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| Long Term Effects Of Smoking |
Question:
What are the long term effects of smoking in relation to the potential to die as a result of a smoking related disease?
Answer:
Many of the examples from readers try to convey the size of a risk.
People know, for example, that smoking is a risk but find it difficult
to comprehend its magnitude. Mackay relates how Richard Peto
(responsible for many of the big studies on the effects of smoking)
tosses a coin and slaps it on the back of his hand to illustrate to
his audience the (true) 50% risk of being killed from long term
tobacco smoking. "It always produces a gasp of surprise."
There are several long term health effects attributable to smoking. Heart disease,
cancer (many types) and emphysema. On top of this, smoking makes virtually
every single health problem that a person can have worse. These can be
health issues such as arthritis. Smoking can actually make arthritis worse
due to the fact that illnesses don't respond as well to treatment in
smokers.
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