Warnings About Tobacco
In 1964, a report from the surgeon general of the United States linked smoking to lung cancer and heart disease. Soon after this report came out, the federal government took a tough stand against smoking.
Why Some Young People Drink
There are many reasons not to drink. In spite of them, many young people still experiment with alcohol. At present, about 1,300,000 teenagers in the United States have drinking problems. Of these, about 750,000 are alcoholics. Some of the reasons young people give for drinking include the following.
The Body Machine
The human body is a wonderful machine. It is made up of millions upon millions of tiny cells which group together to form organs such as the heart and lungs. Inside a thin covering of skin and a framework of bones are all the different parts that allow us to move, breathe, speak and eat.
Your Hair
The hair that you see on your body is made of dead cells. Its roots are in the deepest layer of skin, the dermis, housed in small pockets called follicles (FAHL-i-kuhlz). As new hair cells are formed, old ones are forced outward through the surface of the skin and die.
Lifestyle Diseases
Diseases that are caused by our health habits are called lifestyle diseases. Heart disease and cancer are two lifestyle diseases. Others are the problems caused by using tobacco, alcohol, or drugs. Many of these diseases do not appear until after the teen years.