Will 9mm charcoal pipes help with my asthma?

[crazyhog]

Hey everyone, I'm back after 7 months of no pipe smoking. I had to stop because my asthma started to act up. I only smoked for 5 months at around 3x/week. It took about 4 months before I began to feel the I'll affects. I strictly smoked aros. I did try some Frog Morton Cellar hoping less casings would help, but it didn't. I was so upset that I sold my 8 mid to high range pipes and all accessories. Now, I wish I would have just waited it out. Anyway, I am now thinking of buying a 9mm filtered briar pipe. Possibly a Stanwell or Vauen. I also found that my breathing was mostly irritated with Sutcliff Molto Dolce. So, I would start with lightly cased aros and then mild English blends. I do have a sweet tooth and found the Dolce to be my favorite. Anyone else ever had this issue and did a charcoal filter help? Thanks.
Also if moderator could bring back my old account, great, as I had over 300 posts.

 

[tarak]

I'm sorry to tell you, if a pipe was exacerbating your asthma, the smoke is the problem. I highly doubt it's the casing. Smoke is an irritant, and a filter isn't going to change that. English, aro, whatever...it's not going to change.
So unless something else was concurrently causing your asthma to get worse- like an upper respiratory infection, allergies, etc....I'm afraid there's no way around that one
I'm not a doc, but I am an RN, manage a family practice and pediatric clinic, am responsible for asthma care quality here, and am married to a pulmonary nurse.
Sorry to tell you, but if the pipe is the problem, you won't find a workaround.

 

[dulgunz]

crazyhog, I know its not what you wanted to hear but tarak is 100% correct.

 

[hiplainsdrifter]

Dang, dude. Quit.

 

[gphenry]

Health first friend. Maybe keep a pipe to have in hand if you must, but smoking seems very un-wise. All the best to you.

 

[crazyhog]

Thanks guys for your responses. It's strange how it took 4 months of smoking to get a reaction. I always smoked outside, never inhaled, drank water or coffee with my pipe and limited it to a one hour smoke max. I also brushed my teeth and used mouth wash after each smoke. I was hoping it was the tars and other chemical substances in the tobacco that were effecting my asthma and that a good filter would be the answer. Oh well, maybe I can get rid of this acute asthma with time and try the pipe again in the future. I never suffered from a serious attack (ER visit), just some wheezing. I know my inhaler would get rid of this, but that would just be masking the problem. Thanks again and enjoy your wonderful pipes and tobaccos. It really is an enjoyable and relaxing hobby.

 

[crazyhog]

Ok, after giving this a lot of thought, I think I'm going to try again with a simple Corn Cob (Medico paper filter) and some very light aros and simple English blends. I'm going to start with only 1x/ week for a few months and take it from there. I will post how it works out. I just miss this hobby too much to drop it completely. Oh, and my asthma is acute and allergy related. I do workout regularly. Thanks again.

 

[wcasey]

To lessen the effect, maybe only smoke a quarter of a bowl and take very small sips off the pipe. Also keep your back to the wind while smoking to avoid 2nd hand smoke and smoke from the bowl.

 

[mso489]

Your question is more about asthma than pipe smoking. I have no medical credentials, but I think I know that asthma is a really complex disease, not exactly a allergy in the traditional sense, and requiring close and astute medical attention. Probably the best advice is a stern quit smoking. That's it. Fini. But if you are going to nibble at the edges of smoking a pipe, I'd avoid the aromatics, which just introduce other chemicals in the flavoring, and even more complex blends. I'd probably void Latakia and Perique, for their extra processing and slightly astringent-seeming qualities. Really mild-mild, basic Virginia or burley might be best, and not Virginia if you are the least bit sensitive. And in your place, I would consign pipe smoking to strictly a "treat," maybe once or twice a week. You just don't want to muck with your breathing. You can't.

 

[frozenchurchwarden]

When I set out on this journey my goal was 0% smoke inhalation, I'm still confident it can be achieved but I've been smoking some shorter pipes lately and sometimes I like to let a puff waft in my direction to smell it.

I suggest getting a Cobwarden to start and pay extra attention to the direction of air movement and make sure all the smoke wafts away from your face. It can be tough sometimes.

Also 9 out of 10 puffs go back through the pipe, I only let smoke out of my mouth occasionally.

Oh, and I nearly cut back to once a week just because it was irritating my nose (still does), so don't think you're out of the ordinary being a weekend warrior type.

 

[dochudson]

 

[crazyhog]

Thanks again for your responses. When I first started buying Briar pipes, I was buying Boswell large ones, 3 to 4 oz. I never filled all the way to the top, but still my smokes were lasting a solid hour. I eventually traded those in for some mid size Italians and a couple of Pedersen Jeppesons. Some were pretty short at 5" and close to being nose warmers. I'm going to start out with a 6+" corn cob, straight stem and C and D light English blends. I do remember that my reactions started with Molto Dolce. Good only knows what they put in that, but I loved it. I may also try Boswell Northwoods. Thanks agaim

 

[crazyhog]

Doc, what kind of pipe is that? Electric maybe? I see a button on the stem.Looks cool!

 

[crazyhog]

I think this CC should keep most of the smoke away. Thanks Frozen. If this works out well, I will also look into long Canadiens. Most have no filters though.

 

[tarak]

Friend, you're fooling yourself with this whole filter business. What you choose to do is your choice but the problem is smoke, not some component of the tobacco. Asthma is an inflammatory disease of the upper airway and smoke is a known irritant

 

[crazyhog]

Thanks tarac, yes, you are stating what a few others have also said. I was just thinking that with a good filter, my second hand smoke would be cleaner and would be less of an irritant. I wonder if there have ever been studies on this. I know the smoke coming from the bowl will be the same though. The suggestion of a longer pipe should help a bit. I will probably be the guinea pig and find out. I also don't know why it took 4 months for me to react. That was about 50 bowls.

 

[foggymountain]

There is a cure for asthma. Stop smoking until you get rid of the asthma.

 

[foggymountain]

There is a cure for asthma. Stop smoking until you get rid of the asthma.