Letter: Listen to many warnings about smoking risks

Tuesday, May 23, 2000 | 9:49 a.m.

Emphysema: Inflation, to inflate, blowing, to blow, echoic of blowing with puffed cheeks. 1. An abnormal swelling of body tissues caused by the accumulation of air; esp., such a swelling of the lung tissue, due to the permanent loss of elasticity, or the destruction of the alveoli, which seriously impairs respiration. 2. Heaves. -- Webster's New World College Dictionary

A heavy smoker for 48 years, I was recently diagnosed with this dreaded disease, which came as no surprise. This after visiting hospital emergency rooms, not being able to breathe. You feel as though you're being suffocated, panic ensues and you're mentally devastated. All of the wonderful activities you once enjoyed you now only dream of doing. The slightest exertion leaves you gasping for air, bodily exhausted and shameful you did this to yourself. And worse, it could have all been avoided. The quality of life this senseless so-called pleasure of smoking tobacco over time is devastating, irreparably damaging to your cardiopulmonary system and wishing now you had only listened to those who saw your future.

When those public service announcements come on urging you to not smoke, they are not lying to you. It is a matter of life and breath. It is true: When you can't breathe, nothing else matters.

If through my plea just one person, especially our youth, will heed my words you can be spared the agony that I must now try to live with. When I still had a chance I didn't listen ... will you?

DICK HONNICK