I am genuinely sorry about all that happened to you and your wife.
I was simply pointing out that men, since the 1970s, gave up smoking at a much faster rate than women did. To the point that by 2010, fewer men were smoking than women.
I hope that any women reading this who smoke read about your family’s example and perhaps change their habits before its too late.
Thank you sir…
Now that we cleared that up, I’d certainly like to know why, since the anti-smoking campaigns started in the 1970s, women quit smoking at such a slower rate than men over the last 4 decades.
I know in the 40s and 50s, doctors actually promoted it as “healthy”…?!
The cig-makers pushed the glamor part of it, which appeals more to women. And the fact is, folks who smoke tend to weigh slightly less than non-smokers. In polite society back then, one was considered “undressed” if they weren’t holding a cigar, or its thinner descendant in their hand.
[quote=“ChrisTheTireWhisperer, post:63, topic:199299”]
The cig-makers pushed the glamor part of it, which appeals more to women. And the fact is, folks who smoke tend to weigh slightly less than non-smokers.[/quote]
The American Tobacco Company used ads like this during the '20s & '30s:
In the late '60s/early '70s, Phillip Morris used this type of advertising:
I once owned a bunch of shares of Phillip Morris stock, but I dumped them when I decided that I didn’t want to be associated with a company that marketed such dangerous products.
In the 40’s and 50’s doctors weren’t promoting it. Advertising companies were paying certain doctors. Doctors knew the dangers of smoking in the 30’s. Not sure they knew the link to cancer, but they were very aware of the dangers of other aliments like breathing disorders and heart disease.
So did the public. That’s why cigarettes were know as coffin nails.
This is very similar to the situation with asbestos. The Johns-Manville Company knew of its adverse effects on the lungs of its workers, but they kept mum until independent medical researchers published their studies on its association with Mesothelioma.
Alright, so I was a bit off on the decade.
So what explains the fact that women quit smoking at such a slow rate compared to men?
Who cares ? This is Cartalk - not medical journal
Have you heard of Google.
Study suggests women find it more difficult to quit smoking than men
Quitting Smoking: It’s Harder for Women > News > Yale Medicine
They were afraid of gaining weight.
Well after reading everyones posts I will make a greater effort to control my self pity. While I find myself afflicted with prostate cancer that has metasticized to the bones + multiple myeloma but I found that the VA would take responsibility for my problems and do so through local doctors. They even pay for full time nursing care here at my home. Some days are better than others but that’s always been true. I have recently found myself avoiding online cancer pity forums when it occurred to me they weren’t offering me anything positive.I found my way back here when recovering from chemotherapy and often enjoy digging through some of the threads that I seem to recall familiarity with. This really is the best forum I’ve found that suits my limited talants.
The ability to quit tobacco “cold turkey” also varies from one individual to another. My parents–who had been smoking for over 40 years–decided to quit (mother smoked menthol cigs, dad smoked small cigars) and they both reported that they had no real cravings after 2 days or so.
My brother had gotten up to the point of smoking 2 1/2 packs per day, and even he was able to quit “cold turkey”. While he said that he suffered a bit for ~3 days, he said that–ultimately–nicotine withdrawal wasn’t that difficult for him.
For other people, it appears that nicotine withdrawal is almost as bad as withdrawal from opiates.
I’m just glad that I never began that habit.
Both my parents quit when they died from smoking.
Rod- very sorry to hear about your health issues, but glad to see you back here! I wish you the best going forward.
No self pity, just talking about life in general…
+1, glad you are still with us, as well as all the members and family’s that have health issues…
All you can do is laugh about it or cry about it, when I found out about my early onset neurological issue, I was crushed and did my fare share of crying over it, not gonna lie, but nothing I can do about it except deal with it, and I can now joke about it… It is what it is…
Yes!
+1
When I was given a cancer diagnosis in late 2022, I didn’t cry, but I was–literally–stunned. The words that I never wanted to hear were what rang in my ears for at least a few days.
But, life goes on with the help of modern medical science, and all anyone can do is to make the most of the time that we have remaining–whether it is measured in days, months, or years.
There is a somewhat Stoic mindset here. I’m trying to play the hand I was dealt also. Honestly I look back and recognize I enjoyed a great deal more in my life than I deserved.
Well that news just sucks. Hope you’re still feeling ok and will be well enough to hassle us here for some time to come!
Dad was a lifelong smoker. When the time came for Mom to put him in a memory care center at 87, she chose a place that had a nice smoking area. Funny thing, the dementia set in and he “forgot” he smoked. He’d have a cigarette if you offered him one, but never asked for or wanted one on his own. Mom is currently 81 and smokes as much as she ever has. In fact she gets her exercise in by taking a nice long walk to the gas station twice a week to get her Marlboros.
She will quit driving before she quits smoking.
