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Posted here because of the incongruity between smoking and longevity (Original Post) wolfie001 Dec 11 OP
Is she still alive? BOSSHOG Dec 11 #1
she recently produced a PSA: ret5hd Dec 11 #2
She's a dead ringer. BOSSHOG Dec 11 #3
She passed a while ago wolfie001 Dec 11 #4
We were so happy when dad quit smoking at 80. multigraincracker Dec 11 #5
Amazing! Thanks for that info wolfie001 Dec 11 #6
I'm not dead yet, so I can't say with certainty... slightlv Dec 11 #7
Well, keep doing your thing. I need my 3 cups of coffee every am wolfie001 Dec 11 #11
For me, it's a glass of mead every couple of months... ;) slightlv Dec 14 #20
Mead is nice wolfie001 Dec 14 #21
My father began smoking at age 14 - 3 packs of unfiltered "Luckies" a day. 3Hotdogs Dec 11 #9
Wow! 83 is about 7 years longer than males' average lifespan today wolfie001 Dec 11 #12
I turned 83 in October. I'm treasurer of my hiking club. I can't do the class C3 hikes with the club anymore 3Hotdogs Dec 11 #15
Inspiring! wolfie001 Dec 12 #16
A group of Norwegians were believed to inherited multigraincracker Dec 11 #10
That's interesting. They also have immunity from lactose sensitivity too, right? wolfie001 Dec 11 #13
Who knows? If she wasn't a smoker, she might have made 1465 months. 3Hotdogs Dec 11 #8
Curious? wolfie001 Dec 11 #14
one of my great-great uncles was a big smoker. he did havelung issues his last years, but they had to check his heart pansypoo53219 Dec 12 #17
IMHO and not even talking about this particular person BootinUp Dec 12 #18
Oh yes! The famous "blue zones" wolfie001 Dec 12 #19

wolfie001

(6,962 posts)
6. Amazing! Thanks for that info
Thu Dec 11, 2025, 05:12 PM
Dec 11

I remember hearing/reading that a certain % of smokers are immune from the associated lung damage. Those folks (your dad maybe?) have pink lungs like they've never lit up at all. Humans are amazing! When we're not killing each other.

slightlv

(7,397 posts)
7. I'm not dead yet, so I can't say with certainty...
Thu Dec 11, 2025, 05:55 PM
Dec 11

but while cancer has run in my general family, lung cancer hasn't... even among those who smoked for years and decades.
There is a whole other side of the family (my dad's) I no nothing about, as well as a side of the family from my Mom's real father. Never met any of them. But so far, each x-ray I get shows I'm okay. Plus, I don't have a lot of the issues my know family has had run through them. So, I'm hoping... because right now, smoking is the only thing keeping me sane. I have given thought of quitting, as a goad to get the same from hubby... and willing to go to vapes... but hubby has absolutely no desire. (shrug)

wolfie001

(6,962 posts)
11. Well, keep doing your thing. I need my 3 cups of coffee every am
Thu Dec 11, 2025, 08:35 PM
Dec 11

Sometimes tea and coffee throughout the day. I'm retired and I'll never give it up. Maybe one beer every 3 weeks or so. Cheers

wolfie001

(6,962 posts)
21. Mead is nice
Sun Dec 14, 2025, 10:40 PM
Dec 14

I picked up a couple of bottles years ago. I may go out and track one down. Cheers

3Hotdogs

(14,982 posts)
9. My father began smoking at age 14 - 3 packs of unfiltered "Luckies" a day.
Thu Dec 11, 2025, 06:07 PM
Dec 11

He died at age 83 of throat cancer, No overt signs of lung disorder. I never saw him out of breath after any activity.

3Hotdogs

(14,982 posts)
15. I turned 83 in October. I'm treasurer of my hiking club. I can't do the class C3 hikes with the club anymore
Thu Dec 11, 2025, 11:33 PM
Dec 11

but I did 5 miles yesterday.I can climb hills up to 400 ft. I suppose if I lose 10 or 15 pounds, I might get back to the longer hikes.

My mother made it to 99. I expect to make it to 100+.

wolfie001

(6,962 posts)
16. Inspiring!
Fri Dec 12, 2025, 07:47 AM
Dec 12

And impressive. I try to do biking or walking for at least 1 hour per day. 65 years old and too many bags of Doritos when I was younger. Cheers

multigraincracker

(36,844 posts)
10. A group of Norwegians were believed to inherited
Thu Dec 11, 2025, 08:08 PM
Dec 11

A gene from the Bog People. They burned that moss for heat and developed a resistance to smoke. They are smokers and few cases of lung cancer

wolfie001

(6,962 posts)
13. That's interesting. They also have immunity from lactose sensitivity too, right?
Thu Dec 11, 2025, 08:44 PM
Dec 11

I had to switch to lactose free at about age 40. I'm not aware of any Scandinavian ancestry in my family. I gotta have my bowl of Lucky Charms every now and then. (I'm 65)

pansypoo53219

(22,855 posts)
17. one of my great-great uncles was a big smoker. he did havelung issues his last years, but they had to check his heart
Fri Dec 12, 2025, 08:01 AM
Dec 12

+ his heart was great. think he lived to 97. need to ask. his sister the one who didn't drink + ate lots of sweets a few weeks away from 99.
but i do have the smoking warning label. cancer, heart, lungs.

BootinUp

(50,806 posts)
18. IMHO and not even talking about this particular person
Fri Dec 12, 2025, 08:34 AM
Dec 12

there are plenty of age claims over the years that are simply not true. Records can be false in other words.

wolfie001

(6,962 posts)
19. Oh yes! The famous "blue zones"
Fri Dec 12, 2025, 10:14 AM
Dec 12

Mainly, it was the children not reporting the deaths of their elderly parents so they can continue the checks from the govt. At least in Okinawa. Not sure about the others.
[img][/img]

** US problems with longevity are mainly diet and poverty. I'm sure you know that. Such a "great" country.

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