Although it represents a significant portion of the U.S. economy, smoking can lead to a variety of diseases and disorders that affect the user. The effects of tobacco not only affect the user but also the people around them: it permanently destroys their lungs and their children, thus increasing the risks of diseases and cancer. Illnesses caused by the effects of smoking or second-hand smoke can lead to emphysema. For starters, even after just a few years of smoking, a person's lungs can be affected for the rest of their life. Referring to the question: “If exposure to cigarette advertising is a risk factor for disease, it is incumbent on the public and elected officials to treat it as we would the vector of any other pathogen” (Sullum ). That said, it is a known fact that smoke contains many harmful chemicals found in rat poison and other toxic products. Shortness of breath and exasperation are a given and will occur, as will illnesses like emphysema which can gradually choke the user to death. Based on the following research, “the EPA study is the most recent of these meta-analyses. It found a 19% increased risk of US non-smokers married to smokers having emphysema” (Sullivan). Emphysema remains a powerful disease that slowly suffocates its victims; while recent studies show that even if one does not smoke, second-hand smoke could potentially trigger this disease in those close to the smoker. Finally, with modern and recent technologies, the disease could be eliminated, but completely avoiding smoking is an instant solution. According to this recent article, “Regardless of birth weight, babies born to smoking mothers are more likely to die in infancy than unexposed infants” (Sullivan). Obviously, the underdeveloped lung of... middle of paper ...... eroded by smoking. The different types of diseases contracted from smoking such as emphysema and asthma. Cancer and loss of wealth can be attributed to long-term smoking. Overall, smoke indefinitely affects the health of the smoker and those around them. Smokers don't age; they die young.Works CitedResearcher. Internet. May 11, 2010. Grossman, Michael and Frank J. Chaloupka. “Taxes on cigarettes: the straw that broke the camel’s back. » Public health reports. July/August. 1997: 290-297. SIRSResearcher. Internet. May 05, 2010. Jordan, Larry. “The deadly deceptions of the tobacco giants.” Midwest Today: June/July 1996: 6-13. SIRS researcher. Internet. May 5, 2010.Sullum, Jacob. “What the doctor orders.” Reason. January 1996: 20-27. SIRS.Web Researcher. May 5, 2010Unknown. “Second-hand smoke: is it a danger? Consumer Reports. January 1995: 27-33. SIRS researcher. Internet. May 11 2010