Is smoking bad for your health?

[Epidemic]

Speedo,

I will not go that far.

That was the point of my post. There has been links to reduction in some forms of kidney disease associated with smoking. I am not sure as I only heard it once in passing. But to smoke cigarettes at the right moment in life might be life extending.

That is not to say smoking is good for you as a habbit. But medicinal benefits of it may not have been cronicalled yet.

So by all means quit smoking. I do not advocate it. But I will say that there is more to be learned about everything and until all avenues have been researched you can not make a blanket statement like that.

Pot was long held as being useless. But in truth it has several benefits over current meds. If abused the benefits are probably outweighed by the negatives.

Many meds used in the treatment of cancer are carcinigens of a much higher order than ciggarretts. Radiation, and chemo (spelling) are terribly damaging to the body. But on average the good outweighs the bad. But if someone was to get into a 4 bag a day chemotherapy habit they would probably die more quickly than by ciggarette.

[gjimene2]

yea, to me smoking is harmful.

But then again, I like to smoke a cigar once in a while



edit*

Socalgal, You're right, when you smoke you STINK. But then again that's why I like smoking nice flavored cigars once in a blue moon or a rich fine cuban cigar when your compadre has his first born son.

Of course, you might be one of the lucky ones who are immune to cancer, heart disease, stroke and emphysema. But if I were a betting man, I sure wouldn't bet my life on it.

Theo, this poll is for him to prove his point to me that I can't even smoke a little and be OK...
Not to start a smoker's riot.

I'm crabbing about quitting, cause I've cut down to about 10 or less of Ultra Lights per day.. instead of the 40 I used to do.. and telling him that's like nothing now..
I tried quitting a few days ago, but then the forums errupted and it was too much for me (stress wise) so I started back up..

He just wants me to quit for the sake of my health and is trying to dispute what I'm BSing him about.. that a few won't hurt me.

A few will hurt you. But a few will hurt you less than smoking more. That's only logical imo.

[SPEEDO]

until all avenues have been researched you can not make a blanket statement like that

Well one thing that's obvious is that no good can come from smoking.....Yes I can......................

[Epidemic]

From that perspective I would vote against the definition of a few a day.

10 a day would constitute a huge number on my medical use logic.



One fact that is constantly overlooked is the true benefits of smoking which are in evidence.

1) if you do not like someone you can blow smoke in their face
2) If someone annoys you, you can burn their nose with it.
3) Can't sell your house. Smoking will solve that.
That can help if the mob is after you to pay them back, thereby saving your life.
4) if you are in an anthrax rich environment pre-heating the air to 400 degrees before inhaling could save your life.
5) The have saved many peoples lives by using them as delayed fuse for bombs.

I could go on and on about the benefits.

In reality though I think the good is outweighed by casual consumption of tobacco.

[gjimene2]

Socalgal, Yea smoking only a few is by far better than being a constand smoker. I"m trying to get my grandfather to quit smoking because he has high blood pressure, high colesterol, and is in his 70s. But the funny thing is that my grand mother passed away before him, and she died of a virus in her liver. So it's kinda funny of how she died from something serious after her taking good care of herself and my gramps is still up and well after smoking all his life

[Mortis]

I did a quick Google search and came up with many links with TOO much information... but figured you have done that also. So, I thought I would throw in my physical experience, which isnt opinion. I have smoked for 17 (started at 14) years and quite twice. Both times, the reason I "re-started" was because I thought I could be a social smoker- smoke when out for a beer or during other certain activities (I know, only deluding myself). Both times, for a wile, I could handle that- but both times, I soon began smoking regularly again.

I cant comment conclusively about the health implications of "a cigerette a day" or only "socially," I also dont think there is sound statistical proof one way or another concerning this type of behavior- what you are requesting... it would be almost impossible to qualify because of so many other environmental factors. But, I think one could safely infer the effects based on already established statistical information regarding normal cigerette/tobacco use and its physical effects (but would this be opinion?).

However, I do think it is its own gateway when done socially.

Dont know if I really helped at all here.

EDIT: hehe... figured this was about you, Surreal... you share my delusions?

[Epidemic]

gjimene2,

True but you grandfather may have lived to 120 with out the abuse he put his body through. Perhaps he would be more active in his golden years absent the nasty habbit.

[gjimene2]

well, my grandfater is still alive, the one that passed away was my grandmother who was in perfect health until that virus hit her liver.

And the strangest thing is that he is active, he actually walks around the neighborhood like two or three times a day! I feel bad since I don't even do anything like that except for my exercise that I get at work! well, except today, I'm kinda stuck with nausea and a migrane

I feel bad at times when I smoke. But when I do, it's a cigar. And they aren't that big, the are actually Titiana or similar wich in size are about the same size of a ciggie.