What are the health benefits of smoking?

Question

Just the benefits thanks.

People never listen do they... what did I say? Just the BENEFITS.

If you don't know what the benefits are or you don't have nothing witty to say then don't answer the question please.

Answer 1

There's a whole bunch more at that website.

I don't condone smoking because I believe there are more risks than benefits.

A review of 61 studies suggests that smokers have a 60% lower risk of Parkinson's disease, a neurological disease. Also coffee drinkers have a 30% lower chance of developing Parkinson's, but no one suggests smoking or drinking coffee to combat this disease.
{People's Pharmacy, Public Radio, Sep. 20, 2002}

Despite its evil image, new research suggests that nicotine is a surprisingly potent drug for a variety of diseases that afflict the brain, including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Tourette’s syndrome.
{“An image makeover for nicotine: It shows promise against brain diseases,” HealthCentral.com - Feb. 21, 2000}

Nicotine itself is a potent drug, and the properties that make it addictive may also help ease the symptoms of mental disorders such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers added other ailments, including attention deficit disorder and depression, to the list. Paul Sanberg and Archie Silver of the University of South Florida studied 70 young Tourette’s syndrome patients and found significant increases in the control of muscle tics and verbal outbursts associated with the disease when using nicotine.
{“A Little Nicotine Could Be Good For You,” ‘Medicine,’ Newsweek, Mar. 6, 2000}

Nicotine may have some therapeutic effects. In the future, physicians may prescribe nicotine as a drug (not smoking) to relieve symptoms for a variety of diseases from schizophrenia and Alzheimer’s for attention deficit disorders and colitis. Scientists and physicians are hesitant to talk about the potential benefits of nicotine because the risks of tobacco use outweigh the benefits. Nicotine can help focus attention and improve memory, says Edward Levin of the Neurobehavioral Research Laboratory at Duke University Medical Center, adding that smoking is obviously a hazardous way to take a drug.
{“Nicotine’s Nice Side,” Abigail Trafford, Washington Post Health, Apr. 22, 1997}

People who smoke may be less likely to contract Alzheimer’s disease. What’s more, it seems that the risk of developing the disease lessens, the more cigarettes that are smoked. These curious findings may, somehow, open up undiscovered lines of research into the causes of Alzheimer’s disease, but the researchers stress that any possible good effects of smoking do not outweigh the risks of serious damage to the heart and lungs. Smoking may actually help decrease the side effects of antipsychotic medication — but it may work against those same medications requiring higher doses, and with a higher chance of side effects.
{Family Doctor, Alan E. Nourse, MD, Good Housekeeping, Apr. 1992}

Smokers have a lower risk of developing Parkinson’s Disease.
{Tobacco Control News 1996}

Tobacco, used to make malaria vaccine, might prove a source of cheap therapies, and in lab tests the tobacco plant produces a medicine used in Goucher’s disease.
{The Wall Street Journal, 1995}

Scientists have known that even small amounts of nicotine trigger a release of the feel-good hormone dopamine.
{Reuters Health, HealthCentral - Aug. 2000}

In carefully controlled doses, as in a skin patch or synthesized as a drug, nicotine may provide some of the benefits without the harmful effects of smoking the nicotine in cigarettes. Nicotine has a positive effect on ulcerative colitis, which is an inflammation of the stomach lining, and this disorder affects nonsmokers more than smokers. Cigarettes boost DHEA which is a sex hormone that increases libido and helps trim your weight, but is unappealing because it makes you taste like an ashtray, and smoking is hazardous to erections.
{ People’s Pharmacy, Public Radio, Dr. Teresa Crenshaw, author of ‘Alchemy of Love and Lust,’ a sex therapist and founder of the Crenshaw Clinic for treating Sexual Dysfunction, and past president of the American Association of Sex Educators, Counselors and Therapists, Jan. 1997}

Smokers have a lower risk of developing Parkinson’s disease, a nerve disease aggravated by dopamine shortages. Smokers have about 40% less of the enzyme that breaks down dopamine, so they have more dopamine.
{Tobacco Control News, American Cancer Society, Apr. 1996}

Evidence emerged from studies on nicotine and Alzheimer’s in the late 1980’s that the chemical might help short-term memory. Scientists cite obstacles to using nicotine because it can be toxic and does not remain in the body long. Nicotine provides for temporary relief from symptoms for those with schizophrenia. However, smoking is not recommended because of the ‘killer diseases’ it causes.
{Reuters 1996}

