Go Cold Turkey or just go

Having worked in an intensive care unit of a hospital for several years, I have seen the devastating effects of smoking, and they aren’t pretty.   Would you like a tracheostomy with that lung tumor resection you need?  Or would you prefer to spend the rest of your days on long term life support related to end stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease?  The affects of smoking are real.   In addition to being damaging to your body, second hand may be responsible for: 

• Up to 46,000 deaths per year due to heart disease
• Nearly 34,000 deaths from lung cancer
• 50,000-300,000 lung infections in children (including pneumonia and bronchitis) in kids less than a year and a half old
• Over 750,000 ear infections in kids
• Low birth weight babies in pregnant women
• Increased risk for other cancers

 At $4.00/day, a smoker that goes through just 1 pack of cigarettes per day could save close to $1500.00 per year (and that’s not counting the savings from medical costs).  Did you know that spending 1 day in a hospital ICU can cost over $2,000 a day?There is clearly no reason to keep smoking.  Think of your health and those around you.  Think of how much money you can save.  And think of how difficult it could be for your family and friends to see you diet prematurely of heart disease, or worse, to spend the rest of your “life” on life support.  Go cold turkey, or go cold..