Is It Bad For My Heart To Go Running The Day After I Smoke A Cigar?
February 14, 2010 by MBC Staff
Filed under Afficianado
I smoke my pipe or a cigar about once a week. I am also a long distance runner. Due to tobacco raising blood pressure and such, does it stress your heart more to go running the day after smoking a cigar (no inhalation) as compared to not having smoked the previous day? I’m trying to figure out a good routine for the amount of days to wait until I go on a long distance run (9 mile +) after smoking my pipe or a cigar.
Yes but it also stresses your heart more if it is hot, if you ate a heavy meal before you run, if you didn’t sleep well the night before and I could go on. The bottom line is that some days are harder than others.
One of my friends ran two marathons before he quit smoking cigarettes. He said everyone would go for the cold drinks after a race and he would light up. He admitted that he was likely a little slow (pardon the pun).
Anyway, I am not telling you to quit because its up to you. Almost everyone has things in their life that they could improve.
No doubt it would be best for you to stop smoking and for me to avoid all fried foods. If you don’t say anything about my shrimp poboys then I won’t mention the cigars.
First step: Get rid of the cigar! Tobacco is never going to do you any good whatsoever. Last I heard, the only people who gained anything from tobacco…..was the tobacco companies. (Oh yes, and let’s not forget the taxes that your state levies on tobacco.) If you like paying more taxes….hmmmmm….you can finish that line easily enough!
Another thing: With few exceptions (such as the Knights of Columbus), insurance companies are not benelovent societies. They don’t give discounts without a darn good reason. So, when they give discounts on life insurance premiums for people who don’t smoke, there has to be a darned good reason!
A word to the wise is sufficient. Get rid of the tobacco…fast!
Another similar question you could ask is “How do I reduce the risk of oral and throat cancer even though I don’t inhale?”
Simple answers are “I don’t know.” If it bothers you either stop smoking or take your blood pressure and heart rate before you go running.
Sorry to pile on, but there’s no good face can be put on the smoking part.
Good Luck
it’s better not smoke at all
Not at all….it’s the smoking that’s bad for your heart, lungs & general health, not the going running.