What should we do about smoking?

[redmarvel]

So maybe we should make bad breath and body odor illegal while we're at it.

If someone else has bad breath or body odour they can not make me have bad breath or body odour unless they keep close physical contact with me for a long period of time... and trust me on this, I don't keep close physical contact with people with bad breath and body odour.

 

[thedeadite]

the "second hand smoke gives me cancer" line is old and full of mis-information. there is no "proven" case of smoking or second hand smoke being the single cause of a person's cancer. This is because there's no real way of proving how ANY cancer was caused. Yes, cigarette smoke contains carcinogens that can lead to the creation of cancer cells in the body...and for the record so does car exhaust...and here's a great one...the most carcinogenic substance known at this time is diesel exhaust. all those transport trucks...the cars that run on diesel fuel ("to save on gas costs and mileage!!") are emitting the most carcinogenic substance around..so why not make all those move to unleaded gasoline (which is significantly less carcinogenic).

another point...and this mostly applies to canada (and ontario in particular) since i'm not too sure how healthcare is run in other places. Stop crying about MY smoking costing YOU money on my healthcare. Cigarettes are taxed at near 400%...that's right 400% government tax! the average smoker pays enough in taxes in his lifetime to pay for the healthcare of almost every canadian for a year. From my taxes (on my cigarettes) i should be the one complaining about having to pay for YOUR healthcare.

another point...if the government (of ontario in my case) wants me to quit smoking so badly, instead of the smoking ban that's in place, which is costing people their jobs, and in the case of the casino actually costing the government money, why not take all this money smokers pay in cigarette taxes and make stop smoking aids (ie patch, inhaler etc...) FREE on OHIP if prescribed by a doctor??? the answer....if i quit smoking that's one less person the government makes so much money off of in taxes.

 

[redmarvel]

Source: Canadian Cancer Statistics 2004

A non-smoker exposed to second-hand smoke has a 25% increased chance of lung cancer. Increased chances of cancer of the sinuses, brain, breast, uterine, cervix, thyroid, as well as leukemia and lymphoma are also noted. Health Canada estimates that more than 300 non-smokers die from lung cancer each year because of exposure to second-hand smoke.

http://www.cancer.ca/ccs/survey/P5F...__langId-en,00.html&site=1&lang=EN&log=114020

 

[redmarvel]

Second-hand smoke is dangerous
Second-hand smoke is more dangerous than directly inhaled smoke. It is harmful even when you cannot see or smell it. Second-hand smoke releases the same 4,000 chemicals as smoke that is directly inhaled, but in even greater quantity. Approximately 50 of these chemicals (carcinogens) cause cancer.



Cigarettes burn for approximately 12 minutes, but smokers usually only inhale for 30 seconds. As a result, cigarettes are spewing second-hand smoke into the air for non-smokers to breathe.



The smoke inhaled by the smoker first, and then exhaled, is called mainstream smoke.



The smoke that goes directly into the air from the end of a burning cigarette is called sidestream smoke.



Because second-hand smoke burns at a lower temperature than inhaled smoke (mainstream) it contains:

2 times more tar
5 times more carbon monoxide, which reduces the amount of oxygen in the blood.

http://www.cancer.ca/ccs/survey/P5F...__langId-en,00.html&site=1&lang=EN&log=114020

 

[Spider-Bite]

Sorry, but if you think that all you risk in terms of your long-term health is a bit of a diminished lung capacity from smoking because you exercise and eat right you are either naive, deluding yourself, or stupid. You cannot willfully ingest poisons into your body for years on end and expect that you'll get off that easy. Even when I was a smoker I knew that, but not to the extent that I do now. So, smoke. Smoke your little heart out for all I care. But don't kid yourself that exercise and nutrition (and I know more about those subjects than most personal trainers these days) will counteract the long term effects of smoking on your body. It doesn't work that way.

At any rate, it's not about living life being afraid to do things you enjoy. It's about living life smartly so that your quality of life will be extended well into your later years. Personally, I don't want to be strapped to an oxygen tank and forced to take a buch of medications when I'm older because I did something I enjoyed in my earlier years. I want to be able to enjoy my retirement, not suffer through it until I die.

jag

how many people do you know that smoke till they die? how many people do you know that actually get hooked up to an oxygen tank? one person in my family does and he was a smoker but he had awful asthma. he was sick all the time before he smoked and then he smoked anyways several packs a day. he' in his sixties and he now uses an oxygen tank. chances are I will never need an oxygen tank.

