We are living in an ageswheresnew health hazards are brought to our attention on an almost daily basis. And nine times out of ten, all that's needed to eradicate these risks is an alteration to our daily routines. So what I want to know is, why do we keep ignoring the warnings?

　　Most people have a pretty good idea of what constitutes a healthy lifestyle, and yet we are all guilty of making the same unwholesome choices. Whether it's downing too many beers on a night out, or choosing that greasy hamburger over the nice crisp veggies, we've all been there. Smoking, however, is one lifestyle choice that I just can't understand.

　　One of the first things that struck me as a newcomer to Shanghai was the sheer number of smokers out here. It is estimated that 1.7 trillion cigarettes are smoked in China per year, which compels me to ask whether people have any idea of the consequences of this activity. Some people call it a habit, others a necessity, but no matter which way you look at it, smoking is extremely detrimental to our health.

　　One may argue that over-indulgence on fatty foods or lack of exercise can be just as dangerous in the long-term. But the truth is that although these practices all shorten life expectancy to a certain degree, the harmful effects are nowhere near as extensive as those caused by smoking. It can lead to an almost endless list of health problems, such as bronchitis, emphysema, angina, heart attacks and asthma, not to mention the numerous cancers.

　　In addition, it is one of the few lifestyle decisions that will cause as much damage to others as it does to the smokers themselves. The 4,000 toxins contained in cigarettes are actually amplified in second-hand smoke, so inhaling passively from others can be just as dangerous. I find it hard to believe that there would be as many smokers here if people were properly informed of these facts.

　　All around the world anti-smoking campaigns are now well established and starting to take effect. A highly successful strategy whereby smoking is banned in public areas has been implemented in cities like Singapore and LA, and the trend is gradually spreading to Europe.

　　I'm not saying that these kinds of plans would be right for China. I just think that there is a communication barrier somewhere that needs to be resolved. People need to be educated more about health risks such as these so that they can make lifestyle decisions based on solid knowledge before it's too late.