Health Concerns.

[Renaldo]

I tried smoking a pipe some thirty years ago but never liked it, but I found new interest after walking into a pipe shop and purchasing a churchwarden pipe a week ago. I fired it up today for the first time and at age 64 found I really liked sitting on the porch and smoking this new pipe. Now being a person who has never really smoked I have health concerns due to the fact I may really like this.

 

[olkofri]

Then you should stop immediately!

 

[olkofri]

We've just had a lengthy discussion on the health concerns:

How Do You Reconcile With Pipe Smoking's Health Risks? :: General Pipe Smoking Discussion

I hope this isn't taboo to discuss on this forum, but I think about it a lot and I'm curious how much thought/concern other members put into this subject. I personally believe there is an inherent risk in exposing to the soft tissues of the body to any form of smoke from any form of combustible...

pipesmagazine.com

Feel free to read it and be relieved or scared. Pipe smoking is not a risk free activity, nor is it something that is guaranteed to make you ill or kill you. In the end, the only person who will have to make an informed decision on whether to pursuit it or not is yourself.

Oh, and welcome to the forum.

 

[warren]

^^^ All of the above.

 

[Casual]

I think taking up the hobby at a moderate rate at 64 is going to be very low risk. There are increased levels of some cancers, heart disease, and other ailments, but rarely in the first few years of smoking. It’s usually a cumulative thing.

 

[PaulTheScandinavian]

Either You are smoking or not, moderation is the key in all good things

 

[cosmicfolklore]

64 is just a hop down the road for me. That was going to be when I was going to start doing all the stuff that would have killed me if I were younger.

 

[Casual]

64 is just a hop down the road for me. That was going to be when I was going to start doing all the stuff that would have killed me if I were younger.

Agreed! I didn’t pursue Olympic level sports as a youngster because I was worried about a lifetime of wear and tear ruining my joints. At 64, I think it’s safe to try out for Olympic sprinting.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

At 64, I think it’s safe to try out for Olympic sprinting

I was thinking bungee jumping and taunting my wife... which would have gotten me killed years ago. I have also been shopping for trampolines and flame throwers.

 

[pappymac]

Most of the smokers I knew who have died from cancer started smoking cigarettes in their teens and smoked beyond their diagnosis. I lost a brother-in-law last month who was 77 years old and had been smoking cigarettes since he was 14. He was told 8 years ago to stop smoking and he didn't.

 

[gervais]

Maybe we should all just lock ourselves in our house and never leave! Never know if you'll trip out the door and hit your head and die, hit by a distracted driver or attacked by a crazy person. Puree all our food and take extremely small sips incase a choking hazard arises. Wouldn't want to fall asleep incase I never wake up..... See my point. Just live life and enjoy it.

 

[mordy18]

I've been grappling with this lately. I've only been smoking a pipe regularly for 2 years, with an occasional cigar thrown in. I used to be am occasional/social cigarette smoker but quit that in 2006. I had a bad case or bronchitis 6 weeks ago which hasn't fully resolved, and have had nasal congestion the past week and had a bad bout of that last year as well. I normally rarely if ever get sick.

Everyone is different. For me, even without inhaling I find that pipe smoke gets into my throat and lungs and inevitably in nasal passage when I retrohale. And I do find it irritates me if I smoke with any frequency. So I am committing to only smoke a pipe only very occasionally when I get over this persistent cold. For me that means once, maybe twice a week.

But I really do believe that everyone's body is different. I enjoy pipe smoking and it sounds like you do as well. As someone said, it seems virtually impossible that any harm will result from short term smoking. So try it out, see how you feel and how your body reacts, and adjust accordingly while being aware of the risks.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

You are way more likely to get mouth or a sinus cancer than lung cancer from pipes and cigars. Your dentist is going to be your first line of defense. Move the pipe around in your mouth while you smoke, so that you are not aggravating the same spot ion your mouth over and over, and get a dental cleaning and check up twice a year. And, be honest with you dentist.

The father of a friend of mine had his dentist catch the cancer in his mouth before it got out of control, and saved his life.

 

[kg.legat0]

I had a pretty major health issue last Fall (not pipe related)...I have proceeded to smoke my pipe moderately and have gotten serious about controlling other factors (diet and exercise) and take my medications religiously. I keep the pipe cool and don't really 'feel' the nicotine ...I know I am not doing myself any favors but I also feel like the body will give you feedback.

Also agree with seeing a dentist regularly, they know when something doesn't look right..I think that's the biggest area of concern for a pipe smoker. ...for me the biggest health concern is not giving into the urge to dig on the floor for the tamper I dropped for the 10,000th time while driving lol

We each have to evaluate this for ourselves, I don't think there's a right or wrong answer...it's not healthy, but I don't think it's impossible to take a moderate/reasonable approach...kinda like cake.

 

[wolflarsen]

Pipe Smokers Live Longer

IPSD 2020 Limited Edition T-Shirt - The Country Squire Tobacconist

Introducing our commemorative 2020 IPSD T-Shirt! This limited edition tee features one of history's most famous pipe smokers--Albert Einstein! "Pipe Smokers Live Longer," was a favorite saying of Gwen Reeves, who founded The Country Squire with her husband Jim in 1970. The statement we all...

www.thecountrysquireonline.com

 

[whsergent]

I think taking up the hobby at a moderate rate at 64 is going to be very low risk. There are increased levels of some cancers, heart disease, and other ailments, but rarely in the first few years of smoking. It’s usually a cumulative thing.

+1
Also:

Smoking - News and Scientific Articles on Live Science | Live Science

Get the latest news and articles about Smoking from the experts at Live Science.

www.livescience.com

 

[olkofri]

Interesting read whsergent. Thanks for posting.

 

[cigrmaster]

I am going to die someday so I will enjoy my pipes and tobacco to the max.

 

[anotherbob]

the fact is that every time I've seen or heard of a piper getting ill from it they've been the type of smoker that the pipe never leaves their mouth. A few bowls here or there shouldn't make an appreciable difference to your over all well being. And if you're like me it probably helps keep me around longer as I snack less the more regularly I pipe it. Also seems the biggest hazard of pipes is breathing in the second hand smoke, which is why a very important question is where do you smoke? On the porch, on a walk, or sitting inside in a poorly ventilated room?

 

[PaulTheScandinavian]

You are way more likely to get mouth or a sinus cancer than lung cancer from pipes and cigars. Your dentist is going to be your first line of defense. Move the pipe around in your mouth while you smoke, so that you are not aggravating the same spot ion your mouth over and over, and get a dental cleaning and check up twice a year. And, be honest with you dentist.

The father of a friend of mine had his dentist catch the cancer in his mouth before it got out of control, and saved his life.

Good point Cosmic,but unfortunately I have to tell the truth about our dentists those who are employed in city/community healthcare institutions, in places where rates for treatments are 30%less than at private-run operations, these folks aren't interested in your general health nor they do check nothing more that was planned in prior, they'd fill your tooth and gets rid of you as soon as possible+ in order to get appointment one has to wait at least two weeks if not emergency, that's how the so called free med care is run in reality