The Dangers of Smoking and Who They Affect

The dangers of smoking are not only harmful to the smoker but also to the person who is next to the smoker. It is the right of every human being to choose for him if he wants to smoke or not, however the affects of smoking are dangerous to the smoker and the result of smoking is life altering and shortening. No one should ever enable someone to smoke as this single choice can modify the person for the rest of their life. The constant dangers of smoking are harmful to smokers, the loved ones of smokers, and even the innocent pedestrian walking by a smoker.

As is to be expected the person in the most danger of the harmful affects of smoking is the smokers themselves. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) a current or former smoker dies every six and a half seconds from tobacco use and the rate of deaths are climbing steadily. Smoking increases the chance of lung cancer and emphysema even in smokers who have quit smoking. The WHO concludes that if current trends in smoking continue, by 2030 one in six people will die from smoking. Smoking though harmful to smokers, is not the only people smoking affects.

The WHO states in their 2002 statistic survey Children 13-15 born of smokers are more inclined to start smoking because of the example that was set for them by their parents. Staggering numbers of 80,000-100,000 children start smoking worldwide everyday. 50% of children who start smoking in their adolescence smoke for 15-20 years at least and will most likely die of some form of tobacco ailment. The most saddening fact is that a quarter of youth alive will die in the Western Pacific Region from smoking.

The strangers around a smoker are in danger of inhaling air tainted by smokers. 200 poisonous chemical compounds are in second hand smoke and upwards of 60 are recognized as carcinogens. There are many harmful effects cause by passive smoking such as heart disease which kills an estimated 35,000 to 62,000 people who are not current smokers but are over exposed to environmental tobacco smoke. Passive smokers who breathe in the smoke even face some of the health risks a smoker faces though it is to a lesser degree. Second hand smoke is not are dangerous as actually smoking, second hand smoke does claim thousands of lives around the entire world every year.

When someone chooses not to smoke or be around tobacco smoke they are reaping the full benefits of health. The person who chooses not to encourage smoking is embracing a true Catholic attitude. Realizing smoking is harmful to yourself and others and deciding to quit is what defines a strong moral character. The constant dangers of smoking are harmful to everyone the smoke comes in contact with, the choice is ours. Do we want a healthy life or a life ruled by smoking.

Terry Martin
Global Smoking Statistics
About.com

How Many People Die because of Smoking
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