Reason #12: Smoking Kills Moms, Wives, Hopes And Dreams - Support the Susan L. DeWitt Foundation for Extended Breath

You know, I started this blog because I didn't like smoking and wanted to share the reasons why in hopes that some smokers would stop. What has happened now after a year is I truly do want to help people quit smoking for themselves and their families. I want you to watch the three videos below, and unless you are a robot, they have to affect you. Susan L. DeWitt was a beautiful woman who was a mother to a wonderful family and a devoted wife to her husband. At only 39 years of age, she was diagnosed with type IV lung cancer, which is basically a death sentence. She decided the moment she was diagnosed that she was going to start a foundation to help others stop smoking before it's too late. Susan was one heroic woman.

Don't let your life get cut short because of smoking. Stop now. Lung cancer is not a pleasant way to die. It's a very painful and slow death. That is not the way anyone wants to die, but if you choose to smoke, there's a better than average chance that's how you're going to die. For your kid's sake... For your husband/wife's sake... and most importantly, for your own sake, decide today to quit. If you'd like to donate to the Susan L. DeWitt Foundation for Extended Breath, visit their website at SusanLDeWitt.com.

Lung Cancer: Through My Children's Eyes - Part 1 of 3




Lung Cancer: Through My Children's Eyes - Part 2 of 3




Lung Cancer: Through My Children's Eyes - Part 3 of 3

Reason #11: Smoking Costs Companies $5,455 Extra Per Smoker Per Year

Everyone wonders why insurance rates continue to go up, and why a lot of companies are either reducing the level of benefits for employees or discontinuing them altogether. Here's a major reason why:

According to this calculator from Free & Clear, the healthy behaviors company, companies pay an additional $5,455 per smoker per year! Needless to say, if you have a small business with 20 employees who smoke, this means you are paying $109,100 per year in excess charges to accommodate smokers. Who suffers because of this? Nonsmokers, because we end up paying higher premiums because the company as a whole has to reduce the amount of benefits while the insurance company increases the annual premiums.

Check out the numbers for yourself with this free calculator from Free & Clear.

Please, if you're still smoking, think about how much money you are wasting per year on cigarettes, how much money you are costing your company and others for benefits and how many years you are subtracting from your life. It ain't worth it! Do yourself and others a favor and quit. You'll feel better. You're friends and family will feel better, and the country as a whole will be much better off.

Reason #10 - Smoking Has Killed Too Many Wonderful People

When Paul Newman died back in September, I was reminded of just how many wonderful and talented people have died either directly or indirectly because of smoking. Take a look at all of these people whose lives were cut way too short:

1. Paul Newman - A chain smoker most of his life died of lung cancer
2. Babe Ruth - Died of oral cancer at the young age of 53
3. Spencer Tracy - Lung Congestion which led to a heart attack at only 66 years of age
4. Desi Arnaz - A life-long smoker - Died of lung cancer at age of 69
5. Humphrey Bogart - Died of cancer of the esophagus at only 57 years old
6. Nat King Cole - Died of lung cancer at only 45 years old
7. Sammy Davis, Jr. - Died of throat cancer at only 64 years of age
8. Michael Landon - Died of pancreatic and liver cancer at only 54 - smoked 4 packs a day

This is just small list. The list could go on and on. None of us are perfect. We all have bad habits. But, if you choose to smoke, the chance that you'll experience a very painful and most of the time, very long death are very real. Stop now. It's never too late to stop....unless it's too late like it was for the unfortunate people above.

Good luck and I hope you choose to stop today.

Reason #9 - Celebs Who Smoke Is A Real Turn-Off To Me - Case In Point - Britney Spears

With all the problems that Britney Spears has experienced over the last few years, one of the biggest turnoffs to me personally is that almost every time Britney is photographed or caught on film, she's smoking. When I first saw this picture from a few months ago, I was deeply troubled because she appears to be pregnant and smoking. But, from what I've been able to find out so far, she's not pregnant, but says that her medicine makes her stomach bloat.

The bottom line is even with all the problems Britney's had over the last few years, she's still a role model to countless young girls around the world, and seeing their pop princess smoking only increases the chance they'll start smoking at a very early age.

Which means that all of these young women will be exposed to the various other problems I've highlighted on the blog so far. My request is simple. Britney, since you're trying to get back into better shape and resurrect your career, why not add quitting smoking to your list. It'll definitely improve your image...

Hospital Bans Smoking - Smokers Polute Neighborhood

To understand why I get so frustrated with smokers, check out the guy midway through this interview who just flicks his cigarette butt onto the sidewalk and could care less, which reflects back on reason #2: Smoker's Litter.

Reason #8 - Smoking Increases Risk of Webbed or Extra Toes and Fingers

According to this article from BestSyndication.com and I quote, "Women who smoked one to 10 cigarettes while they were pregnant had a 29% greater risk of having a child with a finger or toe deformity. As the number of cigarettes increases so did the risk. Women that smoked 11 to 20 cigarettes per day increased their chances to 38%. Smoking more than 20 cigarettes per day raised the risk by 78%."

Ladies, if you're pregnant and still smoking, do your unborn child a favor and stop smoking TODAY! It's bad enough you're hurting yourself, but don't subject your unborn child to years and years of ridicule and shame due to birth defects caused by your reckless behavior...

Photo from PBS.org

Reason #7 - Smoking Effects More People Than Just The Smoker