Every Med DR makes the same question. when I answer yes a pipe. They go into a long diatribe about smoking tobacco. and that nic. is a poisonous substance. I counter with med. studies not supporting same and they go on the nod as if I am using valuable time. If you are irritated by the same you may want to explain the benifits of smoking a pipe. I am beginning to think the AMA requires the question. What is your take?
DR. Question Do you Smoke?
- Thread starter Pipeoff
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My doctor asks, I tell her I average a pipe a day, she puts me down as a non-smoker.
I say 'Not usually after sex' and they move on to my drinking habits!
I smoked cigarettes for 25 years and have a ten year gap when I quit smoking cigarettes and started on pipes. When my doctor asks me if I smoke I tell him no because I think he's asking about cigarettes.
Now if he were to ask me about my tobacco use I would come clean and tell him I've dipped snuff daily (Copenhagen) for 41 years and started smoking tobacco pipes 6 years ago.
Now if he were to ask me about my tobacco use I would come clean and tell him I've dipped snuff daily (Copenhagen) for 41 years and started smoking tobacco pipes 6 years ago.
My grandfather, rest his soul, would visit a brothel and promptly remove from his pocket a nose plug, two cotton balls and a condom. — when the young lady would ask what those are for he’d cheerfully explain, as he placed the cotton balls into his ears, that there are two things he can’t stand— the smell of burning rubber and the sound of a screaming women.
Depends on the practitioner. Some are antismoking zealots beyond reason, others think (know) that pipes are a different kind of smoking and make no fuss, and others smoke pipes themselves.
When the dentist had me fill out a form I answered NO to the question on being a smoker. Technically, I didn't lie, given that a smoker is defined by the medical profession itself as "someone who uses tobacco more than 5 times a week".
When the dentist had me fill out a form I answered NO to the question on being a smoker. Technically, I didn't lie, given that a smoker is defined by the medical profession itself as "someone who uses tobacco more than 5 times a week".
I’m not sure one could argue positive benefits from any tobacco use and nicotine does have negative effects on your cardiovascular system. It’s probably not wise to ignore those truths.
The questions usually revolve around cigarette use but I’ve informed mine of my pipe smoking habits. He informed me that his recommendation is to quit because all tobacco use has its risks. I acknowledged that with him and confirmed I have accepted the risk/reward I get out of it. He acknowledged the same and he continues to be the most reliable primary physician I have ever had.
Respectful conversation goes a long way.
The questions usually revolve around cigarette use but I’ve informed mine of my pipe smoking habits. He informed me that his recommendation is to quit because all tobacco use has its risks. I acknowledged that with him and confirmed I have accepted the risk/reward I get out of it. He acknowledged the same and he continues to be the most reliable primary physician I have ever had.
Respectful conversation goes a long way.
It's about charging more for insurance. Let's get real. Signed, a guy who's changing insurance right now.
not the AMA but insurance companies really encourage it. The doctor can get paid a little bit more if they talk to you about things like smoking or drinking or going on a diet. Not like a lot more. Untop of that cigarette smoking is one of the leading causes of preventable death and disease.
The funny thing is the medical establishment is starting to recognize harm reduction with tobacco and nicotine and the therapeutic value. The thing is when dealing with established medical orthodoxy it's like turning a huge boat around. It's a slow process.
Though I've had more times recently where doctors have said that my results make them think I might have a point that pipes and snus aren't that bad for you.
In part how big a part depends on the Doctor. But for exams the insurances pays by "intensity" which is measured in a few ways. Like how much time, how much is explained and covered, and some other things. It's sorta complicated how it works (like not hard to figure out but not worth explaining here).
All the older members are expecting me to post the response below. Remember, your physician is more or less obligated to assist you in living a healthy lifestyle. Since he knows smoking, pipe, cigar or, cigarette is damaging to one's health, he needs to point this out or, regardless of insurance companies, he is remiss or simply lazy with regard to his Oath. But, disparaging medical professionals seems to be de rigour for many smokers. Many people dislike admitting to making bad choices willingly.
