Smoking keeps you from reaching your highest level of athletic performance.
Smoking causes coughing and shortness of breath.
Smoking decreases the oxygen carrying capacity of your blood.
People who smoke have more colds, sore throats and respiratory infections each year.
Smoking delays healing of many common sports injuries.
Smoking during the teenage years slows the rate that the lungs grow.
Smoking during adolescence causes deficits in lung function consistent with early signs of obstructive airway disease.
Reference
Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. Research and Data: Factsheets: Smoking and Decreased Physical Performance.
This information has been approved by Amy Lukowski, PsyD (August 2015).