Does tobacco smoke aggravate your PD symptoms?

[DeanGreen]

During my pipe-smoking days I had noticed that my PD symptoms immediately but temporarily worsen. I thought is was the nicotine, but I tried nicotine gum and there was no change in PD symptoms, although I felt the nicotine's other effects. I was wondering if anyone else noticed this curious effect.

[Pete-1]

Tobacco is reportedly gives some protection against certain disease including PD, some cancers, ulcerative colitus and more that I can't remember. I often wonder how far my PD would have progressed if I hadn't given up smoking about 8 or 9 years ago.

[PatV in reply to Pete-1]

I think the trade off is worth it.

[rch21]

although research has shown some positive correlation with nicotine and slightly reduced PD symptoms, there is not so much when nicotine is obtained through smoking (I haven't seen any study using gum, though I imagine that has been studied somewhere). In concert with Pennworthy's reply, the best thing to fight PD is aerobic exercise, and one reason for this may be increased supply of oxygen to the cells. Even if that is not a direct reason, smoking reduces both the body's ability to absorb oxygen and to maintain health in most of it's systems, so probably is not worth it.

[Pelley]

It's my belief that almost anything in moderation is okay. I have also read the studies of nicotine and PD. Wether it's "just in my head" or not, I feel much more relaxed, in control.... after a good cigar. The study I read said it actually does have a calming effect in moderation. I suspect it is like anything else us PD'ers can find a way to blame, or connect a toenail fungus to our PD if it is convenient !

[DeanGreen in reply to Pelley]

I have to agree 100%. Stressing out about eating the right foods, getting enough exercise, and wondering what caused your PD certainly aggravates my symptoms. My wife's grandmother dipped snuff most of her life and was still using it when I visited her on around her 100th birthday. She was still very much lucid and kept up with current events (Studies have shown that nicotine does improve memory). She passed away at 105 years old.............must have been the tobacco?!. On the other hand my Aunt was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer and never used a tobacco product in her life. I know these are extreme examples, but I guess we all die of something.

[Pete-1 in reply to Pelley]

Looking back I think I was a happier person when I was a smoker. I suppose that is to be expected given that tobacco smoke stimulates the release of Dopamine and that has been describe as a "happy chemical.

[DeanGreen]

There are several studies linking tobacco use and nicotine with a lower probability of developing PD. Also there are a few studies that show nicotine can temporarily improve PD symptoms. But it is rare (only 2 cases in the literature) to have tobacco/nicotine aggravate PD symptoms, which is what I experience. Just wondering if this reaction to tobacco is yet just another variant of PD and if anyone else experiences it?

[DeanGreen]

Oxygen is a double-edged sword. You need it as fuel for creating the energy to keep you functioning. But the byproducts from that energy (oxygen free radicals) is what will eventually destroy you. Oxygen is highly reactive and actually poisonous, but we have evolved mechanisms to deal with its toxic byproducts. These mechanisms eventually break down and we die.

[Pete-1]

I have read of some experiments that use Nicotine patches to stimulate the production of Dopamine. I seem to remember that 3 of the largest size patch had to be used at the same time to make a difference.