How many smokers do we have?

[michel]

News

www.ntlworld.com

Smokers warned habit can literally cost arm and leg

31/08/2005 08:49

Smokers have been warned that their habit could end up costing an arm and a leg, as the risk of peripheral arterial disease is 16 times greater.

According to campaigners, awareness of PAD, which affects the circulation of blood in the main arteries, was low.

Action on Smoking and Health (Ash) has published a report highlighting the consequences of the disease which is mainly caused by smoking.

The habit narrows the arteries, making it more difficult for blood to reach some parts of the body.

Though this can sometimes lead to amputations, the greatest risk for people with PAD is a heart attack or stroke.

Deborah Arnott, director of Ash, said: "Quite literally, smoking can cost an arm and a leg if people with arterial disease don't stop smoking.

"Despite the fact that thousands of people are diagnosed with this disorder every year, PAD is a little understood consequence of smoking.

"Doctors and health professionals should warn patients who smoke of the risk of arterial disease and offer them advice on ways to quit."

The report said that around 2.7 million people in the UK over the age of 55 have some degree of PAD.

 

[robtex]

me non-smoker..hey michel can you throw a poll on this thread?

 

[michel]

already did - good Idea Rob!:biglaugh:

 

[cardero]

Smoker about half a pack a day. It just may be the way I decide to leave this existence.

 

[Halcyon]

I have fairly strong opinions on smoking because my father died from lung cancer.

Nowadays I often use it as a judge of intelligence/character. Older people, i feel have a bit of an excuse for smoking, because they have probably been addicted for years. But when i see people my age (20's) and younger take up smoking, i feel they must be innately stupid - they know it will do them harm, and that it is addictive and that it will kill you, yet they do it anyway to look 'cool'. When i see people my age smoking i consider them to be sheep with the will power of gnats, and i will often avoid talking to them.

 

[robtex]

I. But when i see people my age (20's) and younger take up smoking, i feel they must be innately stupid - they know it will do them harm, and that it is addictive and that it will kill you, yet they do it anyway to look 'cool'. When i see people my age smoking i consider them to be sheep with the will power of gnats, and i will often avoid talking to them.

Interesting sterotype. I would love to know the reasons people take up smoking. I have a friend who goes to mexico to see family a few times a year. He says that in the villas a large percentage of the men smoke but none of the women. He was curious so he inquired about it and found out that smoking is seen as macho but in the same breath (like my pun!) that it was not considered feminine to smoke.

If anybody posts on here it would be cool to know why you started.

 

[Green Gaia]

Don't smoke, have never smoked, although I did try it once, didn't like it. I can't stand the smell and the health risks are not worth it, imo.

 

[cardero]

I have fairly strong opinions on smoking because my father died from lung cancer.

Nowadays I often use it as a judge of intelligence/character. Older people, i feel have a bit of an excuse for smoking, because they have probably been addicted for years. But when i see people my age (20's) and younger take up smoking, i feel they must be innately stupid - they know it will do them harm, and that it is addictive and that it will kill you, yet they do it anyway to look 'cool'. When i see people my age smoking i consider them to be sheep with the will power of gnats, and i will often avoid talking to them.

There are now anti-smoking ads in comic books geared towards this age generation that are very effective. Truth.com being the most recognized, they do not pull back their punches.

 

[robtex]

Don't smoke, have never smoked, although I did try it once, didn't like it. I can't stand the smell and the health risks are not worth it, imo.

I think it may be important to note that people who have chosen to smoke are not making a rationzation but chose to smoke due to an emotional stimulus. i don't think you will find anyone who looked at it rationally or logically and concluded it was a good or great idea.

I am thinking that the answer to "why people smoke" can be seen in the current marketing campaigns that exist. Joe Camel for instance "smokes" because it a postitive tool for socialization. He wears his leather jacket and his camel joe cig and he is out on the town and comfortable in his evirorment.

"You have come a long way baby" is virgina slims way of associating cigs with a woman's independance. Interestingly a young girl who smokes is probably going against her parent's wishes and thus is exhibiting independance.

The marbro man is a rugged indivdualists in his jacket and boots.

I don't smoke and think it might be in part because when I looked at those ads I didn't get an emotional boost and thus the association failed to influence me. I am wondering how the ads influence others in their teens and twenties and how many of the smokers had smoking parents. For the record my parents both smoked until they were in their mid- 30's and stopped. My brother and I have never taken to smoking.

 

[Aqualung]

I have fairly strong opinions on smoking because my father died from lung cancer.

Nowadays I often use it as a judge of intelligence/character. Older people, i feel have a bit of an excuse for smoking, because they have probably been addicted for years. But when i see people my age (20's) and younger take up smoking, i feel they must be innately stupid - they know it will do them harm, and that it is addictive and that it will kill you, yet they do it anyway to look 'cool'. When i see people my age smoking i consider them to be sheep with the will power of gnats, and i will often avoid talking to them.

