When you’re a teenager you may well come across cigarettes, alcohol and drugs for the first time. Be careful as they can be very harmful to your health and wellbeing. Not only is it illegal to smoke under 16, to drink under 18 and to take illegal drugs at any age, it is also extremely damaging to your health, and may make your arthritis much worse. Don’t be afraid to say no, and stand up for yourself and your health! However, if you are using any of these substances it is extremely important that you tell your transition team in confidence. They need to know so they can best treat your JIA.
Smoking Smoking can cause loads of major health problems including cancer, heart disease and infertility. Two recent studies from Sweden have also found that smoking is a major risk factor for rheumatoid arthritis and may prevent TNF inhibitors, which are used to treat the disease, from working effectively.
If you do smoke the sooner you give up the easier it will be. There is lots of help out there to quit. For more information on the thousands of chemicals found in cigarettes, the effects of smoking and help on quitting, visit www.quit.ie
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Cigarettes, alcohol and drugs
