Health

Holy Smokes!
To smoke or not to smoke - if that's the quandary you are in, here's some news to help you decide.

• According to a study in the British Medical Journal, men who smoke all their lives are only half as likely to make it to age 73 than non-smokers. Those who started before the age of 40, had only a 42 percent chance of reaching 73 as opposed to 78 percent for non-smokers.
• If you think it's macho to smoke, consider this: Smoking can increase the risk of impotence. In a study of 116 men with impotence caused by vascular problems, done at the University of Pretoria, South Africa, 108 were smokers. Other studies have established a link between tobacco and impotence. Of course, smoking isn't the only cause of impotence. Diabetes, hypertension and high cholestrol can cause impotence too. But the costs of controlling these maladies are high, while giving up smoking is relatively free of cost.
• Smoking can lead to mouth, throat or lung cancer.
• The risk of heart disease is higher if you are a smoker.
• Smoking affects the taste buds and also your sense of smell. Stop smoking for 48 hours and you will be able to taste and smell perceptibly better.
• Smoking dulls the complexion and stains the teeth.
  
  So if you thought you'd be dulling your persona if you quit the habit, think again. Chances are you might become 'persona non grata' if you don't.