Tobacco and Athletic Performance
• Don’t get trapped. Nicotine in cigarettes, cigars, vape products (e-cigarettes) and chew is addictive.
• Nicotine narrows your blood vessels and puts added strain on your heart.
• Smoking can wreck your lungs and reduce the oxygen available for muscles used during sports.
• Smokers suffer shortness of breath (gasp!) almost three times more often than nonsmokers.
• Smokers run slower and can’t run as far, affecting overall athletic performance.
• Cigars, chew and vaping (e-cigarettes) are NOT safe alternatives.
Tobacco and Personal Appearance
• Yuck! Tobacco smoke can make your hair and clothes stink.
• Tobacco stains your teeth and causes bad breath.
• Short-term use of chew can cause cracked lips, white spots, sores, and bleeding in your mouth.
So . . . Know the truth. Despite all the tobacco use on TV and in movies, music videos, billboards and magazines–most teens, adults, and athletes DON’T use tobacco. Make friends, develop athletic skills, control your weight, be independent, be cool … play sports. Don’t waste (burn) money on tobacco. What other things could you spend that money on? Get involved: make your team, school, and home tobacco-free; teach others; join community efforts to prevent tobacco use.