Hollywood 'paid fortune to smoke'

Tobacco firms paid huge amounts for endorsements from the stars of Hollywood's "Golden Age".

China lung disease 'to kill 83m'

A US study has suggested that more than 80 million people in China will die in the next 25 years as a result of lung disease.

The research says the vast majority of those premature deaths are preventable.

The study focused on the devastating impact of smoking and the widespread practice of burning wood or coal at home for cooking and heating.

Get Ready Now For 'No Smoking Day'

With only two weeks to go before this year's No Smoking Day - Wednesday 11 March - the Ulster Cancer Foundation (UCF) is encouraging smokers to think about their wealth as well as their health.

Judith West, (pictured) the Cancer Prevention Officer with UCF said: "As the impact of the credit crunch starts to bite, many families are feeling the pinch. And for smokers it's particularly tough. Those with a 20-a-day smoking habit spend a staggering £2,000 a year on cigarettes - enough to buy a second-hand car,,,,,.

How I am quitting - Two weeks ago I switched to half strength cigarettes (for me it was going from Marlboro Lights to Marlboro Ultra Lights) but still smoked the same number per day. The first 2 days were a little itchy but not bad. Last week I switch to the lowest nicotine cigarettes available (Now) and again smoked the same number. Yesterday, before the first cigarette of the moning I threw them away. So far so good ... a few minor cravings but overall the easiest *quit* process I have tried in 30 years of smoking.

Four and a half months without a cigarette for me now!
I smoked for 47 and a half years and it left me with emphysema
for which I now use oxygen most of the time.