Pipe smoking and health...

R

R.C.Reichert

Joined
Jul 26, 2008
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For those who say pipe smoking is such a bad thing, I just wanted to share some information I found on this...

A US Surgeon General report “Smoking and Health” (No. 1103, page 112) noted, “Death rates for current pipe smokers were little if at all higher than for non-smokers, even with men smoking 10 pipefuls per day and with men who had smoked pipes for more than 30 years.” On page 92 the report stated, “Pipe smokers who inhale live as long as nonsmokers and pipe smokers that don’t inhale live longer than non-smokers.

Apparently this is attributed to the fact that pipe smoking actually a very theraputic and stress-reducing activity.

Here are some quotes I like...

"I believe that pipe smoking contributes to a somewhat calm and objective judgment in all human affairs" -Albert Einstein

"A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men" -Roald Dahl...
 
I'm not sure the exact date of the report, but these reports were conducted all the way from the 1960's to present I believe. Even if you look at the reports from the 60's they clearly point out the fact that cigarette smoking increases mortality rates and the likelihood of illness so it's not like they were being misleading. They did understand the risks of smoking and whether they did the report in the 60's or in the present day does not really matter in my opinion. They did the research and they gave the official results of their findings. The results showed statistically that pipe smoking is not a major health risk unlike smoking cigarettes. I'm not a doctor or surgeon general, so it is not my place to say they are wrong. I am simply sharing some of their findings which I think are interesting. I find the non-smoking advocates always point out the bad things. I'm pointing out some not-so-bad things.

I found some more information here...

http://www.meerschaumstore.com/health.htm

So I'm not going to say that pipe smoking is free of health risks, that would be silly, but it definitely seems a better alternative to smoking cigarettes. Perhaps it's the lesser of two evils.
 
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Yes, but your entire world turns black-and-white, your entire wardrobe turns to tweed, and all of your jackets and sweaters grow leather patches on the elbows.

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Actually, I smoke the old style clay pipes like they used in the 1700's and I also listen to a lot of Baroque music. This is all very stimulating on the brain and relaxing at the same time....hence Einstein's quote.:D If you really get into it, it is a tremendous old time feeling. Like going back in time and the whole present world just seems to slow right down.

I don't find pictures of pipe smokers to look weird... I find they look quite distinguished and traveled...kind of like that Dos Esquis guy.:D Haha! Just being funny.:D
the+most+interesting+man+in+the+world+dos+equis.jpg


I could picture him with a pipe though...
 
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R.C.Reichert said:
Here is a link to some very famous pipe smokers...
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I'm afraid that those pictures only further prove my theory that while pipe smoking may not have the same health effects of cigarettes, it has other serious side effects: it turns your entire world black-and-white, turns your entire wardrobe tweed, causes your jackets and sweaters to mulitiply causes leather patches to grow on their sleeves.
 
I think the simple fact is that with rare exceptions, pipe smokers don't smoke as much as say, cigarette smokers, and they don't (or are not supposed to, at any rate) inhale.

As with any other "exposure" situation, the more you do it, the more the risk goes up.
 
Hi Guys,

I quit smoking a pipe about 30 days ago, after well over forty years of smoking a pipe. I quit for several reasons, it was affecting my dental health, it was also affecting my sininius's (probably misspelled that), I was really coughing a lot. it also got to be horribly expensive (my brand was getting to $50.00 per pound, and it was also getting hard to find.

All I can say about to health issue is since I quit. even in such a short time, a few loose teeth have tightened up and my breathing is much better.

Dave
 
David Stifle said:
Hi Guys,

I quit smoking a pipe about 30 days ago, after well over forty years of smoking a pipe. I quit for several reasons, it was affecting my dental health, it was also affecting my sininius's (probably misspelled that), I was really coughing a lot. it also got to be horribly expensive (my brand was getting to $50.00 per pound, and it was also getting hard to find.

All I can say about to health issue is since I quit. even in such a short time, a few loose teeth have tightened up and my breathing is much better.

Dave
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But did you inhale the pipe smoke? I don't.
 
No, I didn't either. But, you are fooling yourself if you think smoke isn't getting into your lungs, it is, even if you simply breathe in the smoke you just inhaled.

I do agree that if you smoke, a pipe is a nice way to go, although nowadays, there are fewer and fewer, and tobacco is getting both expensive and harder to find.

It's funny, because you see, I too really enjoyed a good pipeful of nice, fragrant tobacco, but when I quit, to my GREAT surprise, it was quite easy. I haven't missed it a bit. Guess after 43 years of smoking, I was just ready.