 

[redmarvel]

Second-hand smoke is linked to the deaths of at least 1,100 Canadians every year.

Same web page as the last quote

 

[jaguarr]

how many people do you know that smoke till they die? how many people do you know that actually get hooked up to an oxygen tank? one person in my family does and he was a smoker but he had awful asthma. he was sick all the time before he smoked and then he smoked anyways several packs a day. he' in his sixties and he now uses an oxygen tank. chances are I will never need an oxygen tank.

I've lost three grandparents, four aunts, an uncle, and several close family friends to smoking related illnesses (not all of them respiratory related). At any rate, like I said, if you think you can willfully ingest poisons into your body for years on end with no repercussions whatsoever, you are delusionsal.

jag

 

[Spider-Bite]

Originally Posted by Canadian Cancer Society
Source: Canadian Cancer Statistics 2004

A non-smoker exposed to second-hand smoke has a 25% increased chance of lung cancer. Increased chances of cancer of the sinuses, brain, breast, uterine, cervix, thyroid, as well as leukemia and lymphoma are also noted. Health Canada estimates that more than 300 non-smokers die from lung cancer each year because of exposure to second-hand smoke.

that's what you call partisan biased science dragged down by people with an agenda. tell me this.

Where are you gonna find non smokers who have never ever been exposed to second hand smoke to compare them to? For all they know a person like that would have the same chances.

There are so many cancer causing agents. cell phones, microwaves, televisions, toaster ovens, oil usage, pollution, hairspray, make up, and just about everything technological that exists. even these computers were using right now are giving people cancer. were surrounded by it all day. Second hand smoke isn't gonna make much difference, when you add it all up. even 409 causes cancer.

In order for that study to be accurate they would have had to take thousands of people and stick them in a bubble for their entire life while they study them.

 

[Spider-Bite]

I've lost three grandparents, four aunts, an uncle, and several close family friends to smoking related illnesses (not all of them respiratory related). At any rate, like I said, if you think you can willfully ingest poisons into your body for years on end with no repercussions whatsoever, you are delusionsal.

jag

I never said no repurcussions. I said my health is not entirely dependant on whether or not I smoke. there are other factors at work.

 

[redmarvel]

Second-hand smoke hits children hardest, Statistics Canada says

Last Updated: Tuesday, October 19, 2004 | 5:34 PM ET

CBC News
One-third of non-smokers in Canada say they are regularly exposed to second-hand smoke, raising concerns for young people who can't escape exposure.

People breathe in the fumes in public places, homes, workplaces and cars, Statistics Canada reported Tuesday.

Exposure was most common in Quebec and the Northwest Territories and least likely in British Columbia, the study's authors found.

Despite attempts to light up away from children, smoke lingers in homes.

Children aged 12 to 20 are most at risk, according to Claudio Perez, a senior analyst with the agency in Ottawa. He based the findings on results from the 2003 Canadian Community Health Survey.

"They seem to have the least options in terms of getting away from any unwanted exposure," said Perez. "Particularly since bylaws do not apply to smoking in the presence of children in private homes or vehicles."

Non-smoking Canadians are most commonly exposed at:

Restaurants and bars – 20 per cent.
Workplace – 10 per cent.
Homes – 11 per cent.
Cars – 11 per cent.

Research suggests children who are exposed to second-hand smoke are at greater risk of developing asthma and cancer. Exposed babies are more susceptible to sudden infant death syndrome.

Smokers can go to another room or not smoke when a child is in the car, but these measures don't work, according to the Ontario Medical Association.

Smoke filters through homes and lingers in cars. Banning smoking in homes or cars where there are children is the only solution, the OMA said.

"We know they're still getting toxic levels of exposure to second hand smoke and their airways are particularly vulnerable," said Dr. Ted Boadway of the association.

Although homes and cars may be the only sanctuary to smoke, these are the places where children are at highest risk of exposure.

Among 12-year-olds, 24 per cent are regularly exposed to second-hand smoke in their homes and 16 per cent in public places, the report said.

http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2004/10/19/smoke_secondhand041019.html

OMA = Ontario Medical Association (I think)

 

[redmarvel]

that's what you call partisan biased science dragged down by people with an agenda. tell me this.

Where are you gonna find non smokers who have never ever been exposed to second hand smoke to compare them to? For all they know a person like that would have the same chances.

