that's not what you were saying all along. You responded to the OP by saying that one pack of cigs a month was 'no, it's not bad / it's fine'.

that's nothing to do with passive smoking.

It's nothing to do with your comment 'not human'.

The OP was not about passive smoking so why try to go down that line. The question was quite defined.

Agree. Especially in red.

It is fine see stu post

yeah.....smoking is fine. All the experts are wrong. All the people who have suffered ill effects / bad health / death from smoking - they are all wrong. :pat:

Smoking is just bad for you. Its terribly unattractive too. D;

Smoking is bad in general, no matter how much you smoke, or how often.

It's a slippery slope Paddy, if I were you I would knock the habit on the head now before it gets worse. I wish I'd never started.

Smoking still ****s with your lungs no matter how often you do it. Though obviously the less the less bad I suppose.

That isn't the problem with cigarettes :conf2:

The chemicals in cigarettes break down the walls of the alveoli in the lungs, which means the diffusion pathway between the lungs and bloodstream is increased because the walls have been damaged, less oxygen gets into the blood which is why people suffer problems with shortness of breath...

http://www.communityoxygenservice.co.../emphysema.jpg

So, yes, in short, any smoking is bad for you and damages your lungs, but If you're going to smoke, then it's better a pack a month then a pack a week I suppose >_>


omg, my education came in handy somewhere :amazed:

Less chemicals means less breakdown. The lungs can repair themselves. It's one of the biggest reasons why doctors advise people to still quit because such good can come of it even if they were chronic smokers for years. You would want to have the most pissant lungs imaginable and some bad luck to boot if 240 cigarettes a year were to seriously make permanent long term inroads into destroying your health.

Besides cigarettes pose multiple possible threats of lung complications not just Emphysema which is the main problem in what you are pointing out. What makes you think my argument was only applicable to that?

Approximately only 4 cigarettes a week, I would say its highly unlikely to be taht bad, the sad thing is some people who have never smoked get cancer and other diseases while others who have smoked heavily do so into their 80s.

It's the luck, or bad luck of the draw as to who is most affected unfortunately.

Although it's absolutely fair to say that most smokers will have health issues later on if they smoke for any length of time: it is awful when you hear of those who have lead very fit, active, smokefree, healthy lives, be hit with illnesses that are viewed as 'smoking related'. ie; Cancer, lung problems etc.

I agree, of 2 of our neighbours,one smoked really heavy and drank a lot too, another never smoked in his life or drank alcohol, the smoker is now 82,still going strong the other died of Respiratory problems at aged 45.

As you say Pyramid that scenario is awful.

Yes, they can, but it takes a lot of time, having one cigarette every few days, is still going to damage them, and doctors say that, but that still means that you aren't going to be smoking... :S

And I wasn't referring to emphysema, it was just the just the first accurate picture I saw, I didn't read the writing.

cleaned up the thread, can you stay on topic please.

Well of course doctors say that. Smoking one cigarette will damage the lungs of course but you have to put a bit of perspective on it and measure the amount of damage 4 cigarettes a week is doing versus the bodies ability to repair itself.

Of course it also depends on the rest of your lifestyle. A cheeseburger a week don't mean shit if you jog every morning, playa.

Of course: and if someone has an 'addictive personality': they won't stick to a pack of cigs a month.

If they have asthma for example: clearly smoking any amount is not going to be fine - 4 cigs a week or not.

It's all relative.

There's a lot of scare mongering when it comes to smoking but I doubt you're putting your health at serious risk doing that, the danger is really if that increases, you become addicted and start smoking a lot more.

it's one of the most addictive things around.....if it wasn't, it wouldn't be the massive money maker that it is.

From a long time smoker: it truly is a mugs game and it's one of the hardest things to break.

Yeah I know, that's what I was saying really, the danger isnt so much in that pack of cigs a month, it's more in the addiction that has a good chance of developing.