My wife just walked by and said, "What are you doing?"

I said, "I'm writing an article on smoking. I'm against it!"

Smoking is a habit that is hard to break. Some years ago I stood by with a mans son and watched his father gasp for air as he passed on to the great beyond. He had quit smoking, but too late. His vital capacity was too far gone.

Vital Capacity is determined by measuring the amount of air you take in with each breath. In the test you take a deep breath and then blow it out into a device that tells your doctor the volume of air dispelled. The more you smoke, the lower your vital capacity. This limits your activity when your lungs no longer expand enough to take in sufficient vital oxygen from the air that has only about 19% to begin with. Thats why my friends father was breathing pure oxygen in the hospital. Still, he could not get enough oxygen to save his life. We had said our goodbyes to a good father and a good friend.

Cigarette smokers double their risk of heart attack. They are at even more risk from sudden cardiac death. Stroke kills more young smokers than nonsmokers.

The American Cancer Society said some years back that when you stop smoking:

Within 15 minutes: Blood pressure, pulse rate, and body temperature of hands and feet return to normal.

Within 8 hours: Carbon monoxide level drop to normal and oxygen level increase to normal. (Carbon monoxide is a deadly poison.)

Within 24 hours: Heart attack risk decreases. Now isn't that good to know? You will be able to say, "I quit smoking yesterday and I'm probably not going to have a heart attack today."

Within 48 hours: Nerve endings start regrowing and your ability to smell and taste increases. Did you know that cigarette smoking stops nerve growth? Neither did I.

Within 2 weeks to 3 months : Circulation improves, walking is easier and LUNG FUNCTION increases up to 30%. Now, that is a great benefit, isn't it?

Within 1 to 9 months: Coughing, sinus congestion, fatigue, and shortness of breath decrease. Cilia regrow in the lungs with increased ability to handle mucus, clean the lungs, and reduce infection. It takes a while if you've been smoking a long time, but the relief must be wonderful. My friends that have quit say it certainly is.

Within 1 year: Excess risk of heart disease is half that of a smoker. That's good.

Within 5 years: Lung cancer death rate of a FORMER one-pack-a-day smoker decreases almost one-half. (Stoke risk is reduced to that of a nonsmoker after 5-15 years.) Risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, and esophagus is half that of smokers. I've had friends that had to speak with a device or from thier stomach after cancer surgery on their throat and esophagus. It's very sad to see that in light of that it could have been prevented. Some comunities have stopped chewing tobacco companies from giving chewing tobacco away at rodeos where it easily can get into the hands of children. Can you think of anything worse than mouth cancer?

Within 10 years: The lung cancer death rate is the same as nonsmokers. Precancerous cells are replaced. Risk of death from cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney and pancreas decrease. Did you get that? Precancerous cells are replaced. With good cells, I presume.

Within 15 years: Risk of coronary heart disease is that of a nonsmoker. So now you are back to normal.

The other night I saw a young woman on television who said that she stopped smoking for financial reasons.

Think about it.

If you put $600 dollars each year into a stock mutual fund, annuity, or other financial instrument that generates 5% annually, you will have over TWENTY GRAND after 20 years. Thats if you add it in one chunk each year. The $600 figure assumes that you are spending $50 each month on cigarettes. I know that many are spending a lot more.You will have more if you invest $50 monthly rather than saving until you get $600 at the end of the year.

Okay! I know human nature. You wont save the money.

YOU WILL SAVE YOUR NECK!

I read on the internet that Phillip Morris has licensed two Chinese companies to make their cigarette brands. The Third World Market is what the cigarette companies are after.

Dont be taken in by the Phillip Morris television ads that tell you to go to their site to learn how to quit smoking. Television ads are used for two purposes. They either sale product or they enhance brand name recognition. It is illegal for Phillip Morris to sale product. So what are they doing with their ads? You guessed it!

(Okay, so go to the Phillip Morris site. Maybe you will learn something. They have links to health organizations that will help you to quit. http://www.philipmorrisusa.com/en/health_issues/quitting_smoking.asp)

Well, it looks like I got sucked into the Phillip Morris ad after all.

Stop Smoking! It takes guts.

It pays off big!

I suggest you go to: http://www.givingupsmoking.co.uk/ to STOP smoking now!

The End