I don't see anywhere in that article suggesting that this woman is promoting the way she chose to live her life as a recommendation for others. It's an interesting story, but we really don't know the details. First off, 15 cigarettes a day is 75% of a pack. Everyone I've known that had lung cancer or emphysema smoked 2 - 3 packs per day for years, even after their diseases were diagnosed. I knew another elderly woman who always had a cigarette in her hand but hardly ever inhaled. She just liked puffing on it and the activity of holding it helped "calm her nerves", as she liked to say. She died 2 years ago with no respiratory or cardiac problems.

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