Dave
 
David Stifle said:
No, I didn't either. But, you are fooling yourself if you think smoke isn't getting into your lungs, it is, even if you simply breathe in the smoke you just inhaled.

I do agree that if you smoke, a pipe is a nice way to go, although nowadays, there are fewer and fewer, and tobacco is getting both expensive and harder to find.

It's funny, because you see, I too really enjoyed a good pipeful of nice, fragrant tobacco, but when I quit, to my GREAT surprise, it was quite easy. I haven't missed it a bit. Guess after 43 years of smoking, I was just ready.

Dave
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But I bet in that 43 years of pipe smoking you had some pretty pleasurable experiences....:) I know that when you smoke you are inevitably going to get some in your lungs in some way, but it's still better not to inhale directly I would say. There's a saying... "The foolish man doth think himself wise, the wiseman knows himself to be the fool." I usually go through spurts where I'll smoke for a few weeks then I might put the pipe away for a month or more...especially in the winter months of which there are many here. At least it is easy to quit pipe smoking if you decide it is no longer your thing. I am more of a nostalgic smoker whereas I mainly enjoy doing things that are reminescent of days gone by. I like the history of pipe smoking and the way smoking a clay tavern pipe gives this back in time feeling...knowing that many Kings, Queens, generals, soldiers, and voyageurs enjoyed the same simple things in life. We all die one day. I figure I may as well relieve my stresses and do something I enjoy while I am still on this earth. I've only smoked for a couple years off and on, so I'm not a hardcore 10 bowls a day type smoker. It is an occasional hobby for me and one that i enjoy from time to time. Like they say..."everything in moderation".:) That is the way I see life.
 
Yes RC, I have an extensive collection of briar and meerchaums, and I always smoked a good brand of tobacco. Sitting out on the porch with a great pipe was a pleasure.

If you are going to keep at it, I might mention the clay pipes smoke hot. A good quality briar would give you a cooler smoke. Just a thought.I like your motto, everything in moderation.

Dave
 
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David Stifle said:
Yes RC, I have an extensive collection of briar and meerchaums, and I always smoked a good brand of tobacco. Sitting out on the porch with a great pipe was a pleasure.

If you are going to keep at it, I might mention the clay pipes smoke hot. A good quality briar would give you a cooler smoke. Just a thought.I like your motto, everything in moderation.

Dave
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I actually was under the impression that the long stemmed clays (churchwardens) like I smoke, were designed with such a long stem so as to cool the smoke as it travelled from the bowl to the mouth.:confused: That's what I've always read. But I guess there are a lot of myths out there too. One myth I found was that they supposedly used to break off the tips before passing the smoke onto the next person in a tavern...apparently to avoid passing germs and such. But they never knew about germs until sometime in the later part of the 19th century. The clays were most often broken because they were just plain fragile and would break easy. It is interesting reading the history of these things...
 
Here's one of my homemade corn cob pipes. They can smoke a little hot due to the lack of any heat sink, but I love them. Cheap, fun to make, and the added aroma of the charred corn is really nice.

pipe.jpg
 
You can try and push it as much as you like but there are facts showing that if you smoke you're 50% more likely to get Alzeimer's disease after the age of 50. Also studies have shown that smoking regularly creates miniature strokes in the brain quite frequently which just messes up your head in general(which I would have to say does not benefit ones judgment in any human affairs IMO!!!) and obviously contributes to brain disorders.
I quit smoking & drinking 7 months ago and have never felt better but if I did happen to take up smoking again I would definitely purchase a nice wooden pipe!
 
David Stifle said:
No, I didn't either. But, you are fooling yourself if you think smoke isn't getting into your lungs, it is, even if you simply breathe in the smoke you just inhaled.

I do agree that if you smoke, a pipe is a nice way to go, although nowadays, there are fewer and fewer, and tobacco is getting both expensive and harder to find.

It's funny, because you see, I too really enjoyed a good pipeful of nice, fragrant tobacco, but when I quit, to my GREAT surprise, it was quite easy. I haven't missed it a bit. Guess after 43 years of smoking, I was just ready.

Dave
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I'd recommend to anyone that does smoke a pipe to grow some of their own tobacco. You can get some incredibly high quality seeds at a good price and you know that it hasn't been mashed with chemicals/fiberglass etc. Apparently the average cigarette now contains over 4000 chemical additives!!! Holy shit fuck!:eek:
 
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