Rock-Stars-of-Aging-by-Marc-Middleton
Rock-Stars-of-Aging-by-Marc-Middleton
Rock-Stars-of-Aging-by-Marc-Middleton
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<strong>Rock</strong>s <strong>Stars</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Aging</strong><br />
33<br />
HEALTH, FITNESS AND NUTRITION<br />
19: Centenarians Don’t Smoke<br />
“A cigarette is the only consumer product which when used as<br />
directed kills its consumer.” -- Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland, former<br />
Director General, World Health Organization<br />
Sorry smokers, there is little wiggle room here. We have never<br />
interviewed a centenarian that is a smoker. Some are former smokers<br />
but quit long ago.<br />
CDC's National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health<br />
Promotion found that cigarette smoke contains over 4,800 chemicals,<br />
69 <strong>of</strong> which are known to cause cancer.<br />
According to the American Cancer Society, smoking shortens<br />
people's life spans <strong>by</strong> an average <strong>of</strong> 13 to 14.5 years. Plus, the<br />
chronic diseases caused <strong>by</strong> smoking seriously impact the quality <strong>of</strong><br />
life <strong>of</strong> smokers while they’re still alive.<br />
The good news is that it’s never too late to quit and make a real<br />
difference in the length and quality <strong>of</strong> your life. A Duke University<br />
study found that male smokers who quit <strong>by</strong> age 35 increased their life<br />
spans <strong>by</strong> 6.9 to 8.5 years, while women who quit boosted theirs <strong>by</strong><br />
6.1 to 7.7 years.<br />
Centenarians have heeded the warnings. Seventy-seven percent<br />
have never smoked, and on average, those who did smoke quit 41<br />
years ago.<br />
<strong>Rock</strong> <strong>Stars</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Aging</strong><br />
33
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