Tobacco and Its Concequences

[Richie]

I never got into it. Me and my friends were the nerdy car fanatics. I did find a pack of cigs when I was seven. The match fell down on my old Dash runner laces that always got so warn out and frayed and poof instant flames. No more smoking for me

 

[72Fourspeed]

The Habit

I never picked up the habit, but I do enjoy the occasional cigar. Don't really inhale those, but the scent is intoxicating. Good cigars, not the crap in the drugstore.

 

[Bruzilla]

My Dad smoked at home and work for about 15 years, then would only smoke at work. Came down with COPD in 1985, and I got the very unpleasureable task of watching that man slowly die for the next 23 years. Low blood pressure, no other diseases, great physical shape... should have lived to be 100, but instead he just slowly suffocated and eventually bled to death from a ruptured aneurism resulting from coughing. Hell of a way to go... coughing yourself to death.

You guys think smoking takes a toll on you? Think about the toll it takes on your kids.

 

[Habib]

Glad to hear that you quit nothing good comes from smoking or drinking for that matter.

 

[Dennis H]

Glad to hear that you quit nothing good comes from smoking or drinking for that matter.

Alcohol can be used in moderation.

 

[747mopar]

Alcohol can be used in moderation.

Never had a problem with alcohol, I like a little Rum while working in the garage and never feel the need to get intoxicated just relaxed.

 

[Richard Cranium]

My parents both smoked, but i only remember my dad smoking a pipe. He quit in the early 70's & my mom quit in the mid-80's. The worst was when we were kids going for a ride in the car with them. In the winter with the windows up, us kids got smoked out and if one of us opened a window in the back seat, the smoke would all come through that window. In the summer we all had the windows down and when my mom would flick the ashes out her window & they would come back in the rear door window and hit whoever was sitting behind her. Riding in the car was just a no win situation. Because of that, I had zero desire to want to smoke anything. Never even tried.

 

[Habib]

Alcohol can be used in moderation.

True some people can just have a drink or too and know when to stop, but most can't.

 

[1969CoronetR/T]

One is too many and ten is not enough for me with alcohol.

 

[Dennis H]

One is too many and ten is not enough for me with alcohol.

Just don't wander from that thought. Good for you. More Vodka for me.

 

[Cranky]

My parents both smoked, but i only remember my dad smoking a pipe. He quit in the early 70's & my mom quit in the mid-80's. The worst was when we were kids going for a ride in the car with them. In the winter with the windows up, us kids got smoked out and if one of us opened a window in the back seat, the smoke would all come through that window. In the summer we all had the windows down and when my mom would flick the ashes out her window & they would come back in the rear door window and hit whoever was sitting behind her. Riding in the car was just a no win situation. Because of that, I had zero desire to want to smoke anything. Never even tried.

My sister and I caught the same treatment as kids but I tried smoking out of boredom in the military. It didn't go very far thankfully.

True some people can just have a drink or too and know when to stop, but most can't.

I've been doing pretty good in picking a stopping point. Used to be a pretty heavy drinker but have pulled back a lot over the years and intend to keep it that way.

 

[NJRR]

I owe thanks to my oldest brother for me not smoking. He is 14 years older than me. When I was around 4, he came home on leave from the Air Force. Our mom asked him to watch me and he wanted to see his friends, so he took me with him to the soda shop. He sat me down on a stool in the middle of his guy and girl friends. They were smoking cigs so I piped up and said " hey, I want to try !" My brother laughed and said yeah, sure, here ya go. He held the cig to my mouth and I inhaled deeply. I immediately started coughing my guts up as everyone was laughing. From that time, I hated cigs and never had a desire to smoke.

All that being said, I do enjoy a good cigar and some good bourbon with the boys once in a while. I always regret it the next few days when I have that nasty cigar taste in my mouth.

 

[72Fourspeed]

Buy better cigars. I smoke Macanudo Prince Phillip. Try one, then Pm me if you like it.

 

[cr8crshr]

Buy better cigars. I smoke Macanudo Prince Phillip. Try one, then Pm me if you like it.

