Is it strange that most people in the army seem to smoke and are still very fit?

jpturboprop

It is a bit strange, until you think about it. Lung cancer generally takes 25 to 40 pack years of exposure to develope, and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary dieaease takes anywhere from 10 to 50 pack years to develope. Those in the military simply haven't been somoking long enough to develope their symptoms. Any way you cut it, smoking is not good for you in the long run.

Leogirl0804

it's called youth. That will change, that I can guarantee.

Army Retired Guy

I smoked for years in the military, but the numbers started to drastically decrease when more facts where known about smoking. It may now be a higher percentage still than civilians but far less than it used to be. And if your running 2 to 5 miles a day and working out the effects aren't as apparent health wise. You can be quite healthy physically and smoke. but, fact remains, its sure not good for you.

Studbolt Slickrock Deux

Something about regular exercise and hard work seems to make people more fit. Go figure.

Artyom2000

Im in the forces and smoke, and reletivily fit. But sometimes I think how much fitter I would be if I never smoked.

Had an interesting conversation with a mate who was going for a diving course. He was saying if you smoke and your lungs fill up with tar, they have to expand to accommodate it. If you quit smoking and wait, say a year, the lungs will eventually expell the tar in them and you will have quite healthier, clearer lungs - but with more capacity! Bigger lungs = Better fitness.

Result.

CLIVE H

There's an old saying about a soldier who "smokes like a trooper". The cigarette got introduced to our soldiers [the Tommies] serving in the trenches during WW-One and it got everyone 'hooked'. It's from this period we get most of the slang words associated with cigarette smoking. There's even a WW-One song with the line "strike up a Lucifer and light your f.a.g..." A Lucifer is a match by the way - I think originally a Dutch brand called 'Lucifer' - the Devil's fire brand.

When I was in the Army 1957-1965 loads of people smoked. With cigarettes overseas selling at about 5 pence for twenty in the NAAFI it's little wonder really.

Think one of the oldest slang names for a cigarette is 'coffin nails' [coughing and coffin - get it?].

waspy772004

Think how much fitter you would be without smoking :0)
It is a question of age and exercise. The Army style of life definitely encourages smoking, and lets face it, soldiers tend to have a different view on the risks of things that may kill them.

gluggery

Lots of top flight Italian footballers smoke too.

MICK B

I noticed that too. Imagine how scary fit they would be if they knocked the smokes off. I guess it must be a way of passing time. Im told army barracks arent the most entertaining places

original-american_reject

I am also a smoker, and I can outdo all of my non-smoker friends and family also. I know its not proven, but I feel like that since we use our lungs inhaling,and exhaling by smoking, we are making them stronger than a nonsmoker.(Our lungs' exercise!) So when we get physical, we can outlast them. Until of course, it decides to turn on us, and turn into a health problem.... I know its a stretch, but it makes sense!

Westhill

No. You and your friends just haven't smoked enough cigarettes over a long enough period of time. You're also young, and get a lot of exercise. Your friends have the additional advantage of being forced to exercise and perform to certain standards. Smoking will catch up with all of you in just a few years.

HANS LAXMAN RAJ

It's not surprising considering the fact that they have to wake up at 5 every morning to workout and 90% of their time is spent working out.

hayles

they do a lotl of exercise, this makes you fit regardless of smoking, smoking is just not good for you it wont make you unfit.

Mucky Mud Blood

Maybe they think they look harder with a f.ag in their mouth (did you know they star out the word f.ag?).... anyway... back to you mates in the army.... any single non smoking ones? lol.

anil

It is definately harming lungs but the effect is not showing now because you have healthy life style, wait for another four or five years you will see the result.

dels replies

The reason is that most army personnel are still relatively young and the worst effects of smoking do not appear until later on in life.I smoked from when I was 15. all through my time in the Air Force,I played football until in my 30's and cricket up to about 55 and felt quite fit.I noticed sometimes at work if I carried something up two or three floors by the stairs that I would get a bit out of breath, but put it down to getting older etc.Over the years I got more wheezy and less able to do anything too energetic.I retired at 60 and spent most of my time looking after my wife who was an invalid.At first it was no trouble, we went on holidays all over the UK and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. I found that pushing my wife in her wheelchair was not so easy as previously and I found it difficult to negotiate slopes and ramps without getting severely out of breath.Indoors I got out of breath climbing the stairs or using the vacuum I was getting severely limited in what I could do. Two years ago my doctor diagnosed me as having COPD (Chronic Obstructed Pulmonary Disease) which is a direct result of smoking.I ceased smoking which initially made a lot of difference but the disease can not be cured only slightly alleviated and my condition will continue to deteriorate. So back to your question . the ill results of smoking are not really apparent until 50 or 60 years later and when you are 70 you will wish you had not smoked.as will all the army chaps you mention unless you all give up soon I hope you do.

blowfish

thats because they train alot more than civilians do but the effects of smoking still make it harder to do the same things as those that dont. it will still have its long term effects but they are slowing it down slightly by keeping fit and exercising their lungs and bodies

mudfish

its when you smoke and dont do any exercise that it becomes a problem you probably compensate for it. i know people that dont smoke who are no where near as fit as some that do

Libby L

Not everyone in the Army smokes. I always thought they did but I've gotten to know a lot of Army guys in my husbands unit, and most of them don't smoke.

srracvuee

you are speaking of youth but it becomes a different situation when middle age creaps up those are the people who then discover the years gone by cancer has been developing and is very manifest in the 40s So the answer is DONT smoke

Brianne

Yes, but you are still young yet, it gets to you as you age. I think tho it all depends on the person. My mom has emphysema and now lung cancer from smoking but my day who smoked as long as her is fine. All my daughters smoke but one of them was told if she doesn't quit now she won't see her kids grow up cause shes this close to emphysema also. Some are OK and some not.

fx f

Yeah Ive noticed that to.

sam w

yea. i've noticed. it's really weird.

nesserz2.0

im not really sure cause smoking does kill your lungs...

but its pretty much impossible to find someone in the army who doesn't smoke. haha under all the pressure and crap they are under..i guess it only makes sense but...they are all still in great shape and don't have smokers cough. i dunno. haha

army people are magic. haha

unknown

Not only that but they cough all that shit up when they run in the mornings, unlike a civilian, who let it sit there.

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