What Do You Put On Medical Forms Under "Are You A Smoker?"

[GMofOLC]

I recently went to the hospital after suffering nerve damage to my left hand from sleeping on my arm all night and the nurse asking me questions asked if I smoked. I said yeah, hookah.
That totally through her for a loop. I didn't really know how to explain it either, but eventually settled on "yes, it's tobacco."

I went to a neurologist a couple days later and was filling out a form which asked, "How many packs a day do you smoke?"
At the time I smoked about once a week so I put down 0.142 packs a day. (Went up to about once every other day because I [s]couldn't[/s] wasn't supposed to drink. Supposedly alcohol is bad for nerve regrowth? Who knew.)
Was insulted they didn't have a "How many bowls a week do you enjoy by yourself or with others?" Stupid doctors.

Anyways, what do ya'll put?

(P.S. hand's all better now)

[Tyler]

[quote name='GMofOLC' date='29 May 2010 - 05:12 PM' timestamp='1275167555' post='469918']
I recently went to the hospital after suffering nerve damage to my left hand from sleeping on my arm all night and the nurse asking me questions asked if I smoked. I said yeah, hookah.
That totally through her for a loop. I didn't really know how to explain it either, but eventually settled on "yes, it's tobacco."

I went to a neurologist a couple days later and was filling out a form which asked, "How many packs a day do you smoke?"
At the time I smoked about once a week so I put down 0.142 packs a day. (Went up to about once every other day because I [s]couldn't[/s] wasn't supposed to drink. Supposedly alcohol is bad for nerve regrowth? Who knew.)
Was insulted they didn't have a "How many bowls a week do you enjoy by yourself or with others?" Stupid doctors.

Anyways, what do ya'll put?

(P.S. hand's all better now)
[/quote]


I put no because they're looking specifically for ciggerettes/cigars/NHT useage.

[A13lackFish]

typically i put no, but when i went to the doctor last for a check up she came back and said "your hemoglobin levels are high, are you sure you dont smoke?" and i said i smoke hookah... which she replyed with well that cant be it, and i replyed.... i smoke hookah... ALOT...

so i think you should put yes lol

[Arcane]

i put yes....

and to make it funny (to me), when they ask how much...i say about 3-5 packs a day...

because as well all know, 1 hookah session = 100 cigarettes....but, at least you're cool....... Edited May 29, 2010 by Arcane

[Chreees]

I put no, simply because I don't see cigarettes and hookah as the same thing... Cigarettes I FEEL affecting my health, hookah I don't... Once I start to feel hookah affecting my health, I'll start putting yes on those forms (but if it does I'm going to quit anyway).

[mitchard]

[quote name='INCUBUSRATM' date='29 May 2010 - 04:14 PM' timestamp='1275174858' post='469931']
I put no, simply because I don't see cigarettes and hookah as the same thing... Cigarettes I FEEL affecting my health, hookah I don't... Once I start to feel hookah affecting my health, I'll start putting yes on those forms (but if it does I'm going to quit anyway).
[/quote]

This is my exact viewpoint.

[F16WarBird]

I put "no" because I dont' want my insurance to go up.

[ezxen]

[quote name='mitchard' date='29 May 2010 - 04:34 PM' timestamp='1275176057' post='469933']
[quote name='INCUBUSRATM' date='29 May 2010 - 04:14 PM' timestamp='1275174858' post='469931']
I put no, simply because I don't see cigarettes and hookah as the same thing... Cigarettes I FEEL affecting my health, hookah I don't... Once I start to feel hookah affecting my health, I'll start putting yes on those forms (but if it does I'm going to quit anyway).
[/quote]

This is my exact viewpoint.
[/quote]
ditto

[Scoop]

i personally believe to think hookah has no adverse effects at all is a bit naive. personally i believe the carbon monoxide from the coals is the worst part

i put yes. we all know its a lie to write no, whether you inhale smoke or vapor.

[thecoalition]

i put yes if im at the dr. and then talk to him / her about it. for insurance and what not i put no.

[mxtaylor]

I put No but will usually tell the nurse that I smoke hookah twice a week. Some nurses wig out about it, others say that wouldn't be an issue.

[dtbeedy]

I put yes since i do smoke but i smoke hookah and cigs. So either way its a yes

[thatonethere]

I say yes. I used to smoke cigs too, but I only smoke hookah now. Edited May 31, 2010 by thatonethere

[bellydancerakn]

I just put no since I smoke so rarely that it doesn't really effect me.

[liquidglass]

Here's the down and dirty for all you guys wondering about if it makes you a smoker.

I've worked in the insurance biz before and even taken some out on myself (great idea for those that don't have life or even disability insurance)
I took out a nice amount and did the paramed (just a medical exam for an insurance company)

I was smoking hookah at the time, told her (since insurance companies don't have "hookah" listed because there's no reliable studies (even though it's been around longer than ciggs) she did blood, urine, etc etc said I was a non-smoker and good to go.

So I always check "non smoker" and you should too.


- btw hookah does NOT equal 100 ciggs, but they like to claim it does

[hippsylake]

[quote name='Arcane' date='29 May 2010 - 05:00 PM' timestamp='1275170430' post='469928']
i put yes....

and to make it funny (to me), when they ask how much...i say about 3-5 packs a day...

because as well all know, 1 hookah session = 100 cigarettes....but, at least you're cool.......
[/quote]




Please if you have time, can you explain this. 1 hookah sitting equals 100 cigarettes? How is that? I am just getting started and don't want to be doing something harmful to myself

[Arcane]

[quote name='hippsylake' date='31 May 2010 - 12:49 PM' timestamp='1275346199' post='470089']
[quote name='Arcane' date='29 May 2010 - 05:00 PM' timestamp='1275170430' post='469928']
i put yes....

and to make it funny (to me), when they ask how much...i say about 3-5 packs a day...

because as well all know, 1 hookah session = 100 cigarettes....but, at least you're cool.......
[/quote]




Please if you have time, can you explain this. 1 hookah sitting equals 100 cigarettes? How is that? I am just getting started and don't want to be doing something harmful to myself
[/quote]
well, that was actually sarcastic....

and you're SMOKING....it's not going be healthy for you.....you're inhaling something other than oxygen, so it's going to be harmful to your health in some capacity...

if you're seriously concerned about the health aspect of hookah, it'd probably be better to stop now.... Edited May 31, 2010 by Arcane

[Majid]

I put yes. From a medical perspective you could be throwing off your doctors perception of the situation. You're still smoking a tobacco product. My doctor asked me two weeks ago if i smoked, i said no cigs but hookah and he kind of shrugged it off. Should have asked him his opinion is what i'm thinking now.

[Charley]

[quote name='hippsylake' date='31 May 2010 - 05:49 PM' timestamp='1275346199' post='470089']
[quote name='Arcane' date='29 May 2010 - 05:00 PM' timestamp='1275170430' post='469928']
i put yes....

and to make it funny (to me), when they ask how much...i say about 3-5 packs a day...

because as well all know, 1 hookah session = 100 cigarettes....but, at least you're cool.......
[/quote]




Please if you have time, can you explain this. 1 hookah sitting equals 100 cigarettes? How is that? I am just getting started and don't want to be doing something harmful to myself
[/quote]


according to the who (world health organization) one session of hookah is roughly the equivalent of 100 cigs per volume of smoke produced. (meaning the amount of "smoke/vapor" from the hookah session is the same as what is produced by 100 cigs.)

this does not include the particulates or chemicals within the smoke itself only the volume. They seem to have a problem with us hookah smokers so they like to try to make it sound a lot worse then cigs. (they even use faulty methods of testing hookah such as using a consistent draw instead of measuring by the average number of puffs. they also like to add things to there shisha before testing and burn it with excessive coal without a foil to insulate and protect the shisha from burning.) (they often times take cig tobacco add molasses to it and put quick lights on with no foil then say that is what were smoking. I have not read one study done by them that is even half way valid.)

[Lucy Ford]

i always say no. but i had an infection in my throat and the nurse specifically asked me if i smoke anything at all (this was on a college campus) so i told her hookah 3-4 times a week and she freaked out and gave me a lecture on not sharing with random people. She told me not to share with anyone and use mouthtips, but no one else got it so i figure it was from something else disgusting..

[Tom1]

[quote name='hippsylake' date='31 May 2010 - 06:49 PM' timestamp='1275346199' post='470089']



Please if you have time, can you explain this. 1 hookah sitting equals 100 cigarettes? How is that?[u] I am just getting started and don't want to be doing something harmful to myself[/u]


[/quote]

I'm with Jay on this one. While that number is what people claim in "studies" its a gross exaggeration/propaganda/lie in my opinion.

As far as the sentence I underlined...

[ilikemyusername]

I put down yes because my job makes me get a cotinine test annually.

[TexasHookah]

Haha.. I was just thinking about this today.. I am guessing I would say no because I am not a regular everyday smoker.