I'm seriously disgusted.
Apparently my sister has started smoking cigarettes half a year ago. And she's already at the point of two packages a week.
Mom knew about this too.
For some reason she actually cared to hide it from me for half a year.
But now that I know (and I know for about two weeks now) she has totally changed her behavior.
She is smoking outside in the garden. She even smokes when I am sitting outside.
And she stinks. She really stinks.
I can't believe she is doing such a disgusting thing.
Our dad died of his 4th heart attack... the first two he had at the ages of 35 and 40ish.
He used to smoke two packages a day.
I can't even put into words how disrespectful, disgusting and simply STUPID it is of her.
God... just when I thought I can't hate her more.
6 comments:
My great uncle smoked cigarettes from the time he was a teenager until past his eightieth birthday. In fact, it was reported in the newspaper he worked for, that at his eightieth birthday party, he looked at the cigarette he was smoking and joked, "I suppose if it weren't for these, I'd be ninety by now." And back then most smokers smoked a pack a day, not two per week.
The point is that smoking cigarettes doesn't always lead to an early death. It depends on several factors, including genetics, most importantly. If others in your family have had cancer, especially of the respiratory system, the risk is higher than if that's not part of the family history.
Also, in my great uncle's day cigarettes had fewer artificial additives. People were basically just getting pure, natural tobacco smoke. Then to protect their health lots of smokers started smoking filtered cigarettes, and the cigarette manufacturers started adding lots of other stuff to boost the flavor back to where unfiltered cigarettes had been. Lots of people suspect that the smoke from the additives is more hazardous that unfiltered pure tobacco smoke.
So I have two suggestions for you. First, don't fall uncritically for the neo-Puritan anti-tobacco propaganda. Smoking doesn't kill all smokers and those within smelling distance of their second-hand smoke. Second, if you care about your sister, encourage her to smoke only cigarettes with no additives, just plain tobacco. They aren't the major brands, but she should be able to find them if she tries.
Oh Nick ... lol. Have a couple of suggestions here. Regrettable I do fall in the smoking category and have for many years. Truly it is one thing in life I do truly enjoy! Yes it pisses off my kids! The same way I feel when they do crazy , and dangerous needless things! (not going to mention them) We can't live in bubbles all the time. But I can't always stop then! Rightfully so they are not stopping me from smoking or dying either. Some are not meant to live for ever. But what is life but to enjoy the small things. I would argue, but also being a father that smokes I would agree. Smoking doesn't just affect me. But the people around you too. Why I don't smoke around non smokers!!!I have kick the habit time and time again, just to pick it back up again. One time even for three years! I will say when and only when she is ready to kick it will she, all the bitching and all the reasoning will not matter.( This day and age any smoker knows what they are doing to their body! ) I am truly sorry your Dad died from a heart attack. But remember we all have bad habits that affect our health. Some drink, some over eat, some don't get enough exercise... but some just happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. I hope she and I can quit it , but no matter who wants us to ... it comes down to us. I don't do it to be disrespectful ( not sure how you getting that, I mean I think I do but that's for another discussion) , agree it's is a disgusting habit and stupid habit. We all do stupid things that put us in harm way from time to time! Just giving them hell about it , just will piss them off more and make them smoke more anyway. LOL I got my butt chew out when my son was down. I know he just wants what is best for me such as me for him! Granted I damn sure didn't smoke as much and especially around him. But it didn't stop me. For me nothing relaxes me more than a clove cig! I truly feel peace after smoking! Right now with all the changes and stress not even going to try to stop...yes I know what risk and what it does to the body ( by seeing from my parents) I will try soon but not right now. That said the best way not to have to stop that nasty habit is not start it. Then you will never miss what you don't know.But really it all comes down to one doesn't it. I glad you feel the way you do, and my son does to, don't think either one of you will ever pick up that habit. Two support her when she does quit, some have hell doing it. Really what is weird I can just stop... it is not starting them that kicks my butt. Anyway hope you body has recover from your journey. Everything kills us these days so many additives hormones and antibiotic abuse , and chemicals that we are expose to daily. My Advise to anyone out there don't start. If I could go back and change things in the past I would of not started!! But will say live ... while your alive too.
"Not scared to died, really it's the not living while I am alive, that scares the crap out of me!!!!!"
I have to disagree with NG-- there is no propaganda, there is no uncertainty. There is strict consensus of the extremely negative affects of smoking. While certainly different genetic predispositions and various additives add various permutations of "bad"-- the fact remains it is horrible for you and your vascular system. It is completely unnecessary. It's not like over-eating, where eating is a normal activity that people abuse. There is no reasonable normal activity requiring us to inhale highly concentrated burning plants. We have to make no excuses and continue to transform the culture to demonize smoking.
I was a hypocrite in this a number of years ago. I was a victim to the high school culture of rebellion and peer pressure, and I smoked for a number of years. I quit years and years ago now, and am so glad I quit early. I only have a few years of irreversible damage to my heart.
Steve
I totally agree with Planetx_123 and Ron.
There is no way around the fact that smoking is unhealthy and simply a very stupid habit.
Everybody knows that and the same goes for too getting drunk. It's indisputable that smoking very often causes cancer and in most cases reduces your lifetime by years, just like drinking too much alcohol destroys brain cells and causes impotence.
If I was you, Nic, I would try to talk about this issue with your mum. If you can convince her not to support your sister's smoking, maybe both of you can bring about changes in this. Good luck.
Lunario
Just to add one thing--
I know that I've read things about the smoking cancer link and I think theyve shown that that is 100% genetic-- i.e. if there is the "lung cancer gene" turned on and you smoke a long time you will get cancer, if its off you wont get cancer.
However ALL smoking causes heart disease and emphysema. There is no gene for that-- its a natural byproduct of the carbon monoxide in the tobacco smoke (not related to additives) binding with the hemoglobin in our blood. This CO then travels throughout our body via the blood cells and will affect the lungs and blood vessels of every single smoker. It doesn't matter if you smoke "moderately" or heavily. It also affects the ph of your blood, paralyzes your cilia, and destroys your taste buds. This happens with every single cigarette you smoke-- additives or not.
This is slightly different from getting drunk on alcohol. Of course Im not encouraging getting drunk, but you can drink in moderation and cause zero permanent damage. The liver and brain can recover fully from the poison that alcohol becomes. However, over time this biology wears out and that's when you get permanent damage.
So these are different things: all smoking always causes massive damage-- the poison just happens to be extremely damaging given certain chemical properties of tobacco smoke. Our biology is more equipped to handle alcohol. The same is actually true of marijuana smoke-- it doesn't cause heart damage because the smoke has very little carbon monoxide. Though it still causes emphysema.
Anyways I just wanted to reiterate how horrible smoking is for particular chemical/biological reasons. Its not that everything is bad so you just have to moderate it-- its significantly more evil.
Steve
is it wrong to wanted to kill myself?
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