Pipes-A-Day???

[Thomas Tkach]

This isn't to say that tobacco has vitamin C in it and stuff

But it has vitamin N!

2-4 per week.

 

[Muddler]

I'm about 4 bowls a day during the week. A bunch more over the weekends.

 

[CLRV]

Well, the vitamin N and various other carcinogens can cause cancer throughout the body, regardless of the point of ingestion. So, it's not that ridiculous to hear people talk about lung cancer from pipe smoking.

That being said, I agree the chance is much much smaller in comparison to 2+ packs of cigarettes a day. I too was an insanely heavy cig smoker, 2-3 packs of Luckies, then straight up Camels (my rationale: listen, they have filters, better than my Luckies).

Further, the point of primary ingestion is usually where the cancer originates. Thus lung cancer for cigarette smokers and head and neck cancer for us.

To me, and I've spent a lot of time thinking about this (everyone in my family has died from cancer up to this point), it comes down to relative moderation as usual. I tend to view life in the context of enjoyment v. risk. If I stop myself from ever enjoying the aspects of life that are potentially (still just a potential, tobacco does not automatically = cancer) dangerous, well, I would never get in a car again. Or leave the apartment, walk down stairs, get in the shower, or any of the other numerous activities that potentially could kill me. Certainly never look at an airplane and think "Eh, let's go belt ourselves into the giant metal tube and trust that the thousands of gallons of highly refined fuel, along with multiple turbines aren't going to fail in a number of ways too numerous to list while flying a few miles up in the air."

The common response is "tobacco isn't a necessity, it's a choice". And they're right. Just like choosing not to walk from LA to NYC. It's a luxury, an addition to this life. We don't need it to survive, but man is it a lot better than not having it.

Since I started seriously smoking a pipe my overall stress has gone down an amazing amount. I find myself sitting quietly, almost in a meditative state, for a few hours out of my day, instead of a few moments or seconds. I think this will, in turn, lead to a much better quality of life and, dare I say it, a longer life. What people who don't smoke, regardless of their reasoning, will never understand is that it helps me (and presumably us). It helps in a way that is less about the drug and more about the process. Preparing a flake, packing it just the way I like it, etc. That's good for me, even if I might die from it one day.

So yeah, my 4-6 bowls a day introduce another risk to my long term health. But it's balanced against the concept that each day quite literally could be the big one (sorry for the terrible cliché). 2-3 packs a day of cigarettes is an unnecessary and massive risk to health. Sitting in a stress free haze of delicate and beautiful smoke is less so. So much that, to me, the scales have balanced out and it remains a viable part of my existence.

 

[Harlock999]

2-3 a week, when I'm not sick. I've been sick since New Years, so none at all.

 

[LL]

I've been sick since New Years...

That's one hell of a hangover. :lol:

 

[Greenleaf]

It is misleading, though, for them to emphasize the risk of a cancer which is so rare among pipe smokers. I think the health risk boils down to just doing what you do, those enjoyable habits be they good or bad which make up a person's lifestyle. If one is in the habit of doing something which isn't destroying their life, why give it a second thought?

I don't say this because I agree that our next day could be our last. No, first we'll work ourselves to near death, grow senile, run out of savings, whatever. That's more likely, and doesn't sound nearly as rosy as getting run over by a bus tomorrow. Given that probability and the fact that life's a bitch, it makes good sense to do what you enjoy. You won't die tomorrow, but you will have to drag ass into work.

Damn, Harlock, that's kinda sad.

 

[Harlock999]

I've been sick since New Years...

That's one hell of a hangover. :lol:

Ha! :lol!:

 

[Harlock999]

Yeah, I caught a cold, followed by another cold, then the flu (102 temp), then yet another cold. If I'm lucky I might be able to smoke again in a week. It's been rough...

 

[NeroWolfe]

3 to 4 bowls a day during the week; 4 to 5 bowls a day on the weekend. I home-office most of the time, which facilitates matters. I also tend to smoke more in the cooler months, and less in the hotter months.

 

[Obelus]

...

 

[pipe dreamer]

only 8 to 10 a day for the last 60 yrs.

 

[innovador]

Since I started seriously smoking a pipe my overall stress has gone down an amazing amount. I find myself sitting quietly, almost in a meditative state, for a few hours out of my day, instead of a few moments or seconds. I think this will, in turn, lead to a much better quality of life and, dare I say it, a longer life.

Excellent point, CLVR. I also believe the relaxation factor could help your health in a very significative way. After all, first cause of deaths among the male population are heart attacks. On weekdays, I usually smoke after lunch at a park just accross my office. My work also improves in the afternoon after having smoked at noon.

But also as Harlock does, if I feel a little sick I stop smoking until my health is back to normal. There is no point in smoking pipe, if you are not at your best to enjoy it.

 

[fishnrust]

2-3 a day, little more on weekends. As far as health concerns, there are so many damn things that can kill you in this world, I am willing to take the chance with pipe tobacco.

 

[Ted Vig]

google "in defense of smokers" . Very insightful about studies and health risks...

 

[Stackle2]

A few bowls a day, although lately been fighting a respiratory infection, so my pipes are getting a serious rest.

 

[KevinP]

More than four would be extremely rare. Even four is pretty uncommon. Always a day or even two each week when I have none. Two would probably be the peak of the bell curve.

 

[Ted Vig]

Anywhere from 3 to 8 depending on the day.

 

[DrT999]

Once a day, usually on Friday and Saturday. I find that if I smoke the day before I lecture, my vocal chords tighten a bit. Of course, this week (no classes after tomorrow night), I will probably enjoy a pipe every day!

 

[s.ireland]

I usually have at least one day a week that I don't get around to lighting up. On average I smoke one bowl on my lunch hour and one more after work. But there are plenty of days that I will smoke up to 6-7 bowls

 

[Guy]

One bowl, one pipe, a day.