Women Targeted By Cigarette Companies
Posted on February 20, 2008 - Filed Under Health and Fitness, Travel and Leisure
It is a known fact that cigarettes deliver a steady dose of some very hazardous chemicals with some famous adverse side effects. Smoking will always put your health at risk, but women will find that are more complications for them than for their male counterparts. The worst part of the nicotine addiction for women is the way in which cigarette companies continue to target women and girls through advertising. Ad campaigns typically infer that smoking constitutes the identity of slim, attractive, independent women. The manner in which these companies glamorize smoking encourages new generations of women to get hooked.
Cigarette companies bank on the social pressures put on women to generate continued sales. Girls and women are pressured to smoke by the image that advertisements project: a woman who smokes is shown as a thin, confident, free-thinking and beautiful person. She is dressed sumptuously or trendy– and no matter what she wears, it seems like she is always catching the eye of men, or being the life of the party. The general impression is that all these social benefits are derived from the simple act of lighting up a cigarette.
Part of cigarette marketing takes steady aim at women “quitters” who may be ready to relapse. The reasons for women to restart their smoking habit are quite different from men’s– women start smoking again to manage stress, control weight and distract from other negative emotions. How can someone resist cigarettes when they are advertised as the ultimate image booster?
Cigarette companies may show you photos of beautiful women, but the truth of the matter is this:
- It is estimated that cigarette smoke kills 178,408 women annually in the United States.
- 90% of all lung cancer deaths can be attributed to smoking-in 1987, lung cancer deaths among women outnumbered breast cancer fatalities.
- Women age 35 or older who currently smoke are 12 times more likely to face an early death due to lung cancer than their non-smoking peers. In this year (2007), an estimated 70,880 women will perish from lung or bronchus cancers.
- It has been proven that smoking is directly responsible for 80% of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) cases. For the past three years, the number of women who died from COPD has outnumbered the number of men who died from the same disease.
- If you smoke during pregnancy your baby can suffer a multitude of health problems. Smoking prevents 25% of the normal amount of oxygen from reaching your baby.
- If you are a woman, 35 or older, who currently smokes, you are 10.5 times more likely to die from emphysema or chronic bronchitis than your non-smoking peers.
- Smokers in their 40’s tend to look as old as non-smokers in their 60’s because of the increased amount of skin wrinkling, greyish skin tone, staining on the teeth and yellowing of nails.
- After initially quitting, women may experience temporary weight gain– BUT after a short period of time it will naturally level out to a normal weight.
- Women who smoke a 50% more likely to grow facial hair– this was proven as part of a study on how smoking affects hormone levels in women.
The good news:
- A recent study found that middle aged women and men with mild or moderate COPD had dramatically improved breathing after they quit smoking.
- Women who quit smoking had twice the improvement in lung function after one year than men who had quit.
- In 2003, 49.9% of female smokers tried to quit smoking for at least one day.
A few things to keep in mind
- Quitting is tough and requires you to really make up your mind and be determined to stop smoking– but it IS possible if you put your mind to it!
- Cigarette companies are counting on your nicotine addiction to put money in their pockets– think of all the things you could do for yourself with that extra couple bucks that would normally go towards a pack of smokes! You could treat yourself to a manicure on a couple days’ worth of cigarettes! Honestly, it’s time to throw away the habit and reward yourself whenever you hit another “quit milestone”!
- If you are feeling sad or stressed, don’t let cigarettes be a stand-in for your security blanket. Cigarette companies are betting on the fact that it’s tougher for women to quit! Don’t let them have the upper hand!
- Don’t forget to believe in yourself! You CAN do it!
- Women and Sales Jobs
- Quitting Smoking - The Financial And Health Benefits
- Knowledge Is The Key To Quit Smoking For Good
- 6 Steps To List Building
- How To Maximize Your Commissions
Isn’t it time that you became the truly independent, healthier, more beautiful woman you’ve always wanted to be? Set a “quit date” and take your first step towards a better lifestyle!
Visit My Air Purifier for straight talk and no hype about what air purifiers and air cleaners work best for allergies, asthma, smoke removal and more. We specialize in both commercial and residential air cleaners and purifiers.
Get fast, friendly advice from a certified indoor air quality professional.
http://www.my-air-purifier.com
Related Posts
Comments
Leave a Reply
