Community Chat

[NoelSeven]

On 1/18/2014 Ford1224 said:

And both of my parents smoked. My poor mom died from it at age 49. My father had quit, but used to smoke those little cigars which, IMO, were probably just as bad. We never even smelled the smoke we were so used to it. Practically everyone smoked in those days.

My first husband also smoked, and our children were exposed to that. He didn't stop smoking until it almost killed him too.

I smoked for "effect" when I was 16 and given the "privilege" as a gift for my birthday. Fortunately for me, I never liked it and never got hooked on it. By that time my younger sister had been sneaking smoking since she was 12 and never stopped. Exactly 60 years later, at age 72, it got her, as she always knew it would, but had never any intention of stopping.

Both of my parents smoked, also. I started in high school and smoked for several years.

I don't "revile it," but I do think the facts should be out there so people can make an informed choice.

[RainCityGirl]

I grew up in secondary smoke as my dad smoked a pipe....and he inhaled. He died at 79, having only quit smoking the last 10 years of his life. I have no doubt his life would have been longer had he not smoked for 50 years. It started for him with cigs. He died of heart disease. I have had a long history of respiratory problems, including asthma. I can't prove the second hand smoke caused that, but I'm sure it didn't help. When I bought my first house, I would not allow any smoking there. My dad was always polite about it and either went outside or would sit on the floor in front of the fireplace and blow his pipe smoke up the chimney. I never understood why a man who had scar tissue on his lung from childhood tuberculosis was never given adamant orders from his lung specialist to stop smoking, but it was a time when even doctors smoked. He was never told to quit until in his late 60's his blood pressure was rising. He got Nicorettes gum, and after 50 years, he was done with nicotine in two months. Never smoked again. I could have had him in my life another 10 years or more had he quit in his 40's.

[Burnsite]

Hi, Noel, I am glad they continue to publish the risks. I believe that smoking is also linked to pancreatic cancer, bladder cancer and some kinds of brain tumors.

[LilacTree]

On 1/18/2014 RainCityGirl said:

I grew up in secondary smoke as my dad smoked a pipe....and he inhaled. He died at 79, having only quit smoking the last 10 years of his life. I have no doubt his life would have been longer had he not smoked for 50 years. It started for him with cigs. He died of heart disease. I have had a long history of respiratory problems, including asthma. I can't prove the second hand smoke caused that, but I'm sure it didn't help. When I bought my first house, I would not allow any smoking there. My dad was always polite about it and either went outside or would sit on the floor in front of the fireplace and blow his pipe smoke up the chimney. I never understood why a man who had scar tissue on his lung from childhood tuberculosis was never given adamant orders from his lung specialist to stop smoking, but it was a time when even doctors smoked. He was never told to quit until in his late 60's his blood pressure was rising. He got Nicorettes gum, and after 50 years, he was done with nicotine in two months. Never smoked again. I could have had him in my life another 10 years or more had he quit in his 40's.

What a ripoff raincitygirl. That's how I feel about my mother and sister. My father did live to age 83, so we had him a reasonable amount of time. My mother was always frail, but my sister was a "bull," she was so strong all of her life and that's why I think she lasted as long as she did. She would have definitely outlived me had she not smoked (and drank beer also).

Yes, the tobacco industry has ripped off millions of us.

[NoelSeven]

On 1/18/2014 RainCityGirl said:

I grew up in secondary smoke as my dad smoked a pipe....and he inhaled. He died at 79, having only quit smoking the last 10 years of his life. I have no doubt his life would have been longer had he not smoked for 50 years. It started for him with cigs. He died of heart disease. I have had a long history of respiratory problems, including asthma. I can't prove the second hand smoke caused that, but I'm sure it didn't help. When I bought my first house, I would not allow any smoking there. My dad was always polite about it and either went outside or would sit on the floor in front of the fireplace and blow his pipe smoke up the chimney. I never understood why a man who had scar tissue on his lung from childhood tuberculosis was never given adamant orders from his lung specialist to stop smoking, but it was a time when even doctors smoked. He was never told to quit until in his late 60's his blood pressure was rising. He got Nicorettes gum, and after 50 years, he was done with nicotine in two months. Never smoked again. I could have had him in my life another 10 years or more had he quit in his 40's.

I'm sorry about your dad, RCG.

I feel the same about my parents, the smoking had to have had an effect on their health, especially my father.

I have asthma, also, and all that second hand smoke when I was young surely didn't do me any good.