Is smoking bad for your health?

When I was smoking I used to HATE those freakin TV and radio commercials with a passion. But maybe they did some good in making me quit.

I don't watch TV

Seems like everytime I quit crap hits the fan..
Things never go normal.. My life can be placid and boring,, I quit and I guarantee in 24 hours stuff comes from everywhere to be a problem.. What's up with that?

[Knothead]

Originally posted by Theophylact
But seriously, Fingers, I think a poll about facts is a bad idea, and I think that one about opinions that's intended to put pressure on a single person, even for the best of reasons, is a bit beyond the pale. Especially for a moderator, don't you think?

Intentions, Theo, intentions.

I think the ends justify the means quite perfectly.

[Theophylact]

Ah, Knothead, I come from an entirely different theological tradition. I don't care what people really think, as long as they behave well.

I can't find the exact quotation, but Martin Luther King Jr once said something like, "I know that I'm not going to be able to make my neighbor love me; I'll settle for him not trying to kill me."

[Epidemic]

Surreal,

What is you record quitting time.

The last time I quit for a year. The gawd aweful fealings died out after about a month. The urges wayned a bit after 2 months. Then one day I decided I could be a social dipper when my friend came over for a week. By the end of the week I was crossing from social back to habbitual.



PS who voted for the no harm option.

Originally posted by Theophylact

I think a poll about facts is a bad idea, and I think that one about opinions that's intended to put pressure on a single person, even for the best of reasons, is a bit beyond the pale. Especially for a moderator, don't you think?

Especially for a moderator,??
So we are not supposed to get any kind of personal advice or support or knowledge from people here if you're a MOD?

I don't know what the whole point of all your crabbing around in this thread is,,, but it disapoints me and I'm not opening it back up.

[Epidemic]

I think that sureal is the one who should complain if she needs to.

Putting pressure on someone to do the right thing is an especially good thing to do. One should know the person before doing so. You can pressure someone away. Open honest communication is what is needed. Bringing in others opinions can be used to fortify your argument. Especially in a covert way as fingers did. He did not mention the target of his question and so did not break any confidence.

[Angela]

Originally posted by Knothead
[i]A teeny side note: When a hard-core smoker can go from 2 packs a day to 10 little "wussy" cigs, that is quite a WIN, Surreal. Congratulations! Keep it up...

I couldn't agree with this more!! If you can cut back to 10, you can keep cutting back and lick this eventually. IMHO (OK, maybe not so humble!), I'd say you should be feeling really, really proud of yourself for getting down to 10 a day!!

I can understand why Fingers is in a hurry for you to quit completely, but it doesn't always work that way. He should be proud of you for cutting back to 10 a day, too! (He probably is, he justs worries and all that)

[B71655]

Fourty to ten is a good place to see why you need the ten. Try to hold at ten. I quit after 25 years by not wanting any more. It worked. When you are ready, you will just stop. No matter how you get there, you will say no more. For me, it may have been a stroke in my family made me think. Maybe these people that care
are yours. Cheaper than the patch, eh? Good luck.

[ZENYO]

Of course it's harmful for your health. Just the damage to your lungs is enough even if it doesn't result in cancer. Unfortunately, I smoke 1/2 a pack a day, sometimes 3/4. It sucks, I would love to quit, but not because it might kill me, there’s a lot of things out there that might kill me and I don’t want to live in a bubble. The way I see it, if cancer is gonna get you, then it's gonna get you somker or not. My grandfather never somoked and lived a pretty healthy life and cancer killed him. My dad had quit smoking for 15 years before cancer almsost killed him. I'll quit when it's right for me, When I'm finally fed up with stinking or paying $7 a pack.

Sorry, I went of topic didn't I

Yes I do think smoking is bad for you.

Originally posted by Epidemic
4) if you are in an anthrax rich environment pre-heating the air to 400 degrees before inhaling could save your life.
5)

Ac tually that's just plain wrong, Epidemic.

Someone who smokes is much more PRONE to develop inhalational anthrax after exposure than someone who doesn't, due to the poor clearance of foreign matter from the respiratory tree.

Same for Legionnaires Disease, and many other respiratory pathogens.

Even sidestream smoke causes potential damage to your lungs.

Think about that Surreal, and you other smokers. Surreal, I know you said you only smoke outside now, but how long will that last? Think about the potential effect of your smoking on those you love. Might help as a motivator.

My younger brother developed an aggressive cancer on his tongue at age 18, and he has never smoked. But my dad smoked like a train, and in the house and everywhere where us kids were. I believe my brothers cancer was an effect of sidestream smoke. Fortunately, he has been cleared of further cancer after yuears of aggressive treatment, but not before surgery removed half of his tongue and the side of his neck. He still has speech therapy 9 years later.

My dad died of brain tumour secondary to lung cancer three years ago. He gave up when he was diagnosed, but it was too late by then.

Don't leave it until later.

Cheers
Mick