I wonder how long he could have lived if he hadn't smoked until he was 90?

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/world/4132050.html

World's oldest person celebrates 115th


By FRANK GAUD Associated Press Writer
© 2006 The Associated Press

ISABELA, Puerto Rico — The world's oldest person celebrated his 115th birthday Monday, offering advice on healthy living at a party where he was serenaded by a well-known Puerto Rican singer.

Emiliano Mercado del Toro, who was a boy when the United States seized Puerto Rico from Spain in 1898, attributed his long life to a healthy diet and avoiding alcohol.

"I never damaged my body with liquor," said Mercado, who quit a 76-year smoking habit when he was 90.

Mercado was declared the world's oldest person by the Guinness Book of Records last year.

"I never thought I would last so long," he said.


Update: I read a correction in one of the other papers today from AP that said Mr. del Toro is not 115 years old. He is actually 116 years old.

[babylonsister]

1. But dammit, he drank!

Hot stuff! :evilgrin:

[Armstead]

2. Well, I guess I've got about 40 years of smoking left.

If he quit at 90, I can keep puffing for a few more years I guess.

Truly an inspiration. :)

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

3. I'm smoking for longetivity.

So figuring in with the liver damage, I'm doing with the alcohol...I figure, I should still live to be a 100 or so.

[colorado thinker]

5. Ha, ha, ha

I read an article in Time, years ago, that was seriously detailing all the health damage done by cigarettes, and at the bottom of the article it said "while only 7% of smokers get lung cancer . . ." What percentage of drivers get in accidents? What percentage of soldiers in Iraq are injured or killed? Why is this country hung up on eradicating all smoking (of any kind) and pays little to no attention to diseases that have NO known cause? Furthermore, how do we know what has really caused lung cancer, since we live in a toxic chemical soup with a half-life of thousands of years (pesticides,herbicides,asbestos, etc.) If you ever read the MSDS on Formula 40* household spray cleaner, you'd put on a hazmat suit and get it out of your kitchen in a heartbeat. We are all manipulated and delusional . . .

[Warpy]

4. My mother smoked 3 packs a day for about 45 years

and, if the social security administration is right, died at 94.

Of course, the last 25 years of her life were a horror show with lung disease and associated heart failure making her a complete cripple, able to walk only 3 or 4 steps before stopping to gasp for every breath.

That's what most smokers can expect, whether or not they drink.

[sandnsea]

6. Drinkers too

I don't think the human body was designed to put excessive amounts of any substance in it. Even too much of a particular vitamin can kill somebody.

[bananarepublican]

7. He'll star in the next Marlboro Man commercial! n/t