You and NJRR just aren't getting it. Now I am not inferring that either of you should do as I have done and give all Tobacco up. That is my choice and yes you both have a personal choice as to whether or not you choose to do the same. But what is missed in this discussion is that regardless of what delivery choice for getting the Nicotine, it still is absorbed into the body through not only the Lungs but also through the mouth. Result is what NJRR stated about the after taste lingering for a few days. The mouth is the gateway. Even Skoal Bandits are Rough Cut or Leaf Tobacco is absorbed through the mouth. It's a dual edged sword isn't it? Justifying the usage won't alter the eventual outcome. Even in moderation, its usage causes damage. Damage that in some cases is unrepairable. In my case, I will have to live with my youthful, peer pressured decisions, and my COPD. It is said that us reformed former Smokers are some of the worst examples of intolerance towards those that still do smoke. I admit that 100%. I just wish that the light bulb would come on for those that do still do, and would give it all up. Utopian maybe, but it to this day and forward, it is one of the most repulsive smells that I encounter. And as a side note...My being a reformed Smoker I still know what is a good Cigar. The Macanudo is a very fine Cigar but will never compare to a Punch Maduro Rothschild #5 and a nice Single Malt Scotch on the side. Enjoy my Friends and Stay Well...cr8crshr/Tuck

 

[1969CoronetR/T]

Discussing cigar smoking when the OP has COPD is like telling a paraplegic that your legs hurt from running.

 

[Bladecutter]

Cranky a couple days ago i posted my bit about all substance & i made reference to PC(that liberal left distinction)attitude of anti smoking nazis......i do my very best to be considerate & courteous to others around me with my footprint & that includes smoking , to try & de-characterize prejudicial connotations to my previous post. PC is a sore spot with me. all good

 

[NJRR]

I've smoked some very good, very expensive cigars, real Cubans, all leave a bad taste for days.

Buy better cigars. I smoke Macanudo Prince Phillip. Try one, then Pm me if you like it.

- - - Updated - - -

cr8crshr- If I smoke a couple of cigars a year, that's a lot. I don't think the carcinogenic or other negative health effects will matter considering I live in a heavy urban area opposite NYC and the air sucks, so I'm doomed anyhow. Not to mention the absorbtion of petroleum products when I work on my cars and the gloves rip, soak your hands with gas/oil, etc. I'm not saying to be reckless and do whatever, but in moderation even dangerous things aren't all bad. Glad you stopped smoking though. It will definitely improve your health and quality of life.

You and NJRR just aren't getting it. Now I am not inferring that either of you should do as I have done and give all Tobacco up. That is my choice and yes you both have a personal choice as to whether or not you choose to do the same. But what is missed in this discussion is that regardless of what delivery choice for getting the Nicotine, it still is absorbed into the body through not only the Lungs but also through the mouth. Result is what NJRR stated about the after taste lingering for a few days. The mouth is the gateway. Even Skoal Bandits are Rough Cut or Leaf Tobacco is absorbed through the mouth. It's a dual edged sword isn't it? Justifying the usage won't alter the eventual outcome. Even in moderation, its usage causes damage. Damage that in some cases is unrepairable. In my case, I will have to live with my youthful, peer pressured decisions, and my COPD. It is said that us reformed former Smokers are some of the worst examples of intolerance towards those that still do smoke. I admit that 100%. I just wish that the light bulb would come on for those that do still do, and would give it all up. Utopian maybe, but it to this day and forward, it is one of the most repulsive smells that I encounter. And as a side note...My being a reformed Smoker I still know what is a good Cigar. The Macanudo is a very fine Cigar but will never compare to a Punch Maduro Rothschild #5 and a nice Single Malt Scotch on the side. Enjoy my Friends and Stay Well...cr8crshr/Tuck

 

[coloradodave]

I smoked from when I was 16 ( had to support Winston, the major NHRA sponsor, you know) until I was 45 and discovered that I could no longer breathe effectively while doing my job. Cold turkey worked for me. 18 years later during a routine check-up after a surgery, the doctor spotted a tumor on my right lung. I elected to have it removed instead of doing a biopsy. Since the tumor (carcinogenic) was a part of the upper 2 lobes they took both lobes out. The current technology told them that the cancer was caused by 'filtered cigarettes'. 18 months later a new tumor had formed on the lower right lobe, so they went back in and took a pie shaped wedge out of that lobe, and accompanied that with chemo. Fast forward another 18 months and it shows up again, same location. They don't want to remove any more lung tissue, so I took part in a clinical study at the University of Colorado Cancer Center. They used 'stereotactic radio-surgery (read this as massive doses of radiation) pinpointed at the tumor. I have now been cancer free for 8 years after having done quarterly, then semi-annually, then yearly CT-PET scans. They now consider me 'cured' and feel the scans will do more harm than good.
The reason I am passing on this story is because even with 'major medical' insurance, the costs incurred took my 40 years worth of retirement benefits, killed my marriage and caused me to have to take a medical bankruptcy, something that bothers me to no end.
If someone comes around me and lights up, I don't give them a dirty look or say anything. I just move. I learned a long time ago that people have to learn their own lessons. If this wasn't true I would have listened to my parents and never started smoking in the first place. COPD is not pleasant and Spiriva does help...

