'Other' Reasons Not To Smoke, Part 1

You've probably read a ton of articles about the dangers of smoking. I know that we started getting lectures about this in school in the fourth grade. At the time I thought it was odd to talk to a bunch of nine- and ten-year-olds about the harmful effects of lighting up, but now I see the reasons for it. I wasn't a particularly 'bad' kid, but I remember seeing my friends steal their parents' cigarettes and take them out behind the house/on the beach/playground/whatever. I'm sure you can relate. I didn't because the smoke set off my allergies, but I know quite a few people who wish they'd never smoked that first cigarette because of the effects the habit of smoking has had on their lives. I'm not just talking about heart and lung problems, because the impact goes deeper than that. That's why I'm writing this blog post about some of the 'other' reasons to quit smoking'.

If I sound like I'm 'preaching' here, I don't mean to. I just want to put a different 'spin' on the dangers of smoking so that you and/or someone you love will get the push needed to quit. Also, this might be a good post for your kids to read in case they start to 'tune out' the health-related lessons about smoking.

-Cigarette smoke causes everything it touches to smell awful. Think about it-have you ever gone into the girls' restroom in high school after someone's been smoking? I have, and it's not uncommon for a non-smoker take that smell with her when she leaves. This is why some guys I know don't want to date a woman who smokes; it's not the most pleasant thing to be close to, and ashtrays aren't particularly good kissers. That's what I've heard kissing a smoker likened to, although I haven't personally experienced it.

-It's obscenely addictive, and obscenely expensive. Seriously, have you ever noticed the prices on the cartons of cigarettes behind the checkout counter at the grocery store? The average carton of cigarettes in my home state of North Carolina can cost* anywhere from $17 to $41, rounded up to the next dollar.

Cartons hold ten 20-cigarette packs. When you consider that some people smoke more than one pack in a day, you can imagine how this adds up. For instance, suppose I were to smoke Marlboro Lights in a 2-pack-a-day (40 cigarettes) pattern for one year.

Cost per pack-$3.64

2 packs a day=$7.28

Cost per week=$50.96

Cost per month=$221.43 I once had a (good) car that cost less per month than this.

Cost per year=$2659.02

$2659 per year on cigarettes. Imagine what you could do with $2650-take a vacation, visit family, pay my house payment (please? :P). A lot of people don't realize how expensive this habit is until they see the numbers. Even if you cut the price of a pack in half, it still mounts up.

I'm 36. Just to make a point, I calculated how much I would have spent if I had carried on a 2-pack-a-day pattern starting on my 18^th birthday, which is the current legal age for purchasing tobacco.

Cost per year-$2659.02 x 18 years=$48,725.04.

$48,725. That's more than a lot of people make in a year.

Also, consider the fact that some people start smoking earlier than that and get someone else to buy the cigarettes for them (or the store clerks don't bother to check ID). 

For the rest of this post (as well as my sources for the calculations above), visit Part 2.

How To Pay For Healthcare As You Get Older

Getting older means more trips to the doctors. While this is a common issue for seniors, it may become somewhat impossible if they are lacking in good health coverage. Some are truly hurting because they do not bode the appropriate care packages, even not getting the right medications to make them feel better as a result. Is there anything you can do?

Begin by realizing exactly how much care you will be needing. For example, if you know you have a serious illness that requires constant medication and trips to the physicians offices, then look into something that is going to be affordable for you in the end. Some have issues getting coverage such as "preexisting conditions". These can be anything from caner to pregnancy, but they generally are an ailment that means the health insurance company will be shelling out the big bucks to cover all of your care for it. Some of the recent rules that have been passed, have been ones that will not permit the big insurance companies to utilize certain conditions to their advantage by not accepting patients for certain preexisting conditions. An example of this would certainly be pregnancy. For seniors though, it may be a certain type of cancer. The government is trying to aim at not permitting insurance policies to leave these types of patients empty handed so to speak and still give them other options.

The first thing any senior should be doing is looking into their eligibility as far as Medicare or Medicaid is considered. There are millions of people that continue suffering from several terrible ailments juts because they assume they will not qualify for it. Go online to your local county website for health insurance tips and applications. Many can also qualify for local health insurance for free. These are programs that are commonly referred to as "medical assistance". You can usually begin the paperwork for the application online. Simply go through all of the questions and from there, you may need to provide some form of proof of your financial abilities to qualify. Usually, unless you have a large retirement savings you are living off of, you will qualify for it. They may need you to come down to the local office for an interview, but once that is completed you will have insurance and be able to get the healthcare that you need.

In the event you, like millions of other seniors have just retired, you can also look into the workforce. Where you have retired from may be the answer to all of your insurance woes. Your old employer may have a program that you can continue for a minimal charge to stay covered for now, until you older and can obtain free coverage as a senior.

Longevity Series: Having Better Nutrition For A Longer Life

It is sort of astonishing that as the level of increasing exercise equipment is being promoted and the numerous health clubs being built every day, that equally there is as much of a growth in the manufacturing of over-processed fat type foods that are unhealthy for everyone. It is almost comical how many drive through food places you can pass by just on your way home from work, or the hundreds of brands of potato chips in just one aisle in the grocery store there are now.

So how does one avoid the temptation of fast foods and junk foods and make smarter food choices for a long life? The solution to this growing epidemic is to simply plan your meal choices ahead of time and only eat when you’re truly hungry. The human body is very complex and intelligent; it will tell you when it requires more food to provide you with enough energy to get through the rest of your day.

With families struggling to balance their work, children and social lives all simultaneously it results in the sheer convenience junk foods provide that drive so many people to make those poor food choices. It’s not just the obvious array of snack and fast foods that can take years off of your life, as it is even the prepared meals you find in the frozen food section of your local grocery store. These quick meals are loaded with Trans fat and preservatives that not only add on the pounds, but they cause fatigue as well. Some others to stay away from are goods that are high in salt, caffeine, sugar and of course the over consumption of alcohol.
Choosing food choices for a longer life, look for the ones that are high in anti oxidants, not fried and always try to have a wide variety of colors with various fruits and vegetables on your plate. Raw vegetables are one of the smartest food choices you can make as they still contain all their nutrients that you would normally lose by cooking them. Some other options of food choices for a longer, healthier life are berries of any kind, green vegetables, nuts, whole grains, tomatoes, raw onions, sesame seeds and soy beans.

A really great idea is to plant your very own supply of fresh herbs, vegetables and fruits if your geographic location allows for that. You are then gaining organic foods that haven’t been processed or handled and you’re making a healthy habit that is very beneficial for seniors looking for an activity to get involved in. A few more tips for eating for a better life are to drink lots of water, stay away from smoking and try your best to get in some form of exercise or activity three times per every week. You will not only feel and sleep better by making these simple changes, but you may also shed a few pounds in the process. Get adequate rest, snack on fruits, nuts or yogurt during the day and most of all stay positive about the aging process as a winning attitude can lead to less stress and a better chance of living a peaceful, long life.