Many of my coworkers take smoke breaks even when they're sick - cold, flu, bronchitis, asthma - and it baffles me. Why do smokers do this?
2006-10-11 06:53:03 · 30 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ Other - General Health Care
I know cigarettes are addictive, but I had no idea it was this bad! That people would actually make themselves sicker just to get their fix! Thanks for all the answers. You can tell I've never been addicted to anything (Thank God.)
2006-10-11 07:06:16 · update #1
They are addicted to the nicotine. My favorite are those who usually smoke non-menthol but when they have a sore throat they switch to menthal (because it goes down smoother) lol!
2006-10-11 07:03:57 · answer #1 · answered by Aidge 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Addiction is stronger than self-will. I know smokers who are ill to the point of death, have seen them on their dying bed with lung cancer ask for a smoke. Addiction should not be underestimated. When someone wants to stop and they can't, intervention is needed. For some folks it's not smokes, it is alcohol, food, illicit drugs, etc. Anything someone is doing often and wishes to stop but can't, it's an addiction. A small word for such a powerful force.
2006-10-11 06:57:19 · answer #2 · answered by Catie 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Its pretty weird, isn't it? The nicotine addiction is so strong that most smokers would rather worsen their condition and suffer the pain of smoky lungs while sick than go without smoking. You do recover from illnesses much more quickly when you don't smoke, but you feel terrible because you're suffering from nicotine withdrawal. Smokers can handle the first one better.
2006-10-11 06:55:59 · answer #3 · answered by BoardingJD 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They are addicted to nicotine.
Their bodies cry for the nicotine.
They know it's killing them and they do it anyway.
That is the nature of how addiction in your body feels.
Very tough to get over.
THey even do it on oxygen, after a lung is removed, etc.
Try to understand the nature of addiction.
2006-10-11 07:00:53 · answer #4 · answered by Sufi 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because smoking is an ADDICTION!!
My mother smoked during her recovery from surgery. Yeah she's an idiot, I told her it was her one chance to quit (because she won't do it willingly), but she blew it. Lucky for her she healed well.
Smoking with a respiratory illness is just idiotic. It prolongs the illness, and increases chances of the situation becoming worse. It inhibits antibiotics, and often makes you have to take even more of them to be effective.
Just shake your head at them, and when they cough say "how bout a smoke?"
2006-10-11 07:02:13 · answer #5 · answered by Nikki 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it could be because he is addicted. I am a Smoker myself if I get any sickness that involves my lungs I don't smoke. My wife will keep smoking and complain it is getting worse. Besides Smokers are stupid myself included.
2006-10-11 07:47:40 · answer #6 · answered by nick j 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Oh, the cravings! I smoked for twenty years, and, I can tell you, the need for nicotine is incredible.
I stopped 14 years ago, but I can relate to those people. Smoking is a nasty, nasty addiction.
2006-10-11 06:56:53 · answer #7 · answered by bedsanig 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Addiction isn't logical. Their bodies need the nicotine. I've had several relatives who died of smoking-related illnesses, but they kept smoking even when they could barely breathe without coughing. DON'T START!
2006-10-11 06:55:01 · answer #8 · answered by MOM KNOWS EVERYTHING 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Actually smoikng relaxes me when I have a cold or stomache ache! It's an addiction too !
2006-10-11 06:55:19 · answer #9 · answered by crownvic64 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Because it's an addiction. It IS crazy! My uncle got lung cancer, and kept on smoking then, too. Crazy.
2006-10-11 06:57:59 · answer #10 · answered by nada 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