Do you smoke? to answer or not to answer...?

Question

i smoke pot ...not a lot but enugh to show up on a screening .... i recently had a minor surgere and the doctors always ask ...do you smoke?

question one... even though they mean tabacco do they still want to know if i smoke pot.....

question 2 ...whats the purpose of asking that .... all the time my parents are in the room do they really think id say yes ....

Answer 1

Smoking does two things in terms of the cardiovascular system that anesthesiologists area concerned about. First, smoking increases the amount of carbon monoxide attached to hemoglobin in the blood. This has the effect of decreasing oxygen supply. Carbon monoxide also makes the heart pump more poorly, also decreasing the amount of oxygen that is delivered to the body. Second, nicotine increases the amount of oxygen that the body needs. So, oxygen supply is being compromised at the same time that more oxygen is being utilized.

Smoking obviously also affects the lungs. Among other thigns, smoking causes an increase in the amount of mucus secreted while at the same time decreasing the ability of the lungs to clear these secretions. In addition, smoking causes the small airways in the lungs to be narrowed and more prone to collapse. The end result of these effects are an increased susceptibility to infection, chronic cough and increased chance of pulmonary complications. Lastly, smokers also have increased sensitivity to stimuli and increased bronchial reactivity, increasing the chance for bronchospasm and other life threatening pulmonary processes

Answer 2

I worked in the medical profession for about 16 years and can give you a simple solution. I sometimes had to run the parents out of the room when teenagers were being seen by my boss (Pediatrician) so the kids could have privacy and be treated more like young adults instead of like little kids.

Hopefully your parents are not in your room 100% of the time.
When your parents are not around, press the call button for the nurse. Ask the nurse to put a note into your chart requesting that your primary doctor talk to you privately WITHOUT your parents in the room.

THEN... when the doctor comes in, ask him what the question meant... tobacco or pot or anything you might smoke (some people smoke clove cigarettes).

Ask the doctor if he keeps your private conversations confidential.

If you do not smoke tobacco, tell him "I don't smoke tobacco".
Tell him the amount of pot you smoke, and that you want it kept confidential. Explain you didn't say so before because of the pressure of your folks being in the room. Like you said "do they really think you'd say yes???"

There is a good reason for the question. I suspect he's asking about tobacco, but in reality, it's better for his best care of you as a patient if he knows that you smoke pot. Both questions really should be asked and answered honestly. If you smoke and what you smoke CAN have serious implications on what medicines you're given, how you respond to treatment and the quality of your respiratory system and how well you'll heal from any kind of surgery.

Doctors always ask people "do you smoke".

As to pot, if you're using it as an escape from painful things in life, I recommend dealing with your problems. I know how good it can feel, but when you smoke pot, your judgment is impaired even if it's reaction is different than alcohol on your body. Your concentration is also impaired and you need judgment and concentration to be a safe driver. Keep that in mind if you just smoke for the enjoyment of it. Your life is valuable. Don't risk the pain of injury by driving under the influence of pot.

Answer 3

you can ask that your parents not be present for pre screening questions. It is your right to privacy.
The question is asked because those who smoke anything, be it tobacco or pot, have a risk of impaired respiratory function and the anesthesiologist really needs to know that or things could get out of hand very quickly with some forms of anesthesia.

Nikki, you are the ****, that kind of answer could kill someone if they believed you.

Answer 4

For the record we don't mean just tobacco. I always get my patients away from the parents to ask some of the questions because I need the truth. We ask about drugs because this can mess with the anesthesia and you could die on the table.

Answer 5

A question to answer your question. Is lying worth your health? If you lie you could very well put yourself in danger and is it worth it? If it's not worth it....is it worth smoking at all? Dr's are not law enforcement....they aren't trying to charge you with something or make you feel guilty.....they ask questions because they are important and have a true, direct meaning behind them.....if you want to know the meaning behind a question they ask...ask why? As for your parents being in the room....that's a tough one....is it worth lying in front of them to risk a possible, yet totally preventable, circumstance? When Dr's ask if you smoke...they mean anything...clove cigarettes, cigarettes, cigars, pipes...etc. Good luck....I feel for ya....it's hard to not want to disappoint people you love when you're doing something you know they disagree with.

Answer 6

A Moment in the Life of Lil' Jon:


Dr: Do you smoke marijuana?

Lil' Jon: Yeeeeeeeeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!

Answer 7

When it comes to a doctor and surgery it's always better to be honest about everything. He's not going to turn you in to the police. And he asks b/c it may cause adverse reactions to other medications or anesthesia.

Answer 8

it's very important to ask you if you smoke or do drugs, because especially drugs has something to do with the anesthesia. drug addicts usually have tolerance to anesthesia so the doctor would increase the dosage. you have to answer it but you can tell the doctor in private if you want.

Answer 9

1- pot is considered smoking to many people
2- not if they under stand any thing about the pyche

Answer 10

You better answer their questions honestly, because going under the knife, you life may very well depend on your truthfulness.