I understand the simple reasons such as family smoking, smoking in an attempt to fit in, and especially trying it once and becoming addicted. An expert has recently stated that nicotine can be as addictive as cocaine, which shocked me greatly. But why, when you are clearly surrounded by warnings of the health risks, still fail to resist the temptation to smoke.
My disbelief especially applies to pregnant women who continue to smoke, putting at risk both themselves and their child which could die due to the parents carelessness during the pregnancy period. Even people with children are still being selfish as their children are twice as likely to develop asthma, more likely to have colds and shortness of breath and develop glue ear; a disease which can result in the victim becoming partially deaf.
The cost is also a factor which shocks me. On average, a pack of cigarettes costs £7.00, so a person who smokes 30 a day would spend £14 every day just on cigarettes. That's just under £5200 for a person to effectively shorten their life. every cigarette is estimated to shorted your life by 11 minutes. So 65 cigarettes mean you've lost half a day of your life, just like that.
Surely, from a point of view from a non-smoker, this would be an instant turn-off, and the decision to smoke would be eliminated, but why do people still take the large risks smoking brings with it and begin to smoke?
I particularly liked this picture below. It shows basically; smoking is effectively turning part of your body into cigarettes- addictive, poisonous and deathly. What worse could you do to your health?
After speaking to a number of smokers, they all told me that these diseases are unlikely to affect them, as the health risks were only increased, not definite. This is true as lung cancer is only increased by 20-30% and the possibility of asthma in children is doubled, there is not actual proof. It is also true that some health risks caused by smoking may affect some but not others; there is only a chance and not a confirmed outcome. We take this example of Winston Churchill who died at the respectable age of 90 yet smoked cigars most of his lifetime. This proves that the health risks attached will only affect some and not others, but I still find that taking such a risk and putting your health on the line is thoughtless no matter how pleasurable smoking may be.
Please take my poll to express your views on smoking or comment in the space below. Thanks.(:
