Smoking, it's harmful to you and your wallet.

It is generally common knowledge that smoking is very harmful to your health. But there are a vast number of facts that only a few experts know, which aren't frequently shared with the public. The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, ranked among America's Best Hospital's 2008 US News & World Report Honor Roll, put together a series of facts that all people need to know about smoking and its negative effects.

• Cigarettes and cigarette smoke contain more than 4,000 harmful ingredients. Many of these cause cancer.
  

• Smoking and second-hand smoke cause over 430,000 preventable deaths each year.

• Smoking causes more than 230,000 deaths from heart and blood vessel disease each year in the United States.

• Cigarette smoking is a major cause of fire- related deaths.
  

• Cigarette smoke ruins many aspects of your life - your clothes, your furniture, even your family and social relationships.

• Each day, more than 5,000 children try smoking, and 3,000 become hooked.

• Asthma, bronchitis, and respiratory and ear infections increase in children of smokers. Your children don't deserve to deal with health issues because you are careless with your own health.

• Smoking-related diseases generate more than $50 billion a year in medical costs.

Packs of cigarettes cost anywhere from $4 to $7, which may not seem like a lot, but that money adds up. Frequent smokers who smoke a pack a day are paying anywhere from $28 to $49 a week on cigarettes. In a month that would mean that people would be paying anywhere from $112 to $196, and in one year, one would have spent anywhere from $1344 to $2352. And after 5 years, one would pay $6720 to $11760, just on cigarettes. Add this cost to the cost of medical bills caused by smoking and insurance costs since they are a health risk, in a period of five years, a pack a day smoker would end up paying nearly $26720 to $31760 just to enjoy their beloved cigarettes. So please, if you don't value your health, at least value your wallet.




http://patienteducation.upmc.com/Pdf/SmokingFacts.pdf
http://patienteducation.upmc.com/Pdf/SmokingYourHeart.pdf http://www.escapefromcubiclenation.com/photos/uncategorized/doctor.jpg
http://www.csmngt.com/smokers%20lung.jpg
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://bp2.blogger.com/_cbnRzVflZuI/RrvC_G3NzaI/AAAAAAAAAT0/nU9zIqrFnJw/s320/smoking%2Bcartoon-2.jpg&imgrefurl=http://lifeinthehealthlane.blogspot.com/2007/08/why-is-smoking-health-issue.html&h=320&w=320&sz=32&hl=en&start=2&um=1&tbnid=D0DFOaOVhiXuyM:&tbnh=118&tbnw=118&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dsmoking%2Bhealth%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26sa%3DG


Posted by: Ryan
Credible Communicators (Message #1)

Ssssssmokin' in Hollywood films

70 years ago, American's couldn't watch a Hollywood film without seeing their favorite actors smoke on screen. During the silent film era, directors would have their actors smoke on screen so that they would have something to do with their hands.

Back then, smoking was used in films as a sign of lavishness, and high society. Only the rich and extravagant would be seen smoking, and were also played by the biggest stars in Hollywood.


Nowadays however, the people who smoke in Hollywood movies usually have some underlying problem, or come from very low society communities. Those who smoke tend to be in bad physical health, which doesn't seem to bother them.



Above is a picture of Mae West, a very famous actress in Hollywood during the 1930's dressed very extravagantly, and smoking a cigarette as expected by high society. This appears to be a favorable image of a role model during that time, suggesting this behavior was imitated.


On the other hand, look at the picture below:


This is Helena Bonham Carter as Marla Singer in the movie Fight Club. As you can see, she is dressed very sleazy, appears to be in bad health, and seemingly doesn't care abut her appearence.


Take Will Smith for example. He's a big star in Hollywood today. Had he been a star back in the 1930's, he would be on screen smoking in every film he was in. However, I ran a search on google to find a picture of him smoking in a film, and found no results. In fact, there weren't any pictures of him smoking at all, in any context.




This suggests that the stars of Hollywood today are urged to not smoke, at least while they are in the public spotlight, so that their behavior will not be emulated. It's clear to see that smoking is now portrayed in a negative light and celebrities don't want to be associated with that. Therefore, if you want to be more like your favorite stars of today, don't smoke.



http://img5.allocine.fr/acmedia/medias/nmedia/18/64/88/83/18816592.jpg

http://i26.tinypic.com/2zo9nph.jpg

http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii50/lingeriecompany/maewest_cig.jpg

http://images.askmen.com/galleries/men/will-smith/pictures/will-smith-picture-1.jpg

http://www.tobaccofree.org/films.htm



Posted by: Ryan
Classical Conditioning (Message #2)

Subliminal Advertising and Smoking

Can you spot the subliminal message in this image?

