Smoking (tobacco)

[soconfused]

Hey all,

I'm soon to start training for my ATPL, obviously for a career in aviation. I'm a light smoker, about 5 cigarettes a day. I exercise a decent amount and hardly drink. So I'm wondering how big a deal being a smoker and pilot is? I did my class 1 a couple of months ago, and passed with no problems. Are there many pilots who do smoke, and is it likely to cause me problems in my career seeing as it's a small amount?

I know I should quit for financial and health reasons, but I just love that oh-so-sweet nicotine! ;)

[niknak]

I don't have precise figures, but I would wager that there are far less pilots who smoke now than ten years ago.
Giving up smoking is a tough call, for the very reasons you stated, but if you can do it now it could save you a miriad of problems in later life.

A close friend of mine has just had his class one medical pulled, he's fitter than any pilot or atco I've ever met, exercises in the gym every day, and the reason he's lost his ticket? Following extensive tests it transpires that he has heart and lung problems directly attributable to smoking a pipe twice a day - correct me if I am wrong, but I understand tha pipe smokers don't directly inhale - although the secondary smoke must have some effect.

I honestly don't know how the result of the above tests were concluded, all I know is that it included Doctors, consultants, specialists and several months before the medical was finally pulled.

A reasonable incentive to quit methinks.

[Loose rivets]

From a conversation that I had with an Essex surgeon about a patient that was in to have part of his leg removed. ‘I had removed his (fore)arm in a previous operation...(smoking related) and he had made a wire frame that he could clip to the stump that held his cigarette.'

Now, that's addiction.

I wrote this for JB, not in a style that I would normally use for the medical forum, but believe me, it was heart-felt.

I view the addicted person without criticism. They are the victim of a money making machine.

>>>There's a lot more to this than getting the big one, and dying. That's just tough on the people that you leave behind.

There will always be the helpful dick-heads that will tell you that their XXX smoked all their lives and lived to 100. Good for them, but the odds are that it will be much worse for you than dying.

Hanging onto the furniture to help you get across the room. Looking at peoples winces as your lungs crackle so much that it makes them feel sick. Knowing that they really don't want you sitting at the meal table with them...but what can they do?

Seeing you families faces as they carry in the 02 bottles...for the third time that week. Then there's the Ventolin. Just see how you feel when your nebulizer busts, looking at all those vials lined up and no way to get the stuff into your lungs.

Wave your family goodby as they go on holiday...you won't be able to miss the other in-law that is included....the one with the SCUBA gear in his car. Fcuk him you'll say.

Years and years of wasted life, why won't the damn thing take you so that you can have some peace? It will, sometime soon after you notice lung tissue issuing out as you cough. Soon you will be drowning despite being in normal air.<<<

[bafanguy]

, and is it likely to cause me problems in my career seeing as it's a small amount?



You're right, you should quit. And there are very few guys who smoke these days in my experience.

Your problems MAY arise when you go job hunting as a prospective employer could balk at hiring a smoker...more health problems & sick days ?

Of course, if it's "don't ask...don't tell", then don't tell.

[Don Coyote]

Been smoking for 25 years and flying for 20, both military and commercial. Smoking has never been a problem, and I am more a twenty a day man, even long flights where you cant smoke have not been a problem.

That said I have spent the last 25 years wishing I could quit. A bad cold and hangover has meant that I haven't had a smoke all day, now if I could make that 2 days then 3 etc.

[Lou Scannon]

If you're not bright enough to quit for the sake of your own health, quit for the sake of the pilots who are going to have you near them puffing out second hand smoke and smelling like an ash tray!

[transmitforDF]

i agree with that but for some people its the only pleasure in life.

Personally flying and smoking don't mix so i wouldn't do it.

[HerrStiffler]

I am an ex smoking non-smoker, the worst kind of non-smoker!!
I feel so much better, not coughing up the flem, tons of energy, not pulling my tounge off the roof of my carpet mouth in the morning and then hacking up a nice big brown lugie, did I mention energy?? My girlfriend loves the energy:ok:... I don't stink of tobacco, I can drink way more (don't ask me why), and I don't feel like a lepper cause I have to go outside to smoke. Can you name me ONE good thing about smoking?
There are so many benefits of quitting, and now I wonder why I smoked for 15 years... Could have bought myself a porsche!
Get to the bookstore, talk to your GP, type 'quit smoking' into Google, there is so much help available these days to help you quit, and after a few days without, you'll wonder why you ever "needed" the cancer sticks... :ugh:
And to the original question I'd add this. It has taken me a lot of money and a LOT of hard work to get to where I am today. Are you willing to put in all the time, effort, and money to become a pilot, and then risk your expensive medical by continuing to smoke? 15 years down the road, you're employer has told you that you are headed for the Command course for the A380, but your medical gets pulled... How much would that suck!

