Smoker's physiology
This is not medical advice.
This one is tough to write, because I hate lecturing about health habits, and I don’t think it helps. I would rather discuss many different angles, and let people decide for themselves.
Especially the last 3 years, where the “authorities” have not always been correct about what is, or isn’t “healthy.” People being arrested for surfing is not healthy. People getting out in the sun is healthy.
I am just going to offer some anecdotal stories about what I have seen in the medical industry where smokers are concerned.
I’ll start with at least one story to say that this is not a straight lecture about how evil you are if you smoke.
I know one orthopedic surgeon who stated that his smokers were progressing faster because they got up every few hours to walk outside to smoke. Take that non smokers! Like when Homer Simpson said to Chief Wiggum, “I’m gonna blow smoke in your face, and there’s nothing you can do about it!”
The Hypocrite
I used to smoke (things), so I have no right to lecture anyone. One of my first memories is waking up early with my grandmother at 5:30. I was probably 5 years old, and she would sit and smoke, and we would play cards. To this day, cigarette smoke is not completely disgusting to me. Sometimes that smell is nostalgic for me. Not saying that second hand smoke for a kid is ok or recommended, just my life experience.
And check out the cool pictures I’ve posted about smoking. Our society romanticizes that lifestyle. These people are enveloped in that cool looking smoke.
Is cancer risk from smoking genetic? or is it just chance? My grandmother smoked most of her life and lived past 70. She didn’t die from smoking, but it probably didn’t help her health either.
I’ve read some narratives where medical providers compare smoking and obesity. Which is worse, tar or sugar? Sometimes I see obesity being worse.
The unfortunate truth
As much as I hate lecturing, what I’ve observed is that smoking is actually way worse than what is reported.
We tend to focus on the lungs, but what I’ve seen in practice is far more encompassing.
The smoker shoulders that I see have worse pain, range of motion, and strength. Rehab is less successful. Same with back patients.
Although the surgeon liked how his smokers get up to move, smokers fair much worse with circulation after surgery.
Toxins
My impression is that anytime we inhale smoke or vapor, our body sees that as a harmful foreign substance. Our protective mechanism is to contract the airway and the blood vessels so that less of the substance will get in. Another surgeon told me that substances in cigarettes bind to fracture healing sites, delaying healing, or what is called non-union. If you have a fracture that won’t heal, that is a major problem.
I notice this in the connective tissues. Chronic smokers do not have healthy tissue. These tissues hold our joints together.
The other side
Are you a smoker and think this is all bullshit? Maybe you smoke to relax. Maybe you’re not all stressed out or obese. Maybe you walk and smoke and enjoy the outdoors. Maybe you do it moderately.
There are many people who smoke their whole lives and are just fine. Many fitness people smoke cigars, and don’t inhale.
Maybe it’s about moderation. Moderate amounts of stress, activity, food, smoking, laughing, wine, naping, music, socializing…
The physical harm from smoking is significant. Cigarettes did a lot of harm to me. You'll never get back what you lose from smoking.
I can still enjoy the odd cigar, but I don't think it's healthy or cool. And I don't care for cigar culture. It used to impress a more naive me once, now it repulses me. Cigar smoking hasn't been an exclusive club for 30 years or more.
Thinking of fitness, Schwarzenneger is known for his cigar smoking. But an honest look at this depicts someone who has picked up a vice— he's become addicted to nicotine in that form.
He's even woven the cigars in to some films, naturally the cigar industry will say that's wonderful. But the reality is more likely he didn't want to be separated from them even for a shoot. They say he smokes 2 a day normally....but that's what he admits to, it might be more in reality.
He's had number of heart surgeries. People debate whether it was the PEDs or genetics, but maybe the constant cigars played a role too.
And yeah wound healing, back surgeries, bones — smoking is a disaster.