We all know that smoking is not healthy. But is it as dangerous? Does smoking really kill? My personal observation is not in line with official view. I think that as compared to alcohol or sugar or unhealthy food and obesity, pollution as well as the stress of modern life, smoking does not look as dangerous. Instead, it might be less dangerous than obesity and stress. And if the sale of guns is not regulated then why the sale of tobacco is regulated so heavily? Unlike cigarettes, guns kill instantly.

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We are told that smoking kills. If it is so then smoking is
probably the slowest killer the world has ever seen. I
started to smoke when I was 16. I am 50 now. I look
younger than my age (some people think that I look like
I am 40), I am fit (size 30-32 depend on which brand) and
I am healthy. My blood is almost ideal. My cholesterol
level in the middle of the norm.
Therefore, I am not clear why we have so many
restrictions when it comes to smoking? And if the danger
of tobacco is not exaggerated, then why am I healthy and
look younger?
I do not understand why tobacco products are singled
out? Alcohol is not less dangerous than tobacco.
Alcoholics would be able to do something which smoker
would never do.
For instance, how many people are killed every day due
to drunk driving? We do not have anybody killed because
of the smoke driving unless we are talking about
smoking something else, not cigarettes.
Or, how many people suffer or killed because they live
with an alcoholic? Even if alcoholics are those
individuals who are not aggressive, unlike smokers, they

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are dysfunctional. And how many of them die due to
alcoholism-related causes? Somehow, we do not see
horrifying pictures on those products. We also do not see
any terrible pictures on bottles of whisky or vodka. Those
bottles still look sexy.
The latest information, which is advertised much less
than anti-tobacco campaigns, indicate that obesity and
stress are number one killers. I think it is more harmful
than smoking because it leads to heart problems and
high blood pressure as well as diabetes, which
eventually kill people.
I knew quite a number of obese people who passed away
at an early age and they were not smokers. Therefore, I
would like to ask people who are so active in promoting
non-smoking lifestyle the following questions:
1. If tobacco is not just dangerous but it kills us, then
why is it still legal to sell cigarettes?
2. If cigarettes kill, why governments are the biggest
revenue collectors from the cigarettes sale? Is it
because governments neglect their priority role – to care
about citizens health, or because it is not that
dangerous?

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3. Why are cigarettes singled out? Why alcoholic drinks
and products that contain sugar are still not advertised
as the most dangerous?
4. Why does fast food not suffer from any pressure from
the lawmakers, although it is proven that it is damaging
to our health?
My father started to smoke when he was 14, He quit
smoking at when he was 75. He passed away at the age
of 82. Whereby my mother did not smoke and she also
was not a drinker, may be few glasses of wine a year.
Nevertheless, she passed away at the age of 75.
I know many other examples that would suggest that it
might not be the case when we are told that smoking
kills.
I would also like to highlight that I do not promote
smoking. I am aware that smoking cannot be classified
as something healthy. But so is pollution, stress, sugar,
lack of physical exercise, unhealthy food, and drinks.
Having said that, I think that everything must be done in
moderation.
When we do not abuse it, it is not going to kill us. Our
health is a result of combination many components that

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constitute that very "package" which make our life
better.
In conclusion, I would like to say this. Once my wife
asked me whether I am planning to quit smoking soon. I
answered that I will quit smoking immediately if she
would explain to me the difference between dying
healthy and not that much.
Life is too short, we shall enjoy every aspect of it. Just
one condition - do not abuse.