Smoking? Why!?

Smoking a cigarette; an addictive drug that causes harm in many ways. Lung Cancer, and many other types of cancer. It can also give you heart disease, increase your chances of a stroke and a lot of other types of chronic diseases. Not only is the smoker harmed but also the people around the smoker can be harmed. This is called second - hand smoking. Most exposure to second - hand smoke occurs in homes and workplaces. Second - hand smoking is as harmful or more harmful than actually smoking the cigarette. The American Cancer Society even reports that smoking cigarettes kills more Americans each year than alcohol, car accidents, suicide, homicide, and illegal drugs combined, while other research has shown that just by smoking one pack of cigarettes:

A smoker's life is cut short by two hours

Men lose a total of 4.4 years of their life

Women lose a total of 2.4 years of their life

To give you an idea of the types of toxic chemicals released into the air and your lungs when you smoke or are around someone who does, here's a list from the American Lung Association of a few chemicals in tobacco smoke, and other places they are found:

Acetone – found in nail polish remover

Acetic Acid – an ingredient in hair dye

Ammonia – a common household cleaner

Arsenic – used in rat poison

Benzene – found in rubber cement

Butane – used in lighter fluid

Cadmium – active component in battery acid

Carbon Monoxide – released in car exhaust fumes

Formaldehyde – embalming fluid

Hexamine – found in barbecue lighter fluid

Lead – used in batteries

Naphthalene – an ingredient in moth balls

Methanol – a main component in rocket fuel

Nicotine – used as insecticide

Tar – material for paving roads

Toluene - used to manufacture paint

As you probably already know, regularly inhaling these chemicals is not a good choice if you want to stay healthy.