BellaOnline Forums Health and Fitness Cancer Number of Smokers is Decreasing

The annual Harris Poll has revealed that the number of people smoking has decreased from 30% of the population smoking in 1983 to 17% of the population smoking today. This is the lowest level in history.

Has anyone ceased smoking due to the increased risk of cancer? If so, how did you quit? Is anyone afraid of second-hand smoke? Do you stay away from places that will be filled with second-hand smoke (i.e. bars, etc)?

Hi, Rhonda,

My ex "dodged a bullet" in 2006--he had a growth on his tongue that the oral surgeon was sure was cancer. It wasn't, but the doc told him he had a pretty big risk--sort of said, keep smoking, you will get oral cancer. He had a condition the often precedes cancer.

So, we quit smoking. Him, for the cancer thing. Me, because I knew he would not be able to quit if I didn't quit--I tried to quit before living with smokers (twice) and it just makes it too easy to smoke.

I never did like being around a bunch of smoke, and I don't "avoid" second hand smoke, but I don't often frequent areas where there is smoking. Recently, Memphis passed a law not allowing smoking in places where they served food to people under 21. So, it is pretty easy to avoid smoke now.

I'm back on steroids for my asthma, yesterday i had to go out to mail a letter there were two women hanging out for a coffee break at the DMV at the mail box smoking.i ask them politely not to ex hail till i dropped my letter in the mail box cuz of my respiratory problems i can't inhail second hand smoke. one of the women said really fresh, "we have or rights to". go to another mail box. well i didn't go to another mail box and i had a few choice words for her. people can be so rude.

Deb,

Congratulations! I know it is not an easy task to quit smoking. As you know, sometimes a 'cancer scare' can be a good thing because it provides a wake up call that we need to make some changes.

I don't really frequent areas where there is a lot of smoke either. I guess my one exception would be Las Vegas. We try to go there a few times a year and it's hard to find a casino that isn't smokey. However, we have found that the least smokey casinos are Bellagio, the Wynn, and J.W. Marriott (off the strip). I don't know if they have better ventilation systems or if it is just our imagination that they are less smokey.

Rosie,

You are right, people can be so rude. It is sad that people feel they have the right to endanger the health of other people. Asthma can be very scary. I hope you get better with each passing day.

Thank you, Rhonda