Smoking kills, smoking is injurious to health, smoking one cigarette reduces your life by 11 minutes and so on – these are all common facts about the harms of smoking. Every smoker today probably knows that there are more than 100 carcinogenic chemicals, other injurious and unhealthy substances in one stick of a cigarette. Lung cancer and other related ailments kill hundreds and thousands of people every month (shocking but true!). But not many people have thought about the hidden costs that are incurred or are very likely to be incurred if smoking is continued by a person. Here are some possible angles to what an average adult pays for smoking and might end up paying. Of course this excludes the cost of one’s life, which needless to say, is priceless. However, smoking is one expensive habit.

The Cost of Smoking

The number of cigarettes inhaled every year by an average adult = 7000

This means that the number of packets required = 350

Cost = 650$ approx.

Yellow teeth and unhealthy gums due to tobacco would mean a trip to the dentist every now and then.

This means tooth whitening. Cost = 50$ approx.

More heartburns and peptic ulcers which might damage the liver and also cause gall stone formation.

Antacids, a gastroenterologist. Cost = 70$ approx.

Dimming eyesight and vision because smokers are likely to go blind from age related eye muscle degeneration.

Lutein and other useful supplements. Cost = 30$.

High risks of skin cancer, lung cancer and other major illnesses.

This means a visit to the dermatologist and other cancer specialists. Cost = 1100$ approx.

“TOTAL = 1900$!!!”

Time to kick the butt and quit smoking!!

This is just a short example of the possible costs that an average smoker incurs every year. The figures are highly conservative and it might be true to say that the actual costs of this habit are much higher. But just imagine that you end up paying a minimum of almost 2000$ on a habit that actually kills you. For the sake of momentary pleasure, paying such a price can only be regarded as foolishness.

What more, god forbid you actually fall prey to a major cancer or illness, then even this amount would seems like a drop in the ocean. Your life is at stake. Its time to wake up and smell the…ahem! Coffee. Better quit smoking.