Cigarette smoking is the top contributor to many major health issues, such as heart disease, emphysema, and lung cancer. Overtime, these diseases lead to additional problems and can be fatal.
I lost relatives as a result of smoking-related ailments. In June 1993, when I was only six, my grandfather passed away after a long, antagonizing battle with emphysema. Exactly six months later, in December, my grandmother died from a heart attack. She was a chronic smoker.
Smoking's Not Cheap
Dire health problems are not the only problem though. Cost is another issue. In my home state of Pennsylvania, the average price for a pack of cigarettes is about $4 to $5, give or take a few dollars. The cost of a carton ranges from about $40 to $50. I could buy a video game or about three or four CD's for about that cost. If you do the math, people spend about $1,000+ a year on cigarettes.
What Can Be Done?
So, what can be done to help a person kick the habit? Well, there is a multitude of methods, such as: Nicoderm CQ; Nicorette Gum; serious therapy; or better yet, don't smoke at all. There is a saying that goes “The best way to quit smoking is to never start.” Find a more healthier addiction, such as golf or metal detecting.
Yuck
I cannot say it enough. Smoking stinks, in all senses of the term. You're killing yourselves and, as a result of secondhand smoke, killing others around you. Smoking is also very unattractive. If you're a smoker, chances are you probably have yellow teeth and breath that smells worse than raw fish. Now, be honest, do you want to live with yellow teeth and raunchy breath, or do you want healthy, pearly white chompers and minty fresh breath? Think about it. You're mouth is more kissable with clean breath and white teeth.
Do the Right Thing
In the end, once you've smoked that final cigarette, you will want to thank me repeatedly. Hopefully, I've persuaded at least some of you smokers to do the right thing and “kick butt.” Thanks for reading.
