In defense of pipe smoking
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There's no way I can prove this, but I think pipe smoking has lowered my blood pressure. I have suffered from hypertension for many years. It has been in the 175-189 over 99 range for a long while.
Now I have been a pipe smoker since 1984, but during the past year I have increased my pipe smoking a lot. I used to smoke a pipe a couple times a week. Cigars were my mainstay. During the past year or so, I have rarely touched a cigar.
I currently smoke between 5 to 7 bowls of pipe tobacco a day. I noticed at the beginning of summer that my blood pressure had dropped into the 150 over 90 range. Just yesterday I had a doctors appointment, and my blood pressure was 126 over 80.
There have not been any life changing activities or events during this time. I eat the same foods and drink the same things I have for years. No increase in my activities. No major squabbles to speak of. I can't think of anything that may have caused this decrease in blood pressure other that my pipe smoking. Just for what it's worth.
Now I have been a pipe smoker since 1984, but during the past year I have increased my pipe smoking a lot. I used to smoke a pipe a couple times a week. Cigars were my mainstay. During the past year or so, I have rarely touched a cigar.
I currently smoke between 5 to 7 bowls of pipe tobacco a day. I noticed at the beginning of summer that my blood pressure had dropped into the 150 over 90 range. Just yesterday I had a doctors appointment, and my blood pressure was 126 over 80.
There have not been any life changing activities or events during this time. I eat the same foods and drink the same things I have for years. No increase in my activities. No major squabbles to speak of. I can't think of anything that may have caused this decrease in blood pressure other that my pipe smoking. Just for what it's worth.
Some have proposed that nicotine has some benefit as a prevention of some neurological diseases. I think the ritual may serve as an anti-depressant and an anti-anxiety therapy. Moderation is likely good. Individual susceptibility plays a role. Having a pleasurable break in routine is likely beneficial, as is social companionability when that is part of pipe smoking. But the current mandate on medical professionals is to discourage smoking and tobacco in all its forms in any dose. The decline in blood pressure readings may be the ritual relaxation in pipe smoking.
As some may know, I'm rather fond of this article summarizing research into the cognitive benefits of nicotine:
http://www.gwern.net/Nicotine
Alcohol is absolutely toxic. Hence the term intoxication.
Yet, there seems to be a lot medical advocacy (I hesitate to say evidence) for moderate alcohol consumption to include dramatic benefit.
The point being amounts and context matter a lot. It's rare but people have died drinking too much water and people die of dehydration..
Because of the extreme number of variables, these things are very difficult to study and prove effects. General guidelines are likely the best we will ever get.
Thinking for yourself may be the healthiest thing you can ever do.
Yet, there seems to be a lot medical advocacy (I hesitate to say evidence) for moderate alcohol consumption to include dramatic benefit.
The point being amounts and context matter a lot. It's rare but people have died drinking too much water and people die of dehydration..
Because of the extreme number of variables, these things are very difficult to study and prove effects. General guidelines are likely the best we will ever get.
Thinking for yourself may be the healthiest thing you can ever do.
Getting drunk on artisanal wine at home after work = no threat to the money teat.
Smoking pipes in an office where people whine about everything = destabilizes part of the money teat.
Hear, hear Foggy!
Smoke as much as you want, or don't... at the end your dead either way. So enjoy life!
Smoke as much as you want, or don't... at the end your dead either way. So enjoy life!
"Do what you like and enjoy it" works until others decide otherwise, and organize to shut you down. It's always good to have a strong voice in defense of the good things -- or they tend to go away.
You can justify your own smoking easily enough. But, to defend smoking? Other than to observe smoking is legal and a personal choice, it is indefensible. It's expensive. It is of no benefit to one's health, despite anecdotal observations and some suspect research. It is objected to by a large portion of society for a variety of reasons, many of them valid some, not so much.
Smoking is a purely selfish choice. A choice which is not, in of itself, a bad thing if under control. I like to smoke, so I do as it gives me pleasure, it's a frivolous expense which I can afford (The kids are fed, shod, and clothed.), let's me play the rebel a bit, and I really do not care what others may think of me with regards to my personal choices.
Smoking is a purely selfish choice. A choice which is not, in of itself, a bad thing if under control. I like to smoke, so I do as it gives me pleasure, it's a frivolous expense which I can afford (The kids are fed, shod, and clothed.), let's me play the rebel a bit, and I really do not care what others may think of me with regards to my personal choices.
let's me play the rebel a bit, and I really do not care what others may think of me with regards to my personal choices.
You may have nailed me a bit more than I have really thought about, Warren.
I quit smoking (mostly cigarettes by then) at 29, before the world got all riled up, for purely personal reasons. At 59, after a great deal of life carnage, I picked up the pipe again and headed out once against the grain. It is not something I am going to overthink though. It just gives me a great deal of enjoyment at this point in my life. I always enjoy your candor Warren, even when it makes me a bit uncomfortable
You may have nailed me a bit more than I have really thought about, Warren.
I quit smoking (mostly cigarettes by then) at 29, before the world got all riled up, for purely personal reasons. At 59, after a great deal of life carnage, I picked up the pipe again and headed out once against the grain. It is not something I am going to overthink though. It just gives me a great deal of enjoyment at this point in my life. I always enjoy your candor Warren, even when it makes me a bit uncomfortable
Smoking needs no more defense than riding a motorcycle.
If we only did what was safe and necessary, most of us would never have sex again!
Just because we are breathing doesn't mean we are alive.
If we only did what was safe and necessary, most of us would never have sex again!
Just because we are breathing doesn't mean we are alive.
Perhaps selfishness needs to be defended. Not all of it is bad. And in my experience, most altruism is worse than bad.
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