Smoker / Non-Smoker

[Vermin (Tom)]

Yep I've heard of people bringing on emphysema by actually giving up (though this would just have been delayed slightly by not doing so).

[Roger Davis]

Smoked from 20 until I was 27. On a night shift I threw the almost full pack of smokes into the bin and watched two of my work mates try to follow it in.
Had a couple of puffs since, but nothing serious. So that's 23 years without.
Here's a fact for you:
one cigarette butt weighs in at around 1.7g
24 billion cigarettes sold in Australia per year
that's 40,800 tonnes of cigarette butts per year

(see: www.longwood.edu/cleanva/diglitterarticle.htm )

[dennislowe]

I gave it up about 1972 when the brand I smoked went up from 38 cents for a pack of 20 to 45 cents a pack. In those days matches were 2 cents a box, so a pack of smokes + matches was a nice even 40 cents. Having to find the extra change for the matches annoyed me so much I gave it up. I dont think I ever liked the things anyway. I only started to smoke in 1969 while in Vietnam, I got them free there.
Dennis.

[astro_nutt]

I started when I was 15 and tried quitting for 10 years till the age of 40...Zyban did the trick first time and no cravings for 6 years....mind you I work in a private sports club with a gaming room..plenty of smokers!!!...I'm glad I quit...just think..a packet of 30's cost say..$10..?..over a year..that would buy a nice little go-to!!

[fringe_dweller]

Originally Posted by Vermin

Yep I've heard of people bringing on emphysema by actually giving up (though this would just have been delayed slightly by not doing so).

I have heard of people developing emphysema, even tho they gave up smoking very early on, 20 years after giving up. but then there are many people who get emphysema, lung cancer, cancers in general ect. and who had never smoked or drank and were virtually athletes that ate very healthily all their lives! so its no garuantee of anything - as they say you got to die of something! if you can have a natural predisposition to something too!
I would agree with wraithe, old age is the biggest killer of all out there lol.
My granddad died of emphysema from smoking in his 70's after years of horrible suffering, I would fear that more than cancer, at least that is mercifully quick to kill you!

[h0ughy (David)]

All smokers are dying, as are non smokers, its just the speed at which they achieve their goal first that hurts the most!

[mickoking]

Gave up the durries a few years back. Have the occasional smoke now and then. Ironically it's my working environment thats more of a threat to my lungs (wood dust from cutting mouldings for picture framing).

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

By coincidence on SBS tonight on Cutting Edge there is a doco on how the tobacco industry has maintained it's power in the face of growing knowledge about its impact on public health.

[avandonk]

I smoke nearly a packet (50gm) per day of White Ox tobacco and I really enjoy it.
But I will not smoke close to my lenses (much) or telescopes.
I am so used to being an almost leper I put my smoke out when I go to the 'smoke shop'.

You are far more likely to to be affected by diesel particulate exhaust to promote any cancer than tobacco. This does not exonerate(tobacco) it, just puts it in perspective. There is also obviously a synergy with all these 'bad'
environmental carcinogens and mutagens. It always has been difficult to 'prove' a single cause of cancer.
It is more likely it is a series of mutagenic events and then the inability of the immune system to recognise the cancer as 'foreign'.

Why these utter b's can get away with promoting their products is for these reasons.

Bert

[johnno]

As has been said,and I totally agree,
we are predisposed to certain illnesses,a heavy smoker may not necessarily die from a smoking related disease.

Our Family were very good friends with a younger family,who lived across the road,
they both smoked and drank,NOT excessively,however they both liked their food,as well as their little boy,and were ALL overweight.

They both decided to go on a health kick,and gave up the smokes,and grog,entirely,went walking,etc,and lost so much weight,

I almost didn't recognise them,at our eldest daughters 30th birthday,(they had moved from across the road,to the next town,4klm's away ),six months earlier.

Our dear friend,passed away 8 months later from Lukaemia,
She was just 34.

I am very wary,of sudden dramatic,changes in lifestyle,

This is not the only instance,of someone I was close to,or just known,had problems,after a big lifestyle change.

Makes you wonder at times,
As I said,I gave up smoking,and got Diabetes,
I think I will stick with the devil I know.