[Oh that's super!]

i agree with that but for some people its the only pleasure in life.


Surely with the money they save by not smoking, there are plenty of other pleasures they can find!

I'd say not coughing one's lungs out in the morning and not smelling like an ashtray (and putting off the opposite sex, even) is a pleasure.

[soconfused]

Illness is a terrible thing, but any illness can strike either non-smokers or smokers. I'm sure you increase your chances by smoking, but if you lived all your life trying to avoid any illness, you'd have a very boring life. I still enjoy smoking, but for my health and career, I'm gonna do my best to cut it down to 1 a day. A little treat at the end of the day, without sacrificing my health.

To those who say smoking is all downsides, and no upsides; well there is one
upside that no one can deny... smoking makes you look cool. I'm still fighting for the "Beware: Smoking causes coolness" warnings on packs. :ok:

[bafanguy]

either ... smoking makes you look cool. I'm still fighting for the "Beware: Smoking causes coolness" warnings on packs. :ok:

I assume you're just kidding with this statement ?

I watched my mother-in-law die a slow, agonizing death at age 61 from lung disease caused by 40+ years of smoking.

She didn't look "cool".

[platinumpure]

I wouldn't worry too much about the smoking mate. If you want to smoke, then smoke. It would be great if you quit, but either way its not going to effect your career as a pilot.

I addition to this, as far as your health is concerned. In 10-15 years time they will have a cure for most smoking related illnesses by means of a pill, no doubt. Due to the amount of practice they'll have had over the years dealing with us dumb smokers.:ok:

The non smokers on the other hand....well it seems that they are f**ked! ;)

[transmitforDF]

Surely with the money they save by not smoking, there are plenty of other pleasures they can find!

I'd say not coughing one's lungs out in the morning and not smelling like an ashtray (and putting off the opposite sex, even) is a pleasure.

oh yer of course i agree with that but i meant for other people who are rlly poor and can only get pleasure from smoking.

[effortless]

.. smoking makes you look cool. I'm still fighting for the "Beware: Smoking causes coolness" warnings on packs. :ok:

I guess that you are about twelve. Either that or you aren't looking around you. Take a look at those fat munters in tight "Ingerland" footy shirts walking around with fags in their mouths and screaming brats. Sooo cool, I thought that that bloke standing outside the Middlesex with his Chemo drip, having a quiet fag, looked cool too. When you are a few years older you will look really cool trying to breathe.

I addition to this, as far as your health is concerned. In 10-15 years time they will have a cure for most smoking related illnesses by means of a pill, no doubt. Due to the amount of practice they'll have had over the years dealing with us dumb smokers.

That is what we thought when my neighbour choked to death thirty odd years ago. Survival for lung cancer is still around 9% at two years.

I am preaching I know but please give it up while you can.

[soconfused]

I was only joking with my comment. If I was refusing to quit smoking simply because it was cool, I'd be in a very sorry state.

As I say, I do want to quit for obvious reasons. But just because someone doesnt smoke, doesnt mean that they won't get lung cancer. I've had family members die from it too, and none of them ever touched a cigarette. Any illness can strike anyone at any time, so quitting may lower my chances of such things, but its not going to make me invincible.

I'm fully aware of the dangers of smoking, I was just wondering how common it is amongst pilots these days.

[platinumpure]

More common than I would have thought. In the US that is anyway. Still, I am also refering to the helicopter world (blacksheep). Fixed wing world may be different. Doubt it though.

[Old Smokey]

It was inevitable that this question would arouse a heated debate, so now that the initial huff and puff is over (sorry for the pun)...........

I too have seen several family members die terrible deaths from lung cancer and other smoking related diseases, but, on the other hand seen several heavily smoking family members out-live their non-smoking contemporarys.

It's all a gamble! In all honesty, 5 cigarettes per day should make no difference, or at the most minimal difference to your health. That applies if you're Mr. or Ms. Average. How do you know where you stand, both genetically and in terms of your personal threshold of damage?

The fact is that you don't know, don't take the gamble. Playing Russian Roulette is also a gamble. Smoking and Russian Roulette both carry a significant mortality risk.

Quit whilst you're ahead! 5 per day should be easy to beat! :ok:

Regards,

Old Smokey