The biggest hazard of smoking of course is developing lung cancer and killing yourself. It is really sad how that little stick can control a person's whole life. I started smoking when I was in the United States Navy in 1965. At the time it seemed to be the right thing to do and if you were a smoker you got more breaks. Heck, when we got out three miles into international waters we could buy a carton, yes I said a CARTON of Marlboro's for $1.10. Little did I realize that I would still be smoking those nasty things when I was paying $5.00 a PACK for them

The chemicals and carcinogens in cigarettes are the most addictive things in the world. They say it is easier to get off of cocaine than it is to quit smoking. I can not really say because I never got involved with the hard stuff but it took the big "C" to get me to completely quit. Oh, I knew how hazardous it was and I was going to quit when they got to $2.00 a pack. I never smoked more than a pack a day but it was enough to give me a malignant tumor on my bladder and I am still having another surgery to get it all removed. Thank goodness it was on my bladder and not my brain cause I think I have more bladder than brain. LOL Hazards include lung cancer, colon cancer, kidney cancer, prostrate cancer, and many other types of cancer can be linked to smoking. It is a nasty filthy habit and should be outlawed everywhere.

Smoking directly leads to throat cancer and emphysema. I have sleep apnea and they say it is worse in smokers. How many people do you see walking around now days dragging an oxygen tank behind them with tubes going in their nose. Ninety nine out of one hundred of these people are ex-smokers and there are some that still haven't learned. I have a n acquaintance that has to take off his oxygen so he can go have a cigarette. That is just plain stupid and I have told him so but it hasn't done any good.

Second hand smoke is almost as bad as actually smoking and I just can not understand why anybody would want to smoke around their precious grandkids. They have plenty of other things to deal with now days like illegal immigrants.

I have seen several cars in my life that have been burned up by a cigarette that blew in the backseat and caught the car on fire. How many wrecks have there been that are caused by somebody looking for a lighter or match or trying to knock out a hot cherry that has dropped off the cigarettes between there legs and they lose control of the car.

If you start smoking at 20 years old and smoke till you are sixty five you can figure that you have lost $150,000 in cigarette costs, cough drops, decreased car values, replacement clothes that you have burned cigarette holes in.

Smoking is a nasty stinky filthy habit that is hazardous to you and everybody around you. It makes your food taste bad too.

Learn more about this author, Bill Whitney.
Click here to send author comments or questions.

---

Add your voice

Know something about The hazards of smoking?
We want to hear your view. Write now!