Regards.
John

[Adrian-H]

i went cold turkey about 2 months ago, about a month before the anti smoking campagn, thank god for it, i believe they should enforce it stronger however. never liked smoking really, but i did enjoy the sensation, "i was hooked to nicotine", i dont plan on going back, its was easy to quit for me, i just bought a pack one day, each time i smoked i felt i hated it more and more, i smoked one, walked up to a bunch of smokers, smoking in the park across the road from bintel in sydney, asked each person siting down smoking on a seat if they wanted a packet of smokes, they all refused, i thought to myself, what are they thinking "my smokes are gonna kill them?" threw them in a bin and then gave up, maybe that sounds pretty crazy to some of you, but i have to say that smoking is true crazy. sure i had the red eyes and the bad dreams "i was smoking in my dreams!" but you have to be strong, otherwise its clear youre a lost cause. i just fell into it peered by the smokers "everywhere" at a presuring time in my life when i was younger

i wont smoke nicotine again, however i may have the occasional green smoke afew times a year!

[Adrian-H]

Originally Posted by fringe_dweller

I have heard of people developing emphysema, even tho they gave up smoking very early on, 20 years after giving up. but then there are many people who get emphysema, lung cancer, cancers in general ect. and who had never smoked or drank and were virtually athletes that ate very healthily all their lives! so its no garuantee of anything - as they say you got to die of something! if you can have a natural predisposition to something too!
I would agree with wraithe, old age is the biggest killer of all out there lol.
My granddad died of emphysema from smoking in his 70's after years of horrible suffering, I would fear that more than cancer, at least that is mercifully quick to kill you!

the pollution from the car's everywhere, that causes cancer, keep that in mind.

[ving (David)]

abh! everything causes cancer these days... greens are the only food not to be hit but then theres pesticides. really these days you just cant win (apparently).
everything in moderation has always been my way.

[fringe_dweller]

this discussion reminds me of the famous anecdotal stories of how smokers are renown for being the fastest healers, and up and about quickest time, quicker than non smokers, in hospitals, (not for everything of course ). I have heard this a number of times from reliable sources over the years.
Of course you cant smoke in hospital, and you have to get on your feet quicker to be able to go outside for a smoke - and the habit is stronger than broken bones apparently - true story

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

@ F-D

Reminds me of the story of the smoker, the catheter and the wobbly wheelchair....but we won't go there

[Argonavis (William)]

Reminds me of a Bill Cosby comedy sketch some time back (and I hope I get this right) - Bill is Sir Walter Raleigh who has come back from the New World and is introducing the Queen to this wonderful new habit:

So there is this thing that the Indians do, right?

you get some leaves from this plant and shred them up - ok

and you roll them up in paper?

and you set it alight? really?

and you inhale it?

really?

[fringe_dweller]

Originally Posted by [1ponders]

@ F-D

Reminds me of the story of the smoker, the catheter and the wobbly wheelchair....but we won't go there

never heard that one Paul? can ya Pm it to me

Argonavis, i have always loved the beatles song 'so tired' were lennon sings,
"I'm so tired, I'm feeling so upset
Although I'm so tired I'll have another cigarette
And curse Sir Walter Raleigh
He was such a stupid git."

[astro_nutt]

I haven't smoked for 6 years now..but I'll admit that I did enjoy it...however whenever I tried to quit..I found the emotional side really hard to deal with..why??..well...smokes were a good friend to me..I went through college with them..they helped me through the finals..celebrated when I passed..in fact throught thick and thin..the smokes were with me..always ready to help me through...and on those special occasions..birthdays..our wedding..the birth of our daughters..etc..even though it was doing me serious harm..I found it hard to stop..because it's like breaking up with a companion who was with me for many years...even though it's slowly trying to kill me!!..Like any addiction..it might be fun at first..but you pay for it big time later...
I used Zyban and stopped within 9 days of starting the course...

[astrogeek (Leon)]

Originally Posted by astro_nutt

I haven't smoked for 6 years now..but I'll admit that I did enjoy it...however whenever I tried to quit..I found the emotional side really hard to deal with..why??..well...smokes were a good friend to me..I went through college with them..they helped me through the finals..celebrated when I passed..in fact throught thick and thin..the smokes were with me..always ready to help me through...and on those special occasions..birthdays..our wedding..the birth of our daughters..etc..even though it was doing me serious harm..I found it hard to stop..because it's like breaking up with a companion who was with me for many years...even though it's slowly trying to kill me!!..Like any addiction..it might be fun at first..but you pay for it big time later...
I used Zyban and stopped within 9 days of starting the course...

Very true. They do become like a good friend, one who is always there for you. Sure makes it hard to quit.

[Adrian-H]

do they talk back to you?