Maybe you don't think your continued good health is a good enough reason to quit smoking. Let's look at some of the financial costs that come with smoking!
- Job security. Some rather large companies are starting to think twice about hiring smokers. According to the American Civil Liberties Union, more than six thousand companies across the nation are refusing to hire smokers. Among the smoke free companies: Alaska Airlines and the Union Pacific.
- Higher insurance costs. Expect to pay at least twice as much as a non-smoker if you're looking for life insurance. For health insurance, the difference isn't as dramatic, but even a $20 dollar monthly difference in policies adds up over the years.
- Home resale values. The smell of smoke can be off-putting to potential buyers. But if you want to clean up your act, you're going to pay for it. A smoker's house may need all new paint, carpets, and drapery -- or at least a professional cleaning. Hiring somebody to repaint a two bedroom house can cost you around two grand. Tack on another three hundred dollars to get your carpets deep-cleaned.
- Car resale values. Stray ashes and butts can burn holes in your upholstery and floor mats if you aren't careful. And to get that smoke smell out? Count on at least $150 for a thorough cleaning. Car dealers may knock a thousand dollars or more off your trade-in price if your car smells like smoke.
- Dental costs. Unless you like bad breath and yellow teeth, you probably use a lot of mints and gum. Buying an extra pack of breath fresheners every week adds up to around fifty bucks a year. Need a teeth whitening? Expect to pay no less than two hundred dollars per visit to see a professional.
- Dry cleaning bills. You're going to clean your stinky clothes more often. Is your favorite suit dry clean only? Figuring ten dollars per cleaning, that's another $120 per year IF you only clean that suit once a month.
Friday, April 27, 2007
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
How Does Smoking Effect Pregnant Women
According to a report, nearly 1,70,000 women in USA die due to smoking and smoking related diseases. The decline in the smoking rates started in the 1950s and 60s but this trend stalled in the 1990s and there was a steep rise in smoking among teenage girls. The consequences of smoking among women especially among pregnant women have been tremendous. They are discussed in detail below:
1) Sudden Infant Death Syndrome: Women who smoke during pregnancy expose their babies to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome as these babies are more likely to die from the harmful effects of smoking.
2) Stillbirth: Women who smoke during pregnancy increase the chances of the death of their babies during pregnancy itself.
3) Low birth weight of the baby: Birth weight of the baby is an important factor for the future health of the baby. Low birth weight can lead to a great many complications. In fact, low birth weight is the main reason for pre-natal death (during the first month after the birth).
4) Colic: A baby born of a mother who used to smoke during pregnancy is more likely to have colic. Colic is often a
condition of early infancy. Colic results in abdominal pain caused by spasm, obstruction, or distention of any of the hollow viscera, such as intestines.
5) Respiratory Infections: Your baby is more likely to have asthma and other respiratory diseases if you expose your babies to smoking or even secondhand smoke.
6) Placenta Abruption: This condition arises when the placenta pulls the walls of the uterus either before or during labor. This requires an immediate delivery usually through cesarean operation. A smoker's placenta is thinner making her more likely to have placenta abruption.
7) Premature birth: Smoking during pregnancy can lead to pre mature birth due to premature rupture of membranes. A pregnant smoker's body is more likely to end her pregnancy sooner in an effort to protect the baby from harmful smoke. Premature birth can lead to serious complications for the baby such as mental retardation and cerebral palsy.
8) Miscarriage: A woman who smokes during pregnancy can have trouble staying pregnant. It may lead to miscarriage. It can also decrease your fertility.
Looking at all these deadly consequences you can well imagine the threats that a cigarette can pose to your joy of motherhood. Giving birth to a new life is the greatest bliss for a woman and if a cigarette can prove to be a hindrance then it is better to keep it at bay.
1) Sudden Infant Death Syndrome: Women who smoke during pregnancy expose their babies to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome as these babies are more likely to die from the harmful effects of smoking.
2) Stillbirth: Women who smoke during pregnancy increase the chances of the death of their babies during pregnancy itself.
3) Low birth weight of the baby: Birth weight of the baby is an important factor for the future health of the baby. Low birth weight can lead to a great many complications. In fact, low birth weight is the main reason for pre-natal death (during the first month after the birth).
4) Colic: A baby born of a mother who used to smoke during pregnancy is more likely to have colic. Colic is often a
condition of early infancy. Colic results in abdominal pain caused by spasm, obstruction, or distention of any of the hollow viscera, such as intestines.
5) Respiratory Infections: Your baby is more likely to have asthma and other respiratory diseases if you expose your babies to smoking or even secondhand smoke.
6) Placenta Abruption: This condition arises when the placenta pulls the walls of the uterus either before or during labor. This requires an immediate delivery usually through cesarean operation. A smoker's placenta is thinner making her more likely to have placenta abruption.
7) Premature birth: Smoking during pregnancy can lead to pre mature birth due to premature rupture of membranes. A pregnant smoker's body is more likely to end her pregnancy sooner in an effort to protect the baby from harmful smoke. Premature birth can lead to serious complications for the baby such as mental retardation and cerebral palsy.
8) Miscarriage: A woman who smokes during pregnancy can have trouble staying pregnant. It may lead to miscarriage. It can also decrease your fertility.
Looking at all these deadly consequences you can well imagine the threats that a cigarette can pose to your joy of motherhood. Giving birth to a new life is the greatest bliss for a woman and if a cigarette can prove to be a hindrance then it is better to keep it at bay.
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