Teenage Smoking: Huff, puff, blow friends away

Smoking was the way for teenagers to show their parents that they were too old to live by their rules anymore. Teenagers took to smoking by the dozens because it was cool, especially because their favourite Bollywood heroes smoked, both on and off-screen. These were the days when tobacco companies could advertise freely, especially in films, and not many were aware of the ill-effects of tobacco.
A lot has changed after smoking was banned in public places. The government and numerous NGOs have undertaken various campaigns to educate people — especially teenagers — about the ill effects of smoking. Has any of this done anything to change the popular notion among teenagers that it’s cool to smoke? Anul Jain, a TYBA student of St Xavier’s College, Mumbai, says, “I think that these days, it is ‘cooler’ to not smoke than to smoke, because there is more awareness about the ill effects of smoking.”

Namrata Gandhi, another TYBA student endorses this view. “Teens have a false idea that they can quit whenever they want to. Also, a lot of college-going students who live in hostels tend to start smoking, mainly because there’s no family around to tell them to stop. Personally, I don’t mind being friends with people who smoke, but I can’t stand it when they smoke around me,” she says.

However, Saumya Vaishnava, a smoker herself, begs to differ. She says, “When teenagers move out of the school atmosphere into the hostile environment of college, it’s very intimidating, especially when you don’t know anyone. Smoking in a group makes it so much easier to socialise, because that is when people let their guard down.” However, soon, the teen becomes addicted, and then, “they have no option but to convince themselves it’s cool, because they themselves are doing it!” says Saumya. “Nobody wants to admit that what they’re doing is stupid, so they say it’s cool!” she adds.

Even though the opinions are divided (as always) between smokers and non-smokers, there is an agreement among teenagers about awareness of the detrimental effects of smoking.

Women Health: Workouts to Stay Young

30-60 Age Women group start obsessing about their workouts to stay young

If you thought being obsessed with your daily fitness routine meant a healthy lifestyle, then you are mistaken. Exercise addiction is a disorder, often working in conjunction with a more familiar eating disorder, such as anorexia or bulimia.
Working out at the gym everyday could lead to exercise addiction, according to a study. The flip side to this is called ‘exercise obsession’. Psychologists feel exercise addiction needs attention too. Running on a treadmill for hours and climbing stairs that lead nowhere, exercise addicts may have lost their physical, emotional and spiritual balance. To the common eye it may appear that these people are committed to good health but the scene is different.
These people have a fear of putting on weight and hence they push themselves too hard and end up injuring themselves.

Women Health: Exercise Addiction is a Disease of the Mind-1

Women Health: Exercise Addiction is a Disease of the Mind-1

Amita Agnihotri, director(Communications) of Fitness One India Ltd, says
“When you exercise your happy hormones get released, so you tend to get addicted to it. More than 30-45 minutes of exercise four to five times a week is not recommended. Body does not respond beyond 45 minutes. Overdoing of weight training leads to muscle pulls and rapture of ligaments.”
Too much exercise and the body can break down. Bones suffer, as do tendons, ligaments, even muscles. People become more susceptible to colds and flu.
Osteoporosis may set in. In extreme cases, the menstrual cycle may cease, feel doctors. “I have seen women whose menstrual cycle has become irregular due to over-exercise.” Says Dr.Ambarish Warty, gynaecologist. “But this is just temporary. Once you lower the empact of exercising, the cycle becomes normal.”