There is absolutely nothing efficacious about smoking. Please cite any studies which show benefits of replacing oxygen in your blood with nicotine. I simply ignore the dangers and enjoy the pipe without the contortions of trying to show smoking is beneficial. Suck it up and enjoy the nicotine. It's a selfish choice we make and everyone should have a wee vice. But, accepting the hazards is simply part and parcel of learning to enjoy nicotine and ignoring the health hazards.
I told my primary physician that I used a pipe to help me off the cigarettes. For the past couple years, he asks me if I still smoke a pipe. I tell him I do, have ~7 bowls a week. He tells to me he would rather see me with a pipe than cigarettes and marks me as a non-smoker. This year he told me about some of his recent cigars.
Doc gave me a whole rant about smoking, so I stopped going.
Dentist never mentions it, but we both usually have some cigars together after a few rounds of skeet, so, yeah.
Dentist never mentions it, but we both usually have some cigars together after a few rounds of skeet, so, yeah.
My last dentist visit went like this:
"Smoke?"
"Yeah, a pipe."
"No, I mean tobacco."
"So do I."
"Oh. Really?" They seemed confused.
I had a doctor give me the third degree for smoking once, told me my sinus infection was actually just allergies and smoking. I was not pleased. After 15 minutes of lecture, I had to ask her to stop, that I got the point, and that please I can't breathe I'm here for medicine not a lecture and that I've made my choice. She gave me Flonase, which did nothing. I was billed $236, after insurance. Never went back there.
I know a family doctor who smokes pipes. In fact, it was probably one of his I stole when I was 14 and smoked my first pipe.
"Smoke?"
"Yeah, a pipe."
"No, I mean tobacco."
"So do I."
"Oh. Really?" They seemed confused.
I had a doctor give me the third degree for smoking once, told me my sinus infection was actually just allergies and smoking. I was not pleased. After 15 minutes of lecture, I had to ask her to stop, that I got the point, and that please I can't breathe I'm here for medicine not a lecture and that I've made my choice. She gave me Flonase, which did nothing. I was billed $236, after insurance. Never went back there.
I know a family doctor who smokes pipes. In fact, it was probably one of his I stole when I was 14 and smoked my first pipe.
Every doctor I ever see asks the question. I tell them 4 or 5 bowls per day and a couple of Cigars per round when I golf. I listen to their speech then politely tell them I don't give a shit, please move on. I agree with Warren, they would be negligent if they didn't tell you.
I'm pretty good friends with my family doctor, great guy. I asked him once if he tells all the obese people he sees they need to quit driving through the fast food restaurants and lose fifty or more pounds? He laughed and said I was special.
I'm pretty good friends with my family doctor, great guy. I asked him once if he tells all the obese people he sees they need to quit driving through the fast food restaurants and lose fifty or more pounds? He laughed and said I was special.
If I ever had a problem with my heart or blood pressure, I’d be more forthcoming, but since quitting cigarettes and exercising more, increasing my cardio, I don’t mind just answering the “do you smoke”’questions by saying, “I quit cigarettes 14 years ago.”
Tars in the lungs is much worse than nicotine in my blood, IMO. Of course, the first sign of heart or BP issues, I will sing like a canary.
I am totally honest with my dentist, he is my first line of defence against mouth cancer, which is probably a pipesmoker’s biggest concern. And, my dentist keeps his dad’s Dunhill collection on his desk, so he’s cool.
Tars in the lungs is much worse than nicotine in my blood, IMO. Of course, the first sign of heart or BP issues, I will sing like a canary.
I am totally honest with my dentist, he is my first line of defence against mouth cancer, which is probably a pipesmoker’s biggest concern. And, my dentist keeps his dad’s Dunhill collection on his desk, so he’s cool.
