I really, really don't think the smoking or smoke causes MS. MS would then be as common as the cold. However, as I stated, I think it could possibly effect the course of MS and/or how a person feels due to the effect of smoking on the nerves.

About 3 years ago I got the "pleasure" of sitting next to a scientist on the way home from back east - 2+ hour flight of science talk. Anyhow, he owns a research company and was saying that they have found that tobacco doesn't cause cancer it is the chemicals used in the growing (pesticides) and manufacturing of the cigarettes. Made sense to me.

Anyhow, years ago when DDs were wee little ones I kept getting pneumonia. (Ultimately a titer was done and I don't have the antibodies to fight pneumonia). During 1 dr visit he was saying that since I only smoked 0-4 cigarettes a day, had a horrible marriage and had just left my husband, and was dealing with all those stresses he felt that quitting at that time would put more stress on my body and recommended NOT quitting. LOL. I eventually did but I thought that was interesting . . . a dr telling you NOT to quit.