Yep there are old codgers out there who have smoked 60 a day all their life and are still hale and hearty in their 90's!
And then there are the fitness fanatics who drop dead in their 40's!
There is no doubt in my mind whatsoever that after skydiving without a parachute while playing Russian Roulette, smoking is the biggest single risk to life. I know so many smokers who kicked it as a direct result of smoking related disease and conditions.
My sister went last year. Lung cancer. Some years ago I tackled her about her smoking. She was adamant that she was not going to give up "her only pleasure in life". She certainly didn't think that way on her death bed bloated with steroids, zapped with painkillers after chemo and radiotherapy, with tubes in every orifice. A truly miserable death. My brother in law, not very much different died this year.
Rant over . . .
My Nan when I was a child described how her brother died from lung cancer & made me promise not to smoke, so I never have. Both my brothers and sister did, my brothers stopped in middle age but my sister still does and is in poor health, struggling to walk any distance slowly.
Two of my heavy roll-up smoking neighbours died prematurely at 53 and 71. Conversely my great uncle like virtually WWI veterans smoked cigarettes and the cigars and lived until he was 98. The last two winters have had bad flu outbreaks and virtually useless flu vaccinations where they targeted the wrong ones and protect against fewer strains in the UK compared to most western countries.
If you are in an at risk category or over 65 the baterial pneumonia vaccination is work having as it is a major killer with about 10% of people who contract it dying and it is a have once protected for life vaccine. I had it last spring where I'm diabetic.