5 Alternative Reasons Why Smoking Kills
Smoking is an incredibly addictive activity, especially for those that are prone to addictive behaviors. The hazards and negative health effects of cigarettes are well known to many, but the cigarette poses many threats outside of the well known risks.
1) House fires caused by cigarettes
It might seem that something horrible like a house burning down would never happen to you, right? The National Fire Protection Association is quoted saying that there are roughly 475,000 buildings burn down every year. Cigarettes can be a fire hazard, particularly because they are easy to dispose of without being fully put out. Cigarettes can be deceptive and seem like they are no longer lit when they really are.
2) Smoking while driving
Lighting up a cigarette while driving down the road poses another risk that may be easy to overlook. While there are potential fire hazards with throwing a lit cigarette out the window, the very act of smoking itself can be a distraction. Just like with cell phones, anything that is taking your mind off of the road puts you at a higher risk for a wreck that can lead to serious injury or even death – not to mention the lingering smell in your car.
3) Choking on a cigarette
Accidents do happen. Cigarettes are just small enough to fit down your throat and just big enough to block the passage way of oxygen to your lungs. Parents always love to say that you shouldn’t throw things because you might poke someone’s eye out, but how many times did you ever see that happen? Chances are they are pretty slim, but just like poking someone’s eye out, choking on an object that is frequently near your mouth is a real possibility.
4) Danger for small children and animals
Smoking has all kinds of negative effects on both those that smoke and those that are around smokers, but what about the children and animals? As an adult, hopefully you know better than to swallow and ingest a cigarette. However, for a small child or an animal, a cigarette might seem like an afternoon snack. Many animals are exposed to this risk with the amount of cigarettes that are discarded on the sidewalks and earth after use.
5) Cigarette litter kills
There have been some great improvements in the past few decades towards making the world a greener and cleaner place. Littering fines and community service have helped to improve the state of roads and highways across the country. One of the bigger litter problems that still remains comes directly from smokers who regularly toss the butts on the ground or in the grass out of laziness and a lack of consideration.
There are many cosmetic and non-lethal reasons to quit smoking cigarettes like bad breath and the awful stench. However, the dangers of cigarettes extend much farther than simple cosmetic issues and can cause serious harm. Next time you think about picking up a cigarette, think of these alternative dangers of smoking.
This article was written by Cancer Research – Specializing in educated people on topics including smoking related lung cancer.
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