Advice to Smokers

When I am asked, the advice I give to smokers is this: "As a physician I can tell you that if you smoke you will probably die of heart disease or cancer. If you don't smoke you will probably die of heart disease or cancer, but usually some years later. During the extra time non-smoking gives you, you may develop the infirmities, disabilities, illnesses, and aches and pains which go along with old age, and then die. My overall recommendation is not to smoke, however, because it really does increase the risk of dying from emphysema which is a very unpleasant way to die. As a taxpayer, however, I applaud your decision to smoke since you will probably be much less of a financial burden to taxpayers because you will die sooner. You might even be a financial asset to them if you time it right." Robert A Da Prato, physician