smoking 1 cigarette in a day

[PathFinder]

Hi, guys!
I know, that it is absurdly, but I'll ask about your opinion. How about smoking a cigarette once a day? No more, no less. Do you think, it is so "evil"?

 

[Blanche]

I smoked for so long that I couldn't possibly call smoking evil...That would make me an evil-doer! Frankly, I don't think it is possible to smoke one and only one per day. That would be, to me, more agony than quitting smoking altogether. Your mind would be on smoking constantly. Too much pressure to sustain.

Stopping smoking was one of the hardest things I ever did. It sure isn't for wimps. I wish you the very best in what ever you do.

Kind regards,
Blanche

 

[Lisa in Katy]

I once worked with a woman who cut down to 2 cigarettes a day when she was pregnant. Both were at work - one before lunch and one after lunch. There was more to the story though - her husband didn't know she smoked so she didn't smoke at all on the weekend. I thought this was absurd. If she could manage on only 2 a day and none on the weekend, why do it at all? Likewise, if you can manage on only 1 a day, why can't you manage 0? I think it would be too tempting to say "Okay, today I'm really stressed, so I'll just have one more." and pretty soon you would be a full-time smoker. I'm a cold turkey kind of person though. My addiction is chocolate. When I went to Weight Watchers, they said not to completely deprive yourself - treat yourself with a Hershey Kiss or Miniature each day. That way you would be more likely to stick to the diet. However, I have no willpower if the chocolate is nearby, so I opted for none at all. I would be too tempted to say, "Well, one more won't make a difference." and pretty soon the whole bag would be gone!

One is better than a pack, if you can stick to it and don't think you could manage to quit completely.

 

[StretchL]

Of course it's not evil.

Dumb, yes.

Evil, no.

 

[Dennis S]

Is smoking evil?

Is smoking evil?

I agree with Stretch that smoking, in and of itself, is not evil. But it seems difficult for many to smoke & still be considerate of others. Evil is too strong a word for me to use comfortably. But if your smoke causes others to go home and throw the clothes they wore at your meeting in the washer-or if the butt is tossed out the window of your vehicle and so forth-you need to ask yourself if you are being considerate of your friends/fellow man.

I have a friend I would call a considerate smoker. When he comes to my house he smokes outside. When he leaves I do not find butts on the ground. When we are in the car together he makes a major effort to refrain. I would call him three things:
1. A dear friend.
2. A considerate friend, &
3. Brilliiant in almost every regard-but in this limited instance, as regards this particular choice-dumb. And I am so sorry to say it.

 

[hensylee]

Hi, guys!
I know, that it is absurdly, but I'll ask about your opinion. How about smoking a cigarette once a day? No more, no less. Do you think, it is so "evil"?

I don't think it's evil, stupid or any of those words. If you want one, smoke it.

Those who don't smoke anymore strongly disagree. Those who smoked know it isn't something you choose once you have been a smoker. However former smokers are the strongest in protest. I have a cousin who is very ill with several things. He cannot quit.

 

[Ross]

I had a terrible time quiting, as I'm sure everyone else who has quit did. It's doable, but don't beat yourself up for failure after failure while trying. Eventually your going to make it without, but if you can't right now, then don't. Here I sit on oxygen 24/7/365, wife still smokes and I cannot say that at times, I'd wouldn't love to have one. I know that I'll never stop at one though.

 

[OldManEmu]

Smoking

Smoking

Let me say first I am not a smoker. In the information pack I was sent from the hospital before surgery, it stated stop smoking now! That means forever! The message can't be much stronger than that!

 

[Dennis S]

I agree with Ross;

I agree with Ross;

I have never smoked. When I try to imagine why my friend continues to smoke, all I have to do is think about the extra weight I carry and would like to lose. It is just a plain fact that his habit of smoking and my habit of eating too much harm our bodies. They shorten our lives, and make it harder to do many things that we enjoy doing.

His decision to smoke-my decision to have a second helping-not evil-but still dumb in my opinion.

He used to tease me about my weight-until the day I told him my extra weight was the only thing that kept me from hasseling him about smoking. Now we leave that alone. I don't think he can help me lose weight, and I don't think I can help him quit smoking. I can't speak for him, but I am slowly working on my own problems. I have made good progress.

