2nd smoke from smokers & sensitivity

I think part of my cold and coughing that I have now is from visiting certain European areas where there are just ...more smokers.

Or just trends in certain Canadian municipalities to restrict smoking in public areas alot more for a number of years.

On a trip to London several years ago, I remember how shocked I was at the black stuff that came out when I blew my nose.

Hope the fresh air gets you cleared up soon.

Quote:

Originally Posted by malkin

On a trip to London several years ago, I remember how shocked I was at the black stuff that came out when I blew my nose.

Hope the fresh air gets you cleared up soon.

Yeah...they do a lot of heating with coal and all of those diesel engines are not the more modern clean-burning type. I had the black snot, too...and was sick much of the time I was in the UK (4 months).

I was really affected by the second hand smoke in Spain; much more than when I was in the UK, Italy, or Germany (although I had some trouble then). It was not good to be on a cycling tour in 95 degree heat, breathing in all that smoke. I had to use my inhaler on almost all of the days and I actually was wheezing at one point.

It went away as soon as I got home.

Cig smoke doesn't bother my lungs a lot (in the short term), thankfully, but if I spend more than three or four hours in NYC I get a sore throat and hoarseness. I haven't visited any other city that does that to me. But if you're in a more urban area than you're used to, it might be that.

Anyway, hope you feel better soon.

Quote:

Originally Posted by zoom-zoom

Yeah...they do a lot of heating with coal and all of those diesel engines are not the more modern clean-burning type. I had the black snot, too...and was sick much of the time I was in the UK (4 months).

Yuck! Actually, I'm surprised I didn't have the black snot when I was on my medical mission trip. We were in Nairobi, Kenya (working in Kibera, the largest slum) and the air quality there is really not good. Cooking in the slums is done over charcoal fires, there is a lot of traffic, and most vehicles are diesel (and not the clean type). You could see and smell all that smoke and exhaust in the air. I think a lot of what we saw in the clinics and treated as "allergies" (red, itchy eyes; runny noses; scratchy throats) was partly irritation from the pollution. One member of our team was having some bad eye irritation from it; the rest of us were OK apart from the occasional tickly cough. It was probably a good thing I didn't go for any runs while I was there!

I went to a Cherokee casino bar recently, where smoking is allowed (in Arkansas, smoking is not allowed in public places). I had exactly 2 martinis over about 4 hours, after a big dinner at the buffet. I got home, laid down on the bed, and the bed started spinning like I'd been drinking all night long. I believe it was the cigarette smoke, nicotine reaching toxic levels or something. Because of the excellent smoking laws in Arkansas, I NEVER breath smoke. My body just didn't know what to do with the overload, I think.

I almost had to burn my clothes. :P They definitely went straight from my body to the washer.

Karen

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tuckervill

I went to a Cherokee casino bar recently, where smoking is allowed (in Arkansas, smoking is not allowed in public places). I had exactly 2 martinis over about 4 hours, after a big dinner at the buffet. I got home, laid down on the bed, and the bed started spinning like I'd been drinking all night long. I believe it was the cigarette smoke, nicotine reaching toxic levels or something. Because of the excellent smoking laws in Arkansas, I NEVER breath smoke. My body just didn't know what to do with the overload, I think.

I almost had to burn my clothes. :P They definitely went straight from my body to the washer.

Karen

My asthma was raging when we were in Vegas last Dec.--and we didn't spend any time in the casinos, except going to and from our room. I love Vegas, but not the smoke.