Do you smoke?

General
1

I smoked for 17 years, taking breaks during both of my pregnancies for a total of about 3 1/2 years of non-smoking during and between the two pregnancies. I started back up shortly after my younger daughter was born, in early/mid 2009.

I quit last August, and my symptoms went downhill from there. You might already know this, but scientists have found that smoking helps with pain, depression, and anxiety.

All of us know the incredibly negative effects of smoking, so I don't think I need to point out that smoking is directly responsible for several kinds of cancer, heart problems, and emphysema. But, I'll mention it to make sure you understand I am not endorsing smoking!

Scientists note that nicotine by itself in e-cigs, chewing tobacco, or transdermal patch is not as effective as a delivery method as smoking nicotine is (smoking sends nicotine straight to the brain within a few seconds, other methods take longer).

Smoking cigarettes activates all nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), which then activates dopamine, norepinephrine, 5-HT, glutamate, and GABA.

Here's a clip from the article:

In animals, nicotine has effects on cognitive performance, vigilance, locomotor activity, body temperature, respiration, cardiovascular and gastrointestinal tract function, electroencephalogram activity, cortical blood flow, and pain perception. Many of these effects are also seen in humans. Given the relative paucity of nAChRs in the brain, it is surprising that the alkaloid has such diverse and often profound effects. However, the effects of nicotine on transmitter release, increasing ACh, DA, norepinephrine (NE), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), glutamate, and GABA release in the brain, and calcitonin gene-related peptide and Substance P in the spinal cord, provides a means to amplify the effects of nicotine in what has been termed the “high-impedance locale” of the synapse (Ramirez-Latorre et al., 1998). The recent finding (French et al., 1999) that nAChR activation mediates neurotrophic (nerve growth factor, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, α-fibroblast growth factor) actions suggest that nAChR activation may provide long-term neuroprotective effects in addition to acute functional activities.

ACH: acetylcholine

DA: Dopamine


Dopamine, of course, is a hormone which makes you feel good.

http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/292/2/461.short

I don't know about you other smokers or ex-smokers, but I loved smoking! Made me feel better. Looked forward to having a smoke in the morning. Miss it now :(

I don't miss the smell in my clothes and hair, the serious expense (it's up to $8 a pack here now), coughing, yellowy teeth, hiding it from my parents, worrying about my kids watching me through the window, and worrying about cancer all the time.

Anyhow, figured it might help explain to you other guys who smoke why it's making you happy, and for those of you who quit, why you are feeling worse even though the research and doctors say you'll feel better once you're not smoking anymore. My breathing doesn't seem to be better, and sometimes when I walk up the stairs it's worse.

But I wouldn't go back to smoking now that I've been quit for almost 10 months. Too hard to quit again, and cancer runs in my family. I might try out the e-cigs again, they worked to wean me off of cigarettes. I figure any help I can get!

Best of luck to you guys :)

2

I have smoked a total of 27 years and smoked during both of my pregnancies in the late 80's and looking back on it I wish I wouldn't have!! I quit for 2 1/2 yrs when I was 26 and started back up and then last February I took Chantix and quit for a year. In February of this year my cat got real sick and was in the hospital for 5 days and I was an emotional basketcase so I picked up a cigarette to calm my nerves, thinking I would only smoke a couple to help me through, and guess what...I'm still smoking. I hate myself for it!!

I only smoke 5 cigarettes a day and have cut myself back to 2 a day and use an electronic cigarette in between if I need it. I do not want to continue to smoke...I hate the smell! But to be honest when I quit I did not see a change in anything except I was breathing better and I wasn't coughing and hacking up nasty stuff.

Thank you for the info. It was a very interesting article!!

~Sparky~

3

Hi Mandy...

Thanks for the links on this...I was told this years ago by a pulmonologist...he went on to say something like.."Too bad all the other stuff other than nicotine is going to kill you!" Harsh!!!! I did not quit even then..I could barely breath sue to so many infections.

WELL..FIANLLY..about 6 weeks ago I quit..I am using an E Cigg with the lowest nicotine...It is not the nicotine that is harmful anyway...but I do feel better emotionally..feel like I have done something good for myself and family.

I do agree with the articles and what you said about a real cigg helping with anxiety , pain ect....I guess it may be the lack of O2 to the brain...what do you think?

Beeba..your 'dirty little secret ' is safe with us!

4

As I type this I am smoking. I'm not even suppose to smoke in the house, but with the help of the air purifier I do.

I have thought about getting the E-cigg but I haven't yet. We just moved (due to me not bringing in the same income I was before I left my job) and I thought this new house and a garden would help me. Nope! I have quite so many times - even for a 5 year stretch......sadly when I got this damn diagnose I started again and it has been almost 3 years. I hate it but I love it at the same time. uggg

5

I'm a smoker, and have been for over 20 years. I've tried to quit several times, and have faced many serious difficult road blocks in my life that have always led to me picking up the smelly habit again. But ya know what...I'm not sure I'm going to try to quit again. Don't get me wrong, I know that it is bad for me and that my risk of getting cancer increases...but...at least with cancer I know that I will win, or I will lose. I won't have to worry about not being able to get out of bed in a few years, and living with constant pain. So...I'll take my chances. God brought me to it, he will lead me through it!

6

I am a smoker. I think that it helps with anxiety ONLY FOR SMOKERS. I would love to believe that there is a medical benefit, but if you gave a non-smoker a cigarette & told them to light up during a stressful time, I think we all know what will happen. The only reason it may help with their stress is because they are too focused on the coughing & possible puking! Anyways, I have been smoking double time ever since my diagnosis & the thought of brain surgery & unemployment, but I guess as the time nears I will have to embrace the thought of e-cigs. I have never had any surgery, but i think you cant smoke for a week leading up to a surgery. Since I am so phobic of this surgery, I may as well do it right. I suppose quitting wont be as hard as bringing myself to get the surgery done

7

I was a smoker from age 12 to 35, except during my pregnancies for my 3 kids. I always went back to the cigs, though, once I was done breast-feeding. I tried SO MANY TIMES to quit, but it never worked! Until...November of 2011 I had sinus surgery, and I haven't smoked since. Don't know what made this time different, but I'll take it :)

I have suffered with anxiety and depression for the past 15+ years, and I have to say, I definitely have noticed a (negative) difference since I quit smoking, to the point that my Doc has added 2 new meds to help treat my anxiety. I honestly miss smoking, and still find that I crave a cigarette when I'm stressed (although I do NOT miss the smell or all the horrible effects on my health!). I don't know if there is a real medical connection, or it's just in my head (haha), but my chiari symptoms have gotten steadily worse since I quit too. Smoking is a disgusting, horrible habit, but I have to admit, I would go back to it in a heartbeat if I didn't know all the risks that come with it!