 

[Budnicks]

Alcohol can be used in moderation.

Moderation of almost anything that's classified as a vice "possibly" doesn't hurt as bad,
BUT unfortunately "most" that drink alcohol, usually abuse it & do drink too much,
just like "most" that smoke any type of tobacco, smoke too much
{or chew tobacco even in excess, causing/creating other possible health issues}
IMO for some it's a form of compulsive substance abuse...
Others just a occasional pleasure, even if in moderation...
Some can't just do a little of anything...

Some people are more prone to health issue from said vices too...
Some are just overly compulsive too, seem to over indulge in any vice or life...

I know my ol'Pops health issues are from abusing alcohol {a quart a day} &
tobacco giving him asthma too {our family has been prone to asthma}
When he was younger he chain smoked Lucky Strikes, lit one with another
non-filtered fags, just like many of his generation did,
Probably started because of peer pressure, it was the thing to do to be cool...

I'm certainly no angle either, but know when to say when &
know when something effects my body or judgment...
I've had good example of what not to do...LOL

I know up here in the winter, I hate the smell of wood burning &
fireplaces smoke constantly, it probably effects my lungs too...
BUT I'd rather put up with that, than the inner-city nonsenses...

I had a granddad that sit out on the front porch & smoked a couple Camel non-filtered cigs a day, maybe 3 max, 1 after each meal, couldn't smoke in the house...
He had a {1-2} spirited drinks pretty much every night, usually whiskey or bourbon,
along with my grammie {except during Prohibition years maybe}
He/they also ate some sort of pork every morning, with eggs or pancakes or waffles,
he drank whole milk everyday, beef/meat & potatoes with most dinners,
little to no veggies, maybe some fruit with/for dessert...
You know "all things "they say" are bad for you today"...
He lived in Albany/Berkeley area to the ripe old age of 99, died of intestinal cancer,
he refused to get an operation, that probably would have help him live longer...
BUT he didn't want to go out like that, he watched my grammie wither away to nothing,
asthma related issues unfortunately...
{she never smoked, or let others smoke in her house because of asthma}
IIRC he said; "he just wanted life to run it's coarse"...
There probably could be a link to alcohol & tobacco...
Seemingly Dr.'s always link them to most every ailment now, right or wrong,
warranted, proven or not, maybe typical nanny state intrusion BS I'm sure too...
He also kept in decent shape, walked everyday a couple miles religiously,
until the very end...

I know people that are total health freaks too, do the organic everything,
never smoked, never drink & their skin color is greyish {alien like} & they look like chit,
they are always seemingly sick, they are the absolute worst,
they think their chosen lifestyle should be everyone's lifestyle {Calif. liberals},
maybe just hypocrites & hypochondriacs, afraid of life in general,
a few of them have died very young too, never seemingly did anything bad,
but never lived life...
Seems like some people are just more prone or disposed to ailments
or bad genes, bad work environments, living in "so called" hot spots than others too,
whether we/they partake in vices or not...
They are or were mostly all addicted to health, compulsive running or exercising too...

I know a couple {family friends} that both died of lung cancer, kind of young...
They lived in the country, they supposedly were always heath conscious &
never smoked cigarettes, ate very well, raise their own animals & grew their own produce,
but still lived life to it's fullest, mostly without vices {but they were 60's pot-heads thou}...

IMO it's not always smoking the brings on copd, asthma or let alone cancer...
Sometimes it's that some people are just more prone to cancer, breathing issues
or other lung ailments...

Seems just breathing the air today, eating the food & drinking the water,
just merely living today, eventually causes cancer of some sort...

If you do smoke or drink alcohol regularly or to excess/habitually especially,
than you probably should stop, cut back at a minimum...Moderation

Anyways though I'd share that little ditty, my $0.02 cents
carry on back to non smoking stuff...

 

[coloradodave]

To add to what Bud said, my doctors said that a good percentage of people who contract lung cancer have never smoked. Luck of the draw? Genes? Your environment? It doesn't hurt to do all you can to even the odds. Good health to you all...