If you smoke, you understand that smoking cigarettes is harmful to your health. According to the American Heart Association, more than 45 million adults smoke in the United States. As an adult, you can decide what you want to put into your body. Society tries to protect others by placing bans on public smoking and providing smoking-related education. When you smoke you may also be placing influences on those around you -- including children and adults who don't smoke.
Significance
Projecting a positive outward appearance with who you are mentally and physically is important. When you smoke cigarettes, not only are you hurting your body, but you are portraying to others that smoking may be chic, cool and ultimately relaxing. People who have quit smoking in the past or are currently trying to quit, may be tempted if you smoke in front of them. Kids may also see that their favorite movie character or Hollywood role model smokes cigarettes. This may be a bad influence on them to try smoking.
Types
Anyone can be influenced by you. Your children, peers and people who look up to you as a role model are those who may try to model your behavior. KidsHealth reminds parents to be a good role model. If you smoke, your child may think that it is appropriate for him to smoke as well. Smoking cigarettes can lead to health problems. Even slight health problems, such as chronic cough and shortness of breath, are easily visible by others. Using a cigarette as way to cope with difficult or stressful situations is also a bad influence on others. Smoking in an area when others cannot get adequate ventilation can cause physical distress to others.
Features
You can portray bad habits and influences by showing others how much you enjoy smoking or that smoking is cool. Smoking used to be considered cool and commonly as part of a social setting. If you choose to smoke in situations only because others may be smoking, you may be setting a bad example or influencing other non-smokers that it's cool to smoke.
Effects
Smoking may not only influence others around you to start smoking, but it can also damage their health and disrupt their daily routine. The damage from secondhand smoke in some cases can be more harmful than just picking up a cigarette and smoking it. The American Cancer Society explains that secondhand smoke or environmental tobacco smoke can cause serious health problems, such as cancer, heart disease, asthma attacks, lung infection and ear infection. Because secondhand smoke contains more than 4,000 chemical compounds, it can seep into other people's hair and clothes, causing a distinct cigarette odor that needs to be washed out.
Prevention
You can take the first step at being a positive influence rather than a bad one by quitting smoking. Quitting smoking will be a health benefit to you and a positive role model for your children, family, friends and peers. Use your smoking habit as a way to educate others on the dangers and bad influences of smoking. If you would like to quit but are unable to do so on your own, seek advice from your family physician for treatment patches that may help curb your desire to smoke.
