
The usual story you hear is that cigarettes are heavily involved in heart and lung disease as well as stroke which are the straight-line "expressions" of this deadly habit. What is not so "straight-line" is that the cigs can change the way genes work to set you up for gut problems, bone problems, dental problems, skin problems, you name it. There's some good news here and yes, some more bad news. Ready?

Basically, you're playing Russian roulette. Say that you're 25 and you're blissfully unaware that you have genes for diseases that run in your family from "way back" and they're just sitting there, waiting for their chance to "express" themselves and erupt into a full-blown disease process. There you are. Sitting on this bench smoking away. You may be pulling the trigger right this minute. Yep, right about now, you're cussing me a blue streak because I've just now added some serious stress to you. Now, you're in decision-making country.
It's not a matter of willpower alone. It's a matter of overcoming a physical addiction that some liken to coming off of heroin and changing the behaviors that go with it. Some say that's an exaggeration, but who's to know? For some people, it just might be.
Learn as much as you can and see your doctor. Get a prescription. Get online and look at the many resources including support programs, both online and in person that make it easier for you to succeed. People love you, so go for it. Rent their confidence in you. Lean on them for support. Accept their gifts of love and care. They want to help you succeed. Let them. Six million deaths a year, worldwide. Don't be one of them. You're much too valuable to us.
You know the question I ask you over and over..."Can you live with the consequences?' Although science is working on ways to repair these "marked" cells, those treatments are unlikely to be ready in our life times.
Do the best you can,
TTFN, Claudia