For The Union-Tribune Where there’s smoke, it’s dire Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death, responsible for 1 in 5 deaths in the U.S. annually. A longtime smoking habit is estimated to reduce average life expectancy by at least 10 years. But smoking costs more than lives. WalletHub, a personal finance company, recently released a report on the economic costs of smoking: more than $600 billion nationally. The company broke it down by state (plus Washington, D.C.). The five states with the highest smoking costs: 1. District of Columbia 2. Maryland 3. New York 4. Connecticut 5. Rhode Island And the five states with the lowest: 47. Tennessee 48. Alabama 49. Missouri 50. North Carolina 51. Mississippi Some other burning stats: • The average out-of-pocket cost per smoker is $179,745 over a lifetime. Smokers in New York will pay the most, shelling out 1.8 times more than smokers in North Carolina, who pay the least. • Each smoker will lose an average of $675,601 income over a lifetime. Smokers in the District of Columbia will lose the most income — 1.9 times more than in Mississippi, where smokers will lose the least income. • Each smoker will incur an average of $232,498 in smoking-related health care costs over a lifetime. Smokers in the District of Columbia will pay the highest amount — 2.9 times more than in Tennessee, where smokers will pay the lowest amount.   (Adobe Stock) Body of knowledge There are eight basic blood types (think AB or O+), but there are other, much rarer types. The rarest of all is called Rhnull, colloquially known as “golden blood.” The color does not mean Rhnull looks different. It’s red too. Nor is it in some way more pure, safer or better than other blood types. It is dubbed golden because it is extremely rare. Caused by a genetic mutation, there have been less than 50 known cases of Rhnull blood in human history. Apart from rarity, what makes Rhnull notable is that because it lacks all Rh antigens typically found in blood, it is a truly universal donor type, acceptable to any recipient. Conversely, people with Rhnull blood cannot receive any other blood type and are encouraged to stockpile their own blood for potential future need. (Adobe Stock) Mark your calendar February is awareness month for hearts, cancer, prenatal infections, children’s dental health, age-related macular degeneration and teen dating violence. Studies show that one in three teens experiences physical, sexual, emotional or verbal abuse from a dating partner before they become adults.   (Adobe Stock) Doc talk Ephelides — common freckles, benign and genetically determined, though their presence can indicate a higher risk for skin cancer due to ultraviolet light exposure   (Adobe Stock) Phobia of the week Emetophobia — fear of vomiting. Aeronausiphobia is the specific fear of vomiting due to airsickness.   Best medicine Doctor: How about a local anesthetic? Patient: I’d prefer an import.   Hypochondriac’s guide Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome, or KTS, is a rare congenital disorder characterized by a trio of symptoms: a port-wine stain that forms on the skin, varicose veins and enlargement of a limb or other body part, such as part of a torso, a single buttock or fingers on one hand. It is caused by genetic mutations that affect cell growth, leading to localized overgrowth and vascular issues. There are treatments for complications, such as bleeding and pain, but there is no cure.   Observation “I’ve got this terrible pain in all the diodes down my left side.” — Marvin the Paranoid Android in Douglas Adams’ 1979 novel “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy”   (Adobe Stock) Medical history This week in 1995, researchers announced they had linked brain structure to “perfect pitch,” the ability to identify or produce a specific musical note without any external reference. Persons with perfect pitch were found to have an enlarged plenum temporale, a region in the left hemisphere of the brain. However scientists noted that to have perfect pitch, a person must be exposed to music before age 10. Failing that, having an enlarged plenum temporale does not of itself normally coincide with having perfect pitch later.   Ig Nobel apprised The Ig Nobel Prizes celebrate achievements that make people laugh, then think. A look at real science that’s hard to take seriously, and even harder to ignore. In 1992, the Ig Nobel Prize in art went to Jim Knowlton for his anatomy poster “Penises of the Animal Kingdom.” A second prize went to the U.S. National Endowment for the Arts for encouraging Knowlton to extend his work in the form of a pop-up book.     Med school Q: Which organ is responsible for producing bile? a) Liver b) Pancreas c) Pituitary d) Thyroid A: a) Liver. Bile’s main function is to help digest and absorb fats and fat-soluble vitamins, eliminate some waste products and neutralize stomach acid. The pancreas produce insulin. The pituitary in the brain helps control growth, metabolism and other glands. The thyroid in the neck regulates metabolism and calcium levels. Annoying people also produce bile in other people. LaFee is vice president of communications for the Sanford Burnham Prebys research institute. ...read more read less