Poll rather than question really

[NannyAlli]

How many of you smoked or still smoke ?

[Essex-jill]

I have never smoked in my life and I have WG for 14 years.

Jill

[Albasain]

I started smoking at about 15 years, continued until about 45 when I stopped. Restarted 10 months later until I was 63. It was then I contracted vasculitis. It is considered that the type I have could be attributed to smoking or that rather smoking predisposes to contracting this disease. However not everyone who smokes becomes so affected. There must be another factor involved. It could be that those that are, have a genetic precondition that leads to acquiring vasculitis or that a viral infection triggers the immune system to attack itself. Unfortunately there are so many variables within this disease as to causes and conditions to enable an exact relation to smoking though it is generally accepted that it could be a contributory factor.

In contrast to this it is also known that nicotine can prevent Alzheimer's disease and other dementia. Why this is so is not necessarily understood but smoking does seem to help in such cases.

Again, smoking is rightly considered injurious to not just the health of the individual but also to others who are subject to passive smoking.

For those that cannot give up smoking then the alternative electronic cigarettes could be the answer. They provide the nicotine that the person needs but without the other 4000 harmful ingredients and does not cause any harm to others.

I hope this helps.

[hamble99b Volunteer]

never have.

[suffolkgirl]

I've never smoked.

[vivdunstan Volunteer]

Never have smoked.

[Ayla Volunteer]

Me neither.

Ayla

[HiveMind]

I have never smoked.

I was told (by a respected vasculitis specialist) that smoking damages the immune system, thereby rendering it unable to have the "oomph" to behave abnormally.

Not sure if this applies to everyone though. Obviously each persons physiology is different.

[pwc51]

I have never smoked.

[amms43]

I used to smoke but stopped over 30 years ago, a long time before the vasculitis.

[BronteM]

For two or three years - when I was a student. And that was a long time ago!

[missscotty]

I have never smoked and I have just been diagonsed with Takayasu and Giant Cell.

[jackrussell]

Never smoked

[magcor]

I am a smoker

[Tony-LakeDistrict]

Nearly 70, & gave up smoking when I was 42, I have MPA

tony

[Budapest]

I have never smoked. WG diagnosed in 2010.

[SandieB]

I have never smoked and have had WG for 20+years now along with chest problems......

[DevonLottie]

Heavy smoker until I was 43 - not smoked in 10 years since I was diagnosed.

[cazy-g]

Smoked moderately from15yrs old to 60 years old after W.G. diagnosed Not smoked for 2 years Consultant says that this is not a smoking related disease but W.G. is obviously affected by smoking .

[Tidgypud]

Smoked heavily until 13 years ago . Diagnosed asthma 1 year later then Churg Strauss 3 years ago ?

[milliewin]

never smoked and diagnosed with Cerebral vasculitis in 2008

[SusieMC]

No, I have never smoked.

Sue

[Kenneth]

I had smoked all of my adult life. Even carried on when diagnosed with WG in 1996 . Just after my diagnosis in 1997, I had lesions on my left lung, caused by the WG. But when my lung collapsed I immediately stopped. I have not smoked since.

[Chris-Bromsgrove]

No, I've never smoked

Chris

[cedric]

stopped smoking 15 years ago

[ails]

I stopped smoking in 2000, aged 33. Diagnosed churg Strauss 2011, aged 44.

[anthony01]

Never

[JimL]

For about ten years I had the very occasional cigarette and when I could afford it smoked proper cigars but stopped about thirty years before being diagnosed with WG.

Jim

[Sandy_T]

Stopped smoking about 34 years ago when I was 30

[stevedmcglynn1]

never smoked

[AndrewT]

I used to smoke but do now only if I'm on fire!!

[AndrewT]

I used to smoke, now I only smoke if I