictive which is why people find it hard to give up smoking once they have started.

As a smoker puffs away, the natural cleansing process of the lungs stops working properly. Their lungs have to work harder. The gases from the cigarette harm the tissues of the lungs and the airways.

When the natural cleaning process stops working efficiently the smoker to cough up mucous. The mucous is a breeding ground begins for bacteria and viruses, making the smoker more likely to get colds, flu, and other diseases.

You don’t have to be a smoker to get ill from cigarettes. If you are around smoke all the time you can still suffer from some of the problems. That is why smoking has been banned in places like cafes and restaurants.

Look at these two pictures again. Which set of lungs would you prefer to have when you get older? Try to remember what smoking does to your body and - most importantly – DON’T SMOKE!

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