I'm not sure how many of you get the Neurology Now magazine but this month they had an article about cigarette smoke and MS. So I thought I would post the link for those who don't get the magazine.

Sally - Put down that dam**n cigarette NOW! LOL Are you still doing the e-cig thing.

"We've known for decades about the non-neurologic risk for smoking-heart disease, lung disease, cancer, says Barbara S. Giesser, M.D., clinical director of the MS program at the University of California in Los Angeles. Now we have evidence that it may adversely affect the course of MS. And while scientists don't know exactly how smoking promotes the onset and progression of disease, the detrimental effects are indisputable.

Research shows that smokers have a 40- to 80-percent higher risk of developing MS than non-smokers. The more you smoke, the greater the risk, says Alberto Ascherio, M.D., professor of epidemiology and nutrition at Harvard School of Public Health and associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. . . ."

http://www.neurologynow.com/pt/re/ne...195628!8091!-1

wow Trish. Is that article saying that I may have done this to myself? I am an ex-smoker, I quit about 10 years ago.

Quit almost 1 year ago, no looking back!

I did smoke from 19 on, but I know plenty of people with MS who've never smoked a day in their lives, and some have much more aggressive variants of this disease.

Personally? I think nothing good comes out of smoking.

Cyn - Just thought it was an interesting article. IMHO, I don't think it causes MS as more people would have MS. But I do know that smoking effects the CNS and it makes sense that it would contribute to MS progression. Hence, the reason I posted the article.

It does mention 2nd hand smoke which I thought was interesting as well. In my case, my mom smoked some when we were little. However, if this article were correct, my 9 brothers and sisters would have MS as well.

Again, I think it all goes back to a certain trigger and I think each of may have had a different trigger or combination of triggers.

Bah!!!!! Smoking is not a good thing for anyone, but whether it actually causes disease is a big ? in my book.

IMO, since so many people smoke or have smoked, and so many people have contracted cancer, heart trouble, MS and more, it's a no brainer to come up with..aha, smoking must cause these illnesses.

The thing that tics me off is, these studies cost multi bucks that could be used to find a cure for these illnesses.

There are many causes and triggers for many illnesses, and if we stopped doing all the things that may cause disease, we would die of starvation or live the rest of our lives in gas masks.

I've smoked since I was 19 (at least a pack per day) and today my lungs are clear, my heart is normal, my blood pressure is normal, as well as all my vitals, and I'm 69.. ....Knocking vigorously on wood and praying not to be struck by lightening, as I sit here.

Oh and Trish, I'm only vaping nicotine, now....but, who knows, next, they will find it causes disease too. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

News Flash...We're all gonna die!!!

It can't help but I always come back to the fact that the north has the most people w/MS and I don't think the south has less smokers.

I agree with Sally.every day someone is comming up with something else that causes disease. Don't eat this, don't eat that, don't breath, don't drink alcohol, soda, ect. don't touch that. i agree that smoking is sooo bad for you and wish i never started but geez I might as well live in a bubble with all the things that cause disease in this world.

Geez- ever notice all these health oriented studies take all the fun stuff out of life? Drinking, smoking, watching TV, staying up late, tanning, eating junk food, coffee......

I hope EVERYONE who is smoking, finds the courage, strength, and serenity to be able to lay them down.

its incredibly expensive, does horrible things by robbing your body of O2, and makes you smell just awful.

I pray that you all find relief from grips of this habit. Go spend your money each month on a massage, or a cleaning lady, or a vacation, or a shopping spree for clothes, or ice cream! yeah, ice cream.

One pack a day, $5. $150 a month, $1800 a year. Cost of a weekend cruise to the carribean $999 that means you can afford to take a friend!

ok, let me climb off my soap box.

I was waiting for DH in a Sam's Club. I think it is similar to a CostCo, only difference is that it is owned by Walmart.

I used their bathroom and as I was going out, I saw a chained off area where the cigarettes are now kept. So I stopped by to see what a carton of cigarettes are going for now.

When DH and I quit, a carton was $10, it took about a week to smoke.

I was amazed it cost about $50 now.

That is expensive!

There is talk about increasing the tax on sugary drinks. Thank goodness I gave that up long ago as well. I now cannot stand the taste of soda, diet or regular.

But that is just me. I know how hard it is to quit smoking and I was never one that particularly liked smoking after I turned 20 or so, just addicted. It was a nice social activity at first.

I think the e-cigarette is amazing. Is it hard to convert from regular? It is different in taste, right?