reply to post by Revealation
Redneck,what's up my brother, how you been?
Not too shabby, Revealation. I'm one of those people who are hard to get down. As long as I have a smoke and a place to lay my head, I'm happy.
Wouldn't it be wonderful if some of the anti-smokers needed so little to enjoy life?
The raise in pressure increase making the body work overtime is the reason for my post, though looking at my comment and how I'm going to
agree with your next statement,It's gonna be a little contradicting.
It would seem the science itself is contradictory, so I'd have to give you some slack in that respect. Besides, it is so rare to be able to discuss
the facts and theories on this subject with someone who is not rabid, I wouldn't dare give you grief for no reasonable cause.
The blood pressure increase does indeed appear to be the work of a stimulant. I can't argue against that.
Here's where it's contradicting (but makes sense, at least to me). I used to smoke and drink and sniff blo, weed trip, etc. You name it I
probably did it. Was a wild NY youngbuck (God I hate this state). I believe that the irritation and restlesness comes from the withdrawal and the
body's need to feed on the chemical. Once the bdy receives it it feels more relaxed.
The removal of withdrawal symptoms (typically known as a nicotine 'fit') could well be a major reason for the relaxation that accompanies smoking.
But it appears there is more to it than that. Even when I have not been deprived of nicotine, a cigarette relaxes me. Moreso, I have noticed that I
undergo a definite rise in the amount I smoke when subjected to stressful situations. When faced with such situations, I find that allowing myself to
smoke more (note I didn't say making myself smoke more; I simply stop watching how much I smoke for a while) makes it much easier for me to swallow
my objections to the current situation and maintain composure. Again, that is the action of a tranquilizer.
I should clarify that I do indeed monitor how much I smoke. My 'normal' smoking rate before I started rolling my own was about 2 packs a day. that
means that if I opened more than two packs in a days time, I knew I was smoking more. If I only opened one, I was smoking less. Many times I have been
driving along and just noticed that it had been hours since my last cigarette, while other times I would be astonished at how quickly that pack had
vanished. If my rate of smoking went up without an obvious stress source, I would think over my day thus far to try and find what was bothering me.
Rarely could I not locate the source of my stress this way.
My present rate since starting to produce my own smokes is a little over a pack a day. That decrease is with no conscious attempt to reduce my
smoking. I attribute it to the difference between fresh tobacco and commercially-rolled cigarettes.
Basically smoking isn't relaxing because it raises the bloodpressure wheras your body has to work overtime (stimulates) and the reason you
feel more relaxed could be compared to a heroin addict detoxing with methodone. You need to slowly decrease the dosage so the body doesn't go into
shock.That's why you feel relaxed when you get your dosage. Not that I'm comparing you to a heroin addict but just using it as an example, so please
don't take offence.
No offense taken, my friend. As I mentioned above, the 'fix' effect might well be at cause for at least some of the tranquilizing effect. Yet, I do
not believe it is the sole reason. Have you ever noticed that if you smoke too heavily, you tend to get tired and sleepy? If nicotine were a true
stimulant, it would produce the opposite effect when a higher-than-normal dose were administered.
Perhaps nicotine could be seen as a mixture of both stimulant and tranquilizer? Obviously it does constrict blood vessels, raising blood pressure. But
it also produces muscle relaxation of striated (voluntary) tissues, and does provide a more serene composure as well.
Don't think I'm being judgemental, because believe me, I'm extremely open minded and aint offended by anyones lifestyle. Besides it would
just make me a hypocrite considering I smoked/partied since I was 12 .I definately understand the point of view and know first hand from
experience.Guess that's what makes it intersting. Rather than listen to someone who has never experienced it state their opinions. At least i have
experienced both ends of the spectrum.
It is indeed refreshing to hear from someone who can at least try to take a logical approach to questions that are raised. I only say 'try' because
I do understand that this has become a severely emotionally-charged issue and more oft than not invokes emotions instead of logic... on both sides.
Yeah, that includes me.
Keep on keeping on, my Yankee brother.
TheRedneck
