Would An Image Of Your Own Black Lungs Put You Off Smoking?

[naomi24]

When looking at two pictures on a cigarette packet today – one of clean, healthy lungs – and next to it a picture of horrible black, lumpy-looking lungs, an idea occurred to me. Rather than the NHS offering people various aids and counselling to encourage them to stop smoking, it might be cheaper and more effective if smokers were offered an x-ray of their lungs and shown the result. Any thoughts?

[Quizproquo]

No it wouldn't.

[Islay]

no I just cover the picture up.

[Mamyalynne]

I doubt it would deter enough to make it a worthwhile exercise, interesting thought though.

[rsvp]

I wonder if the tax the Government collects on tobacco is greater than the cost of treating smoking related illnesses - anyone know?

[jourdain2]

It might just make a difference. I know that when I smoked (35 yrs. ago) I was not deterred by prophecies of doom. I gave up because I was pregnant.
My own lungs might have persuaded me earlier.

[hc4361]

Many smokers' lungs aren't affected visibly, maybe not until they've been smoking for many, many years.
If they had the x-ray and their lungs looked healthy to them, it would surely backfire.

[anneasquith]

No nicotine addict would have the xray.

[TWR]

I was on 60>>70 a day many years back Naomi, packed the dirty thing up.

[Prudie]

Personally you have to drag me kicking and screaming already to standard tests/check-ups. No way would I turn up if it was offered.

[Quizproquo]

I'd have it and it still wouldn't put me off.

[naomi24]

Quizproquo, I'm guessing you don't want to stop smoking, and if that's the case, you wouldn't ask your GP for help, so this question doesn't really apply to you.

[rsvp]

Bally well done TWR - admire your strength of character.

[jno]

I can't imagine any smoker would want an Xray of his or her lungs. I'm not sure I would myself, and I don't smoke. And as hc4361 says, if nothing showed up it would simply encourage the smoker to go on smoking. A generic photo on a pack of cigarettes might help.... but I think in general people don't stop smoking just because it might make them ill; they kniow that already.

[Sqad]

hc4361.......19.01 has got it right. The vast majority of smoker's chest X-Rays would be reported on as ....NORMAL.

[TWR]

Heartburn, Flem, indigestion, my answer Rsvp, stop smoking.

[TonyV]

Your answer rsvp tax on cigs more than covers cost of related illnesses for those that just don't die outright

[hellywelly4]

My husband told me, 50 years ago, that if I stopped, then he would. I stopped overnight with the help of Fox's Glacier Mints, but he never did. Without a doubt smoking killed him. He was just 65.

[rsvp]

Sounds sensible to me TWR
divebuddy that seems to corroborate TonyV's post doesn't it?
TonyV do you maybe have a link to this?
Thanks to all