quote:

ORIGINAL: Arpig

I smoke, and I agree with those that find it a nasty stinking habit. Starting was the stupidest thing I ever did, and I urge all and sundry to never light up their first. And to those, like me, for whom it is too late, well you have my sympathy...lets go out for a smoke.

quote:

ORIGINAL: johnnyluca

Cigarettes and sometimes cigars?

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ORIGINAL: MarsBonfire

Chia,

LOL! (Can I steal that?)

quote:

ORIGINAL: ranja

IronBear...i think you are mistaken on the stress relief issue...smoking causes far more stress than it relieves...it makes your heart beat faster not slower and your body has to work harder to get rid of the toxins...and for heavy addicts there is all the stress of making sure the next ciggy is there to light...the only stress relief is in your mind...it is a lie though...if you (mistakenly) think you need the nicotine i think it might be better to stick a patch on or chew the gum (but thats quite a disgusting habit too)

I mean no disrespect, but smoking really does stink on so many levels...

quote:

ORIGINAL: IronBear

quote:

ORIGINAL: ranja

IronBear...i think you are mistaken on the stress relief issue...smoking causes far more stress than it relieves...it makes your heart beat faster not slower and your body has to work harder to get rid of the toxins...and for heavy addicts there is all the stress of making sure the next ciggy is there to light...the only stress relief is in your mind...it is a lie though...if you (mistakenly) think you need the nicotine i think it might be better to stick a patch on or chew the gum (but thats quite a disgusting habit too)

I mean no disrespect, but smoking really does stink on so many levels...

I suggest that my experience with the effects of smoking as a stress relief and that of many others should discount your opinion which unless based on personal experience of high levels of stress such as police and similar occupations experience when walking or driving into a volatile situation and where your life is on the line often. There is also sufficient medical opinions which support my comments about anti-stress medication causing psychosis should you wish to research the matter. I seriously doubt were your own life at risk and you could afford to hire myself with my team, you would not question my smoking at times to get the stress levels down to an operational basis.

Long term, your comments is accurate however if you re-read my post I'm sure you will find that I did stipulate short term stress relief. Your comments are valuable and I do not intend to rubbish you, however I posted as I often do, based on personal experience as pertaining to my lifestyles or occupations. I should add that as a certified paramedic with combat experience in field surgery under fire, I am not unaware of the side effects of medications I use. Still perhaps we can agree to disagree in this matter..

quote:

ORIGINAL: Emperor1956


You are completely wrong.  In fact, nicotine is an amazing drug.  It improves concentration.  It improves short term memory.  Depending on the delivery concentrations, it can calm the CNS, or it can stimulate it.   

The amazing thing about smoking is how it is perfectly adapted to the human physiology.   Take for example, the ability of the body to self-regulate the nicotine uptake.   Envision the classic stressed smoker -- puffing fast, shallow breaths, rapid draw on the cigarette one after another, no pauses.  What she's doing is shallow oxygenation.  The nicotine gets into the bloodstream and to the brain (amazingly quickly, but that's a whole 'nother post) and begins to "damp down" the adrenaline.  NOW, imagine the same smoker, relaxed, languid (the famous post-coital cigarette comes to mind).  What is she doing?  Drawing on the cigarette with long, slow puffs.  Usually putting it down between draws.  Chatting.  slowly exhaling.  And that draws in the nicotine to stimulate the CNS, excite some of the brain chemical receptors, and give the smoker a more focused sense and a sense of well-being.

The problem is the delivery system.  It kills the smoker, and those around her.  Patches don't work well.  Smokeless cigarettes have been useless, and don't really prevent the health problems.  The person who comes up with a safe nicotine delivery system will rule the planet.  

E (who doesn't smoke cigarettes, but loves a good cigar, and a few other modalities) 

Edited to add:   Angelika is right of course in that nicotine, orally ingested, is a deadly poison.  Then again, misused, so is insulin.  You pays your money and you takes your chances, like so much in life.   My points were (1) faery is just dead wrong when she says you don't get anything from cigarettes -- as any nicotine addict will of course tell you and (2) but for the nasty delivery system (nails, teeth, clothing, smell -- I hate the smell of old cigarette smoke -- not to mention the disease factors we all know so well) nicotine is, to quote Rick James, "a helluva drug"!