Studies Show Link Between Smoking and Senselessness

Last week, I walked out of a Supplement Super Store (a health store) and into the path of two smokers. I don’t know about you, but I find it extremely annoying when you walk out of somewhere (especially a health store), and the door is blocked by smokers. It’s unavoidable; I had to walk past them to get to my car. My brain always tells me I have two options in these kinds of situations: you either have to hold your breath and make a beeline for the nearest fresh air, or you have to inhale the smoke and try not to hack. Smoking is not just annoying, though. There are hundreds of reasons to not smoke from its addictive properties to the lung cancer it causes.

One important reason is that smoking kills.

Some statistics put the number of premature deaths up to 443,000 people a year because of cigarette smoke. All of these deaths are avoidable because we have all been warned against cigarettes in one way or another:

• There are multiple warning labels on cigarette boxes.
• Almost all of us have seen the gruesome before-and-after pictures of smokers’ organs.
• Television advertisements aren't allowed for cigarettes.
• We are taught in health class about the multitude of cancers that come from smoking.
• There are websites like http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/fast_facts/.
• We've all heard what “studies show” about cigarettes from the news

But another reason to stay away from cigarettes is that smoking is also responsible for thousands of deaths of non-smokers.

Yes, non-smokers are dying from cigarettes. Any argument that says “It’s-my-body-I-can-do-what-I-want” is invalid; smoking can harm and kill the people around you. And even if you are careful to smoke far away from anyone else, third hand smoke can live in your clothes, your carpet, and your skin. Even when you aren't smoking, you are discharging the harmful effects of cigarettes to people.

<!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]-->Lastly, even if you don’t die from cigarettes, you are putting an enormous amount of garbage you’re your body. If you simply read the ingredients list before picking up a cigarette, you might think again. The composition of cigarettes looks something like this:

• Nicotine (an addictive drug)
• Arsenic (Poison)
• Ammonia (Household cleaner)
• Acetic Acid (Vinegar)
• Methane (I think we all know what this is…)
• Methanol (Rocket Fuel)
• And about 600 other cancer causing ingredients.

Some of these additives in cigarettes are harmless if eaten…but burning something changes its composition. Suddenly, harmless becomes deadly. It’s like cigarettes are designed to kill you.

Also, I understand that nicotine, or a stimulant, is part of the reason for smoking. It makes the brain feel good temporarily. But don’t health risks, the addictions, and the deaths far out way any slight mood lift? I mean, putting rat poison in my mouth would kind of put a damper on my day instead of lighten my mood.

I personally know someone who smoked. I know how hard it can be to stop if you've started. But I also know, that you won’t regret the extra ten years of life that you get back or the extra hour you get to spend with your grandkids when they visit because you aren't out on the porch smoking.

Smoking is harmful to everyone, not just the smoker. Plus, health classes, warning labels, and ingredients lists have made it common sense not to smoke. So please, don’t let yourself or your friends smoke; let’s all try to think twice before lighting up.