In order for that study to be accurate they would have had to take thousands of people and stick them in a bubble for their entire life while they study them.

I believe they compare people who live with smokers (and therefore have the highest liklihood of exposure to second hand smoke) to the general populace for their figures.

 

[Wilhelm-Scream]

Ha, sometimes I'll set out to clean my room. I smoke in my room.
I'll windex the TV screen, and the paper towel comes out the color of a liver patients urine.

I'll clean what appears to be the white walls, only to realize that the walls are actually blinding white, and the rag comes away effing grey brown.

That's just the TV SCREEN, and the freaking WALLS.

Sadly, you can not get a rag and windex and wipe out your lungs.
Even if you stop smoking, you're still at a higher risk of cancer for another 15 or 20 years.


I did however think, if you recall in "The Abyss", when the dude has to dive really deep, so they have him breath oxygenated liquid....I heard that was sort of based on something real.

So wouldn't that be a nice service...to develop a liquid you can breath so you could inhale it, puke it up, and thereby flush out years worth of accumulated black crap.

 

[jaguarr]

I'm getting a kick out of people actually trying to paint smoking as a benign thing. Cigarette smoke is bad for people. Period. It's not like it's a great unsolved mystery of our lifetime or anything. Heh!

jag

 

[Wilhelm-Scream]

Yeah, but I do JUMPING JACKS!!

 

[jaguarr]

Yeah, but I do JUMPING JACKS!!

Not good enough. You have to dance in your garage for hours at a time.

jag

 

[Wilhelm-Scream]

What I don't get, especially having just watched AC/DC Live At Donnington again recently, is, Angus Young is a non-stop human fireball of sweaty kinetic energy for hours every single night on a tour, and has spoken often of the fact that he's a chain-smoker and could never even so much as jog 'cause he'd be trying to smoke while jogging even.

So, I suspect he is demon possessed.

 

[Spider-Bite]

I believe they compare people who live with smokers (and therefore have the highest liklihood of exposure to second hand smoke) to the general populace for their figures.

yes but that can't give you an accurate reading to say that people who breathe in second hand smoke are 25% percent more likely to get lung canger than people who aren't. there are way too many variables. for example. in my house we have an air filter. the air in my house is cleaner than that of the average non smoker.

also how much do the smoke? some smoke a half a pack a day and some smoke 3 or 4 packs.
genetics also plays a big part. and then you have to take into consideration. how often do they use their microwave? did that person use a cellphone? did they watch television? is their a power plant near by? what is pollution like in the place where they live? Living in chicago is probably worse than smoking. seriously I lived in a big city, then I moved to a small town surrounded by other small towns. when i visited chicago I was astouned at how awful the air smelled. the pollution is just horrible there.

 

[Spider-Bite]

Not good enough. You have to dance in your garage for hours at a time.

jag

you tell him

 

[Spider-Bite]

my aunt who has never smoked rescently got cancer. at her job nobody smokes. nobody in her house smokes. she goes to non somoking restaurants and she never goes to the bar. her friends don't smoke. she is almost never, ever, ever, ever, exposed to cigarette smoke.

and she still got cancer. it can happen anyways.

 

[Majik1387]

^You do know there are different types of cancer, right?

 

[The IronMan]

To tell the truth I really hate smoking....It's contributed to the the death of more than one family member.I have several friends that smoke and when they come to my house they show respect and smoke outside.I have nothing against people who do smoke ....it's their choice their lives.I think the current smoking laws should be left the way they are.Just my opinion.

 

[thedeadite]

^^ you do know that lung, mouth, throat etc.. cancer doesn't = smoking related right??

(and yes..i know that you are most likely well aware of that, it's just that your comment made no real sense...so my reply is just as facetious)

ps (that was to Majik...and not to you IronMan)

 

[Spider-Bite]

^You do know there are different types of cancer, right?

no ****. my aunt had breast cancer. my point is that had she been smoking all these years it wouldn't have shortened her life in the least. my other point is that it's just an example that you can't live life afraid of your own shadow.

 

[Jerry]

I hope they don't make smoking illegal. Because then I won't have any fun pointing and laughing at all the people huddled together outside smoking in the middle of winter in Chicago where its windy as hell. Its hilarious.

 

[7Hells]

my other point is that it's just an example that you can't live life afraid of your own shadow.

eer isnt smoking an emotional crutch?
I think I read that somewhere. It is considered a sign of weakness.