Studies indicate that smoking may enhance memory, learning and attention. However, this was a test of smokers. Those who had not taken a puff for 12 hours took more time to identify words than those who inhaled one minute before the test. Jaime Pineda, Associate Professor of Cognitive Sciences, who headed the study, stated that this should not encourage people to go out and smoke, and added the warning that the results said nothing about the long-term damaging effects of smoking.
{Society for Neuroscience in Washington, DC, UPI Science News, Reuters 1996} Editor's comment: This is a ‘no-brainer,’ as it is apparent that those smokers whose brain is in withdrawal from the drug nicotine for 12 hours would not be as able to perform as a smoker who had just gotten his ‘fix.’

Answer 2

The uninformed say that smokers only smoke because they are weak-willed, but in reality smoking has some very real short-term positive benefits:

- Increases the metabolism
- Increases alertness/attention
- Improves memory/retention
- Helps you relax
- Helps you cope with stress
- Helps you deal with pain
- Helps control anger/anxiety

That's why smokers who really want to quit because of the obvious negative long-term health effects, need to find alternatives for the immediate positive benefits. Otherwise, they fall right back into the habit to get the benefits.

Edit: Kantoria, I hope you weren't surprised that you got so many negative responses. It is an interesting thing about health advocates who have come to "hate" a lifestyle so vehemently that they cannot look at the subject objectively. It really is a kind of bigotry. I have been in the wellness field for well over 30 years and learned a long time ago that if you can't give objective information...pro and con...about a subject, your audience turns you off because they quickly realize they are not getting the whole story.

Man has many unhealthy habits...smoking is just one. As a species we are not masochistic, so we must realize that in the face of evidence to the contrary we continue with our habits for a REASON. In other words we are getting something positive out of the experience. While most of the "health" benefits from smoking are psychological, that doesn't make them any less real.

Don't know why you brought this topic up, but good luck to you.

Answer 3

I dont believe there are too many positive health benefits except the immediate gratification of relieving stress. Possibly, smoking can make your lungs a little tougher so you become a little more immune to environmental smoke. Socially, smoking becomes a sort of ritual with some people and gives you a small bond with other people that you may not have otherwise. Even though you're not doing the most positive thing with other people while smoking with them, it still feels good to socialize in this manner.

Answer 4

There are not any health benefits for the average person from smoking ... and lots of risks.
People affected by Parkinsons and Tourettes syndrome may get some symptom relief with/if they smoke - but it is not OK to smoke all your life just in case you might get Parkinsons.
Not only lung cancer but also emphysema can be killers.
It can affect many other organ systems in the body besides your lungs ... best advise --- DON"T

Answer 5

Actually there is a benefit to being a smoker.

If more people smoked in public places, the air would be more likely to be treated with air conditioning. For example, if nobody smoked on an airline flight, the air would be recycled less often. This results in the passengers breathing eachother's air more often and spreading diseases.

That's about it.

Answer 6

None................Just ask a cancer patient.

Smoking does not help you to relax as nicotene is a stimulant. How can a stimulant help you to relax?

Smokers also have a lower pain threshold.

Honestly there are not health benefits. You are inhaling 124 different poisonous chemicals from one single cigarette.

Why dont you have a look at NHS direct for the facts on smoking rather than listening to old wives tales.

Answer 7

the only benifit i can think of is that it can keep your weight down think about most people have a drink and a biscuit or say you have a shandy you usually have a bag of nuts or a packet of crisp you have a *** then you have none of these things so therefore the weight will stay the same thats my theory anyway oyes just for the record i am a non smoker and always will be i had a *** when i was 18 didnt enjoy it haven't smoked since

Answer 8

A nice grey skin, lovely gummy slime in your lungs , a good healthy cough, top class gasping when you run or go upstairs.
Good size blood clots enabling free limb removal on the NHS
All of these benefits can be your when you smoke

Answer 9

There are no benefits but it will guarantee you in 20 years or more you will have problems related to this smoking i have seen it through my relatives and family. its sad, it can be lung cancer to other things and it won't be giving its very painful so keep smoking.

Answer 10

Well if you smoke long enough, you could perhaps sell the tar
in your lungs to the local council! That could be classed as benefit!

Answer 11

There are no health benefits to be gained from smoking. Cigarette smoke is toxic and contains carcinogens which cause cancer.