I often hear the comment that smoking is the "only" vice a person has left, like this somehow legitimizes smoking. "After all, I don't do this and I don't do that, all I do is smoke."
If any person fully understands what the ramifications of smoking are he or she will quickly realize the foolishness of such a statement.. The fact is that smoking is responsible for more deaths than probably all of the vices that people are referring to when making such comments combined.
Below is a chart from 1998 showing the risks of dying from smoking compared to the risk of dying from other common problems. Many of these problems are caused from behaviors that are considered by some to be vices. Again, look at the numbers. If smoking is your only vice understand something. Your ONLY vice is destroying your health and if not dealt with will likely cause your premature death. The solution to your problem is not finding other vices either, it is simply getting rid of this one deadly addiction by sticking to your commitment to never take another puff!
Joel
Death by Smoking
Although the below chart was compiled using 1998 United States data,
your nation's overall death category percentages may be fairly similar.
Cause of Death |
How to Prevent These Deaths |
1998 Deaths |
AIDS |
condoms, education, research |
13,426 |
| Alzheimers | medical research | 22,725 |
| Auto Accidents | seatbelts, airbags, highway safety, training | 42,191 |
| Bike Accidents | reflectors, lights, helmets and training | 142 |
| Breast Cancer | mammography and medical research | 42,068 |
| Diabetes | medical research | 64,751 |
| Drowning | life jackets, swimming lessons, supervision | 4,406 |
| Drug Reactions | read the labels, consult your pharmacist | 276 |
| Falls | awareness, safety harnesses and helmets | 12,595 |
| Fires & Burns | alarms, extinguishers, education and planning | 3,362 |
| Gun Accidents | deprive children of access and hunter training | 866 |
| Hepatitis | vaccine (A&B) and clean needles & testing (C) | 4,796 |
| Illegal Drugs | motivation, education and support | 16,926 |
| Leukemia | research, exercise, diet, and no tobacco | 20,324 |
| Lightening | stay indoors and wear rubber shoes | 10 |
| Liver Disease | sound diet, max. 2 oz. of alcohol, research | 25,192 |
| Meningitis | vaccinations | 768 |
| Murder | police, courts, prisons, awareness | 18,272 |
| Pedestrians | reflective clothes, sidewalks and crosswalks | 5,412 |
| Poisoning | secure cleaning fluids, poisons and pills | 10,801 |
| Prostate Cancer | testing, exercise, diet, research | 32,203 |
| Snake Bites | awareness, boots, vaccines | 8 |
| Suffocation | think, anticipate and alter ventilation | 4,585 |
| Suicide |
counseling, mental health and love | 30,575 |
| Syphilis | abstinence, condoms, education | 45 |
| Ulcers | avoid tobacco, alcohol and caffeine | 4,695 |
TOTAL OF ALL OF THE ABOVE |
381,420 | |
TOBACCO |
TOTAL 1998 TOBACCO DEATHS |
418,690 |
© WhyQuit.Com 2000 |
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