Dangers

tart -->smoking might kill them.
Both Wales and Ireland have forbidden smoking inSo just how dangerous is smoking? Although we
public places, such as restaurants and pubs, remindingknow about the risks, many people seem to believe
us again of the dangers of smoking to our own healththat cancer is something which will happen to other
and the health of those around us. But will this newpeople. This is especially true amongst younger people,
move bring about a change in attitude? And more,but the problem is that the younger you start smoking,
importantly, will it bring about a change in behaviour?the less likely you are to give up later. As a result, you
Despite the fact that we have known for years thatcould be condemning yourself to a long and protracted
smoking is the main cause of lung cancer and manyterminal illness and you could knock as much as
other diseases, the number of people who die fromtwenty years off your life.
smoking related illnesses is huge - you might beThe reality is that cigarettes, as well as being addictive
surprised to realize that as many as half a millionand expensive, contain thousands of toxic chemicals
people die due to diseases directly related to smokingand cause horrific illnesses, including several types of
each year. And that's in the US alone. And smoking iscancer, emphysema, stroke and heart disease. With
on the increase amongst young people, partly as aso many dangers smoking doesn't sound quite as cool
result of peer pressure, the idea that it's cool and ofas it once did.
course, the fact that kids just don't imagine that