Sports Tips and Advice for Female Athletes

Smoking, including passive smoking has adverse effects on sports performance. More often people take up smoking for fun and get addicted to it later. As substantiated by scientific research, many chemicals in cigarettes, such as nicotine are actually poisonous which may leave the individual in serious health risk, including death.

Health Risks of Smoking

Heart Diseases, Cancer and Lung Diseases

The effects of smoking can manifest in the long term or short term basis. Smoking over a prolonged period can result in serious health problems like cancer, lung diseases, organ damage, and heart disease. It is estimated that single cigarette takes about 5 to 20 minutes off the person’s life.

Reduced Bone Mineral Density

Smoking results in a reduced bone mineral density which makes smokers more prone to osteoporosis, a condition that makes bones more prone to fracture.

Premature Ageing

Smoking may result in premature aging. Most smokers have wrinkled skin and yellow teeth. As a result of reduced mineral density the teeth may be more fragile.

Restricted Blood Vessels

Smoking results in a restriction of blood vessels. As a result, the passage of oxygen to the skin is limited. The entry of nutrients is also severely affected. Most smokers look pale and unhealthy for the same reason.

Increased Risk of Psoriasis

Since smoking affects the health of skin, smokers have an increased risk of getting psoriasis.

Poor Mental Agility

Since smoking affects tissues of the lung, smokers tend to be less active.

Sleeping Disorders

Studies have shown that smokers tend to develop sleeping disorders. Since good sleep is essential for health, smoking can lead to severe health problems.

Smoking: Effects on Athletic Performance

Smoking, as it is a serious health hazard, adversely affect sports performance. Mainly it is manifested in the decreased oxygen supply to the lungs causing the athlete to put much effort at breathing. Decreased oxygen supply consequently affects the functioning of the muscles. It increases heart rate causing fatigue and increases the time taken for the heart rate to return to normal. The result is the need for more recovery time a reduction in the individual’s reaction speed. Smoking also impairs vision. Also since smoking affects the production of collagen which is crucial in the healing of injuries, athletes who smoke have a slow healing of injuries.

How Sports Women Can Quit Smoking?

It requires a certain amount of will power to quit smoking. The tendency to resume smoking will be great. But when thinking from the broader spectrum of life and specific performance in sports, it is always better to quit smoking with all your might. Counseling and medical help can be sought if needed. There will be a remarkable improvement in performance and within five years fitness levels will be the same as that of a non smoker.

Benefits of Quitting Smoking

Being a non smoker is itself a blessing. The several advantages it can bring you include the following:

• Better fitness levels
• Better aerobic capacity
• Ability to keep the pace of peak performance
• Quicker recovery time.

Studies have shown that smokers usually quit the field earlier than a non smoking athlete. So it is in the interests of an aspiring athlete to say good bye to smoking.