I would tend to disagree with you there. I know people who are very, very smart, and they knew why smoking was bad, and what it would do to you, and the fact that it was extremely gross. But one or the other parents smoked. So they would think, "why is my respected, smarter than me parent smoking? Is it more than just a gross habit?" So they would try it, realise that it is just a gross habit, but then be addicted. Even though they knew all the risks and all that, they still got hooked, just because they didn't understand it.

 

[jewscout]

i used to smoke pretty heavily but, even in VA, it got expensive...almost $3 for a pack of Marlboro Reds

 

[robtex]

i used to smoke pretty heavily but, even in VA, it got expensive...almost $3 for a pack of Marlboro Reds

JS you may be overlooking some obvious figures. Say you smoke two packs a day. That is 6 bucks a day, 42 bucks a week or 1128 a year on cigs. You with me so far?

Now, when you think your non-cig daily expenses lets say you eat one fast food meal a day two grocery store meals that comes out to lets say 10 dollars. You spend 30 bucks a week on gas. The 30 bucks be very conservative considering today's prices. In addition your rent or morgage is 500 a month for say 30 years (than morgage paid off again being conservative . That means every year you will spend, 1560 in gas, say 3650 on food ( 10 a day) 3000 on rent for the 30 years to an annual living expense of 8210 per year for the first 30 years (not adjusted for inflation) and 5210 for the rest.

Now you start smoking at the age of 18. By 58 ( 40 years) you keel over dead where you would have nomally lived an additional 15 (again conservative estimate) if you had not smoked. Well if you do the math, 1128 x 40 = 45,120 on lifetime supply of cigs and the expenses for the extra 15 years ( 5210 x 15) = 78150. If you subtract the cost of living the extra 15 years from the cost of cigs for your lifetime ( 78150-45120) you get 33,030 in savings by shorting your life span from smoking. Now who can resist smoking with good economic sense like that!! :woohoo:

 

[Halcyon]

I would tend to disagree with you there. I know people who are very, very smart, and they knew why smoking was bad, and what it would do to you, and the fact that it was extremely gross. But one or the other parents smoked. So they would think, "why is my respected, smarter than me parent smoking? Is it more than just a gross habit?" So they would try it, realise that it is just a gross habit, but then be addicted. Even though they knew all the risks and all that, they still got hooked, just because they didn't understand it.

Aqualung, if someone knows that smoking is addictive and that it will kill you, plus give you numerous health problems during life, and starts smoking because their parents do - i'd not only question their level of intelligence, but also their ability to think for themselves.

 

[jamaesi]

Not everyone smokes to "just look cool."

 

[Aqualung]

Aqualung, if someone knows that smoking is addictive and that it will kill you, plus give you numerous health problems during life, and starts smoking because their parents do - i'd not only question their level of intelligence, but also their ability to think for themselves.

Well, of course they would know all that. But they must have thought that there was some reason for people to begin in the first place. That somehow there was some hidden pleasure, for so many people to be smokers. That's fairly rational, to think that perhaps there is some reason that people would do such a seemingly disgusting thing all the time.

 

[Feathers in Hair]

My mom has severe asthma, so smoking's never really been appealing to me. (Since we're in the same household.) I try to only use tobacco in ceremony and my medicine-work.

Plus, I know I've got an addictive personality, so I kinda don't want to give myself even the option of trying it.

 

[kreeden]

i used to smoke pretty heavily but, even in VA, it got expensive...almost $3 for a pack of Marlboro Reds

\

$3 a pack ? Those were the " good old days ". They are pushing $10 Canadian here . ... I figure that I have spent around $100,000 on tobacco in my life . Now that is just a guess , but how stupid is that ? And yea , I still smoke . I'm grumpy enough as is ... But I do plan to try to break the habit after my holidays . Can't afford not to .

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

I was a real addict, at least an ounce a day of strong pipe tobbaco. and I enhaled it.
if I ran out I could make do with 40 cigs a day.
Gave up when I was 30 ( 40 years ago) and I am still an addict. you never lose that urge.
But I have never touched one since. Though for the first couple of years I use to move close to smokers.:bonk:


Terry
___________________________________
Amen! Truly I say to you: Gather in my name. I am with you.

 

[michel]

I was a real addict, at least an ounce a day of strong pipe tobbaco. and I enhaled it.
if I ran out I could make do with 40 cigs a day.
Gave up when I was 30 ( 40 years ago) and I am still an addict. you never lose that urge.
But I have never touched one since. Though for the first couple of years I use to move close to smokers.:bonk:


Terry
___________________________________
Amen! Truly I say to you: Gather in my name. I am with you.

I tried the pipe, and inhaled, so I was told to go back to cigarettes by people around me; I was smoking 40-50 Capstan full strength a day, and gave up as easily as could be, thank goodness, after a few abortive attempts. Like you Terry, for the first few years, I would hang around smokers - now, I cannot stand the smell.

 

[Apotheosis]

I smoke the odd cigarrette,cigar at parties, and I smoke marijuana a little more often, maybe once a week, or once every two weeks..