I like the the old language from the King James version in this case:
1Corinthians 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

 

[OldManEmu]

Smoking

Smoking

Dennis if you are within 10% of your ideal weight you have a lot less to worry about than your smoking friend! Smoking is a bad habit if you have any type of heart issue. :eek

 

[WayneGM]

I agree with the others, smoking is not "evil". It's just not too smart. Frankly, as an ex-smoker, my advice is if you can drop down to one cigarette a day, you might as well go all the way and quit altogether. Your choice, though. To be honest, given the concerns you've expressed in the past about life expectancy, I would think it would be obvious that you should avoid smoking.

 

[savysmommy]

I smoked for several years. As I was quiting I would be down to 1 or 2 day, which just seems silly.. its like why not just stop all together? Those one ore two a day kept me addicted. The next day I would try to go without, but the only thing on my mind would be if I should just have one.
I dont think its a good idea for somebody to smoke period, but its their own choice.
Also, I quit once for a few years before I started up again. I think the reason I started up again, was the occasional cigarette here and there.. turned into, every weekend, every other day, etc.

Best wishes

 

[Adrienne]

I laugh when I see the ashtray outside the cardiac rehab gym. It's kinda like why bother to go to rehab if you still smoke ?

That reminds me of when I was in the hospital (heart institute) in August 2005 for A-Fib. My husband, when he left and came to the hospital used to see people in wheel chairs hooked up to tubes and IVs outside smoking!!

 

[StretchL]

As flippant as my first comment was, I do know what a terrible habit smoking is to break.

While I was growing up, my dad worked at the local VA Hospital. Once in a while, while waiting for him to come out to the car after work (we were a one car family), I would see these poor old WWI vets, in their wheelchairs, looking like they had one foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel, just sucking the hell out of their cigs.

My dad, who was a smoker and died from it at age 59, used to tell of guys in the hospital who had permanent tracheotomies and would still smoke through the opening in their neck.

Poor bastards.

 

[geebee]

My sister is a smoker along with her husband, 2 step children and SIL. However, she doesn't smoke at my house or in my car when we take trips.

We are all going to die of something. As Dennis mentioned, I am overweight. My sister is tiny. Who knows which of us is in better health from our bad habits?

My sister is very considerate about smoking and, even tho I worry about her, I keep my mouth shut. She knows it can be deadly as she is an intelligent woman. Call her dumb for smoking but she is no dumber than people who drink and drive or perhaps even drink too much and don't drive (or overeat or sit in the sun, etc., etc.). As long as her smoking doesn't affect people who don't smoke, she is entitled to her bad habit.

In Ohio we voted to ban smoking in public buildings. Many people just plain ignore it still. They get nasty when you confront them. I would not mind smoking if all smokers were like my sister.

Smoke if you must but be considerate and understand that it could cause you health issues. If you do both, you are smarter than a lot of people out there.

 

[Superbob]

It's not evil. But certainly is ill-advised. I quit smoking 40 years ago when I got married. Getting married to the wonderful lady who has put up with me all these years was my best decision, but quitting smoking was close behind. With a congenital heart condition, I doubt I would have lasted into my 60s to have my VR if I had not quit smoking.

To me, smoking just one cigarette would be like eating just one potato chip. Maybe somebody has the will power to do that, but not me.

 

[Arlyss]

Smoking and Aortic Disease

Smoking and Aortic Disease

I have been told that smoking disables one of the enzymes that protects our blood vessels.

Smoking is a risk factor for developing aortic aneurysms.

Those who have a bicuspid aortic valve, or any other connective tissue disorder that may affect the blood vessels, already are at risk for aortic aneurysm/dissection.

If they smoke or breathe the smoke of others, they are adding to that risk.

This is on top of all the other risks associated with smoking.

Anyone with aortic disease should not smoke themselves at all, and should not breathe the smoke of others.


Arlyss

 

[Kaasmom]

I haven't smoked since 2/1/07. For the first several days it was easy since I was in the hospital. Now that I am starting to feel somewhat normal, it has finally dawned on me that I wouldn't mind having a cigarette. Of course that feeling disappears as soon as my husband gets within 10 feet of me and I smell that nasty smell on him since he hasn't quit yet. I can't believe I walked around smelling like that for so many years!!

 

[StretchL]

Here's wishing you the very best in remaining a former-smoker, Kim!

 

[Jackie]

I smoked for years, up until two days before I entered the hospital. I was there 3 weeks. One week before AVR and two weeks after. I have not smoked in the last 11 months. I had to laugh when a tech would come in to give me an EKG, a nurse to take BP etc, and they would smell like smoke. I think this is one reason that keeps me from taking a puff, not saying that I don't walk in circles, during a stressful moment, wanting one. I know if I tried just one that would be the end.