How about this one?

Both of these images feature a picture of a skull inside the smoke coming out of the cigarette. This is clearly trying to associate smoking with death. When looking at the picture quickly, these images may not be noticeable consciously, but the unconscious may be able to pick up these images. Advertisers for anti-smoking campaigns could use images like these in hopes that the people viewing them will pick up the idea that smoking is dangerous and that they shouldn’t do it. Smoking is unhealthy!


Now watch this video and see another way subliminal messaging can work.

In this video phrases are flashed very quickly and are too subtle to be noticed. Although the viewer isn’t conscious of the messages they are seeing, it is believed that the unconscious can be influenced by them. This video uses sayings like “smoking causes cancers” and “smoking ages skin” in hopes that the unconscious will become aware of these phrases, which will hopefully allow the viewer to make the decision that smoking is bad. Smoking is bad for you.

Subliminal messaging is often used in tapes or CDs that a person can listen to in an attempt to help them quit smoking. The Brain Wave Subliminal is one example of this type of tape and promises to help you quit smoking, minimize withdrawal symptoms, and reduce cravings. The product description states that it “activates the unlimited power of your subconscious because it incorporates brain wave frequencies that induce states of hyper-receptivity to subliminal messages.” Some of the subliminal messages in the tape include “I am willing to change”, “With every breath I choose health”, and “It’s easy to let go, I love my body.” Although listening to this product won’t automatically make you stop smoking, the positive suggestions could affect the person’s mood and help put them in a mindset that would make quitting much easier. Don't Smoke!

Did you notice the subliminal messages hidden within this post? Hidden here are phrases such as “Don’t smoke” and “Smoking is bad for you” which are very small and light in color so they may be too subtle for someone to consciously notice them. It is possible that the mind will still pick up these messages and let the reader know that smoking is bad for them.

-Subliminal Advertising (Message #3)

Sources
Pictures: 1, 2, 3
Brain Wave

Author: Stephanie

The True Cost of Smoking

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Everyone knows that smoking is an expensive habit. When people consider the cost of smoking, they usually think in terms of the dollar amount associated with each pack of cigarettes. This is just a portion of the hidden fees associated with being a smoker. The cost of cigarettes by itself can add up to close to $1500 a year however, the reality is that the cost of the cigarettes is only a small portion of the overall monetary cost of smoking. Below is a list of additional hidden costs that are associated with being a smoker:

Life Insurance: Since smokers have a greater risk of dying at a younger age, their life insurance premiums are much higher than non- smokers.

Health Insurance: Smokers have a greater risk of medical problems and this risk is reflected in their medical insurance premium payments.

Home Owner's Insurance: Smokers have a greater risk of burning down their house than non smokers. This rgreater risk increases his/her insurance premium payments.

Car Insurance: Smokers have a greater risk of car accidents than non smokers so their insurance premiums are higher.

All things considered, these hidden costs can increase the actual amount a smoker pays each year to support his/her habit to approxiamtely $10,000. While your health should be the main reason to quit smoking, when you realize that you could spend $10K on vacations, shoping, etc. it could be the motivating force to kick the habit.

Classical Conditioning Message (#4)

http://www.costofsmoking.com/

Posted by Melissa Carnrick

Why You Should Quit

Why Quit?

Regardless of age and longevity of your habit, quitting will help you live longer. Ex-smokers enjoy a higher quality of life with less illnesses, better self-reported health, and reduced rates of bronchitis and pneumonia. For years, the US Surgeon General has reported the risks linked to smoking. In 1990, the Surgeon General concluded that quitting smoking has major and immediate health benefits for men and women of all ages. Former smokers live longer/healthier lives than people who smoke. Quitting smoking decreases the risk of lung cancer, other cancers, heart attack, stroke, and chronic lung disease. Damage to skin from prolonged smoking is reduced. Women who quit before a pregnancy reduce their risk of having a premature child to that of women who never smoked.

The information below was taken directly from the American Cancer Society's Guide to Quitting Smoking and is considered a reputable source among doctors and industry professionals alike.

• 20 minutes after quitting: Your heart rate and blood pressure drops.
  
• 12 hours after quitting: The carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal.
  
• 2 weeks to 3 months after quitting: Your circulation improves and your lung function increases.


• 1 to 9 months after quitting: Coughing and shortness of breath decrease; cilia (tiny hair-like structures that move mucus out of the lungs) regain normal function in the lungs, increasing the ability to handle mucus, clean the lungs, and reduce the risk of infection.
  
• 1 year after quitting: The excess risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker's.
  
• 5 years after quitting: Your stroke risk is reduced to that of a nonsmoker 5 to 15 years after quitting.
  
• 10 years after quitting: The lung cancer death rate is about half that of a continuing smoker's. The risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, cervix, and pancreas decrease.
  
• 15 years after quitting: The risk of coronary heart disease is that of a non-smoker's. The American Cancer Society is the formost

Credible Communicator Source (Message # 5)

http://www.cancer.org/docroot/PED/content/PED_10_13X_Guide_for_Quitting_Smoking.asp

Posted by Melissa Carnrick

Smoking Is Bad For You

• Smoking is bad for you because it causes 85% of cases of lung cancer in the United States.
• Smoking is bad for you because it causes 65% of cancers of the throat, mouth and esophagus.
• Smoking is bad for you because it can cause emphysema.
• Smoking is bad for you because it can cause bronchitis.
• Smoking is bad for you because it lowers HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol).
• Smoking is bad for you because it increases the risk of forming blood clots.
• Smoking is bad for you because it impairs the formation of new bones.
• Smoking is bad for you because it puts women at high risk for osteoporosis.
• Smoking is bad for you because it causes skin to look pale and unhealthy.
• Smoking is bad for you because it causes constant bad breath.
• Smoking is bad for you because it causes rapid heartbeat and shortness of breath.
• Smoking is bad for you because it causes slowed healing time for injuries.
• Smoking is bad for you because smokers are 2x as likely to have a heart attack compared to non-smokers
• Smoking is bad for you because smokers are 3x as likely to suffer a stroke compared to non-smokers
• Smoking is bad for you because it reduces a person's life expectancy.

...Did I mention smoking is bad for you?

- Repetition (Message #6)

Sources:
Pictures- 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Websites- 1, 2

Author: Stephanie

Explanation of Each Message

Message #1 uses credible communication from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center's facts to show how much more harmful cigarettes are than the public even realizes. These facts are intended to scare the smokers into quitting, since the everyday facts don't seem to have much of an effect on them.

Message #2 uses classical conditioning to show how imitating movie stars behaviors and habits can be a dangerous thing, but since films today show less glorified images of actors smoking, the attraction to imitate such behavior has decreased significantly. Big stars who don't smoke, and are happy without smoking, will give the message that people don't need to smoke to be successful and happy, so people wanting to emulate their favorite stars won't smoke.

Message #3 shows how subliminal messages could be used for anti-smoking. Putting subliminal messages in images, videos, and CDs can get someone to unconsciously pick up a message that will influence them. If subliminal messages were put in anti-smoking blogs or advertisements it may be effective because the person is already in the mindset that smoking is bad, so a subliminal message would help strengthen that idea.

Message #4 uses classical conditioning to nudge smokers towards the direction of quiting by associating smoking with high costs. By showing them how much they are spending on their habit and what other items they could be spending this on is a very persuasive case.

Message #5 uses credible communication sources such as the American Cancer Society and the US Surgeon General to promote a positive non-smoking message. By reading the facts outlines by the ACS, people will receive the hard facts necessary to make the right decision to quit.

Message #6 uses repetition by repeatedly pairing smoking with negative things. The phrase “smoking is bad for you” is itself repeated numerous times, associating smoking with being bad. In the first picture the repetition of this phrase is paired with the negative idea of having to write the same phrase over and over on a chalkboard, which is typically seen as a punishment. In the written section and in the last image, “smoking is bad for you” is repeatedly paired with negative health effects. Because it is constantly shown that smoking is paired with negative things, a person should feel strongly about that pairing and will not want to smoke because smoking has many negative effects.