Smoking - facts you need to know: Karen Johnson Toronto

S M O K I N G

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Few smokers realize that smoking kills more people per year than AIDs, murder and drunk driving accidents combined - yet smoking is a self-imposed hazard.

The smoker obviously jeopardizes his own health. Cigarettes contain over 300 toxic substances that pollute the body, impair the immune system's ability to function, and can potential produce such diseases as lung cancer, heart disease, emphysema, as well as stomach, mouth and throat cancer.

Each time a person smokes a cigarette his stomach produces a quarter cup of stomach acid that would not be present otherwise.

Each time a person smokes a cigarette he is inhaling carbon monoxide, cyanide, mercury, ethanol, and nicotine (a know pesticide) into his mouth, and through his brain cells.

In fact, nicotine is so deadly that if a person were to place five nicotine patches on his body at once, death would quickly follow.

	D o l l a r C o s t o f S m o k i n g
No. per Day	Cost per DAY	WEEK	MONTH	YEAR	5 YEARS	10 YEARS
5	1.80	12.60	54.00	657.00	3,285.00	6,570.00
10	3.60	25.20	108.00	1,314.00	6,570.00	13,140.00
20	7.20	50.40	216.00	2,628.00	13,140.00	26,280.00
30	10.80	75.60	324.00	3,942.00	19,710.00	39,420.00
40	14.40	100.80	432.00	5,256.00	26,280.00	52,560.00
60	21.60	151.20	648.00	7,884.00	39,420.00	78,840.00

WEIGHT GAIN

Many people believe that they will put on weight when they stop smoking.

There is a physiological reason for this that once confronted; it is easier to deal with. No matter what level of tar there is in a cigarette, or the strength of the filter of a cigarette - tar does get through. This tar coats the taste buds on the tongue. Food no longer tastes as good, because the taste buds are clogged.

Now after a couple of weeks as a non-smoker, the taste buds clear therefore food tastes better and one desires more than usual. Once your mind is aware of this, then the need to overeat naturally diminishes.