What a disappointment! For years smokers and non-smokers alike had hoped that there was some easy way to reduce the risk of death and disability caused by smoking, but your report headlined, 'Vitamins 'boost cancer risk' ' (South China Morning Post, February 2) pointed out that the solution to these diseases cannot be found in taking vitamin supplements. In fact, the evidence shows that smokers who take vitamin supplements actually increase their risk of lung cancer and heart disease. This is especially disheartening to those smokers who began taking vitamins in the hope that they might have some protective effect. In our society, most smokers are aware that their addiction is harmful, and many had hoped to reduce their risk by taking pills. Now they will need to look for other ways to improve their health. Maybe they should consider quitting. Millions have successfully quit, and they often find it is much easier to quit than they thought possible. If you smoke, why not think about giving it up? All you've got to lose is a very insidious addiction, and you've got a life of freedom to gain. One of the most obvious changes I see in people who quit smoking is the profound sense of freedom they experience. They no longer have to worry about when and where they can have their next fag. They live their lives with a much greater sense if control and 'rightness', knowing that they are doing what is best. Smoking causes cancer, heart disease, as well as a plethora of other diseases and disabilities. It kills more people in our society than car accidents, crime, AIDS, and alcohol abuse combined. Quit now and begin experiencing the benefits of breathing freely again. It is never too late to quit, and the risk of disease begins to go down quickly after quitting. DAN NEISNER Preventive Care Specialist Department of Health Promotion/Wellness Hong Kong Adventist Hospital
