Does Smoking have Any Health Benefits?

The Straight Dope ^ | Cecil Adams

[Sunshine55]

Last week on the freeway as I reached into my purse for my lighter I took my eyes off the road for a split second and ate the back end of a semi. So as much as I enjoy smoking, in this instance I'd have to say it is bad for my health. (Totalled the Cherokee too.)

[coolbreeze]

Ouch, hope you are alright.

I spend a lot of time on the road and have gotten quite adept at doing several things while driving, like eating a burger or drinking coffee.....but I try not to light my cigarettes when moving at 65mph or so....especially if for some reason I didn't put the lighter back in my shirt pocket.

[keats5]

Seriously folks, I don't smoke, but I once did. I found smoking killed my appetite, and common wisdom shows smokers generally weigh less. I've always thought a huge part of America's obesity problem is that we've all quit smoking.

[Gabz]

I won't saw a bumper sticker that said:

"Harrassing me about smoking is hazardous to YOUR health"

[qam1]

Or could it be because of the fact that you'll die of lung cancer before you're old enough to develop Alzheimer's???

Nah, They already taken that into account.

They already know exactly why nicotine prevents Alzhemer's

Nicotine recruits a local glutamatergic circuit to excite septohippocampal GABAergic neurons.

Glycation of the amyloid beta-protein by a nicotine metabolite: a fortuitous chemical dynamic between smoking and Alzheimer's disease.

Basically the nicotine gets rid of and/or prevents the Plaque that builds up in your brain when you suffer from Alzheimer's.

[Great Dane]

Or could it be because of the fact that you'll die of lung cancer before you're old enough to develop Alzheimer's???

Don't think so, a lot of us are 70 and over.

[jocon307]

"He said you can still smoke all over the building."

YAY Kentucky they are going on the list of potential places for me to move.

Are people honest there? By which I mean, are they more honest than here in New Jersey. I'm looking to move to where some honest, non-crooked, non-lying, non-theiving people live.

No, I will not seek JFK's advice about this, because I think he is very confused.

[Dianna]

Are people honest there? By which I mean, are they more honest than here in New Jersey. I'm looking to move to where some honest, non-crooked, non-lying, non-theiving people live.

I haven't met a ton of jerks in KY if that's what you're asking. Wait awhile though, the new Republican Governor is talking about raising cigarette taxes :(

[Fiddlstix]

BTTT