pufferfish once bubbled...
Hey Dan that wasn't fair as you only had to type eight words on that one and have Col. Cluster helping you out with research 
Very interesting article however it seems to be written soley to support a predetermined conclusion, that of GUE's position that smokers shouldn't dive. Once again let me state my position that I don't smoke and I think smoking is one of the most nasty habits there is, but that being said I still don't think the policy of excluding perfectly healthy, fit, young smokers from your course is a great idea or likely convincing if it was ever challenged legally.
Hi Puffer,
So let me get this right..just because you do not like the profession of the person who wrote the article you dismiss the validity of the article? How about the rest of the very well know researchers and professionals and the thousands of man days that went into the conclusions of the following refercences listed in the original article? Hmm, Puffer you have absolutely no credibilty in this as you have yet to list a single researched and published paper on the premis that smoking is not detrimental to ones health and that it poses no heath risk when diving. Here is my argument in nauseating detail if you wish to read them.
1. Freund Karen MD et al. The health risks of smoking, The Framingham study: 34 years of follow-up AEP Vol. 3, No. 4 July 1993 417-424
2. American Heart Association. Environmental Tobacco Smoke, Heart and Stoke Guide 1998
3. American Lung Association. Smoking Fact Sheet 1998
4. Sorle Paul. Influence of cigarette smoking on lung function at baseline and follow-up in 14 years: The Framingham study J. Chron Dis Vol. 40, No. 9 pp. 849-856 1987
5. Olofson J. Mortality related to smoking habits, respiratory symptoms and lung function. Eur J Respir Dis (1987) 71, 69-76
6. Wolf Philip MD. Cigarette smoking as a risk factor for stroke: The Framingham Study. JAMA Feb. 19, 1988-Vol 259, No. 7
7. Tager Ira B. Effect of cigarette smoking on the pulmonary function of children and adolescents. Am Rev Respir Dis 1985 131:752-759
8. Beck Gerald Smoking and lung function Am Rev Respir Dis. 1981 Feb;123(2):149-55.
9. Castelli William P. MD Diet, smoking, and alcohol: Influence on coronary heart disease risk. American Journal of Kidney Diseases, Vol. XVI, No. 4 Suppl 1 (October) 1990: pp 41-46
10. Kwiathkowski, Timothy C. Cigarette smoking and its orthopedic consequences. Amer J Orthop 1996 Sept 25(9) 590-
11. Slolnick, ET Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke and the risk of adverse respiratory events in children receiving general anesthesia. Anesthesiology 1998 May:88(5):1144-53
12. Anderson HR Passive smoking and sudden infant death syndrome: review of the epidemiological evidence. Thorax 1997 Nov;52(11):1003-9
13. Valkonen M, Passice smoking induces atherogenic changes in low-density lipoprotein. Circulation 1998 May 26;97(20):2012-6
14. Chan D Cigarette smoking and age related macular degeneration Optom Vis Sci 1998 July;75(7):476-84
15. Solberg Y The association between cigarette smoking and ocular diseases. Surv Opthalmol 1998 May-Jun;42960:535-47
16. American Lung Association Fact Sheet: Second Hand Smoke 1998
17. Hackshaw AK Lung cancer and passive smoking Stat Methods Med Res 1998 Jun;7(20):119-36
18. Armin Ernst, MD Carbon Monoxide Poisoning NEJM Vol. 339, No. 22, Nov. 26, 1998 pp. 1603-8
19. Timisjarvi J et. al. Effect of smoking on the central circulation at rest and during exercise as studied by radiocardiograpy. Mukliarmedizin 1980;19(50:239-43
20. Sommese Teresa MD et al. Acute effects of cigarette smoking withdrawal: Review of the literature. Aviation, space and Environmental Medicine Feb. 1995 pp. 164-7
21. West Robert Ph.D. What happened to anxiety levels on giving up smoking? Am J Psychiatry 154:11 Nov. 1997 1589-92
22. Wilmshurst P Role of cardio-respiratory abnormalities, smoking and dive characteristics on the manifestations of neurological decompression illness. Clin Sci 1994 Mar;86(3):297-303
23. Brodbeck John R. et al. Best and Taylor's Physiological Basic of Medical Practice Ninth Edition Williams and Wilkins Company. 1973
Care to dismiss these gentlemen and ladies as well? As I asked you in an earlier discussion show me the smoking gun dude. Show me your research rather than anecdotal ramblings.
As far a GUE being taken to task for not teaching non-smokers that is an entirely different issue. Just because it *may* be perceived that it is against someones legal rights not to teach them due to their smoking habit that has absolutely nothing what-so-ever to do with whether or not smoking is detrimental to your health let alone measurable increased risk of DCS among other things. Your right to swing your fist ends just prior to where it meets my nose.
From what I have seen from your method of argument even Bennet and Elliot would be wrong if you happened to have a differing anectdotal opinion.
I bow in supplication to your greater knowledge. I am wrong, you must be right! Smoking must be a good thing. Why I wonder did I feel so much better when I gave it up 18 years ago? Hmmm maybe you can tell me. Sheese. It does no good for me to discuss anything with you Puffer as the old saying is never truer when it comes to you.. A man convinced against his will is of his own opinion still. I have finished responding to this smoking question as since you are supporting the untenable position that smoking is good then this is a waste of bandwidth and my time.
Safe dives,
Dan
