Studies have shown that heavy smoking during the senior years can raise one�s risk of Alzheimer�s disease (AD). Other research studies indicate that smoking in middle-age can lead to a higher chance of getting AD.� But, when you think...
Studies have shown that heavy smoking during the senior years can raise one�s risk of Alzheimer�s disease (AD). Other research studies indicate that smoking in middle-age can lead to a higher chance of getting AD.� But, when you think about it logically, it usually all starts during the high school or college years.
Statistics on Students Who Smoke
It�s common for young people to take up smoking.� In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, GA, 13% of those who are between the ages of 18 and 24, smoke cigarettes. The CDC reports that 19% of smokers graduated from high school and 18.5% completed some college.
While it�s true that vaping has taken the place of smoking for many students, smoking cigarettes is still common.� In fact, according to a recent article published by The State Press, there is a misperception that due to the new trend of vaping, young people no longer smoke.� The State Press article goes on to explain that, �cigarette smoking is still extremely prevalent among college students.� When tobacco use�chewing or cigars�is lumped together with cigarette smoking, the statistics show that around one-third of college aged students use tobacco products.
As mentioned, the problem with smoking starts when students engage in social smoking.� This doesn�t necessarily lead to daily or heavy smoking right away, but, nicotine is an addictive substance, and over time, a percentage of smoking students will go on to develop long-term habits.� In turn, long-term smoking can raise the risk of one getting Alzheimer�s, heart disease, and other medical conditions.
�One in ten ASU students say that they have smoked cigarettes in the past 30 days,� Karen Moses, the director of Wellness and Health Promotion at ASU, said. �Not all of them smoke daily, so it is the social smoking,� she added.
A common deterrent to smoking used to be free ads on television, created by the CDC.� One such ad featured a woman smoking through her tracheotomy�a hole in the neck for breathing, which can result from throat cancer.� The commercial resulted in 100,000 smokers who ended up quitting.� Unfortunately, in modern times, many young people watch commercial free programming�such as Netflix and Hulu�and they miss out on public safety ads.
The Skinny on Smoking and Dementia
Just like the woman with the hole in her neck, Alzheimer�s and cancer do not occur as an instance response to predisposing factors�such as smoking.� It happens over time.� But, according to WebMD, one study discovered a very strong link between those who smoke 2 packs of cigarettes per day�from age 50 to age 60�and the development of dementia later in life.�
Life long habits, such as smoking, are hard to quit.� But, as a college student, if you never get started, it won�t be an issue down the road.� Quitting smoking is one of several Alzheimer�s prevention measures that can be implemented today, for a healthy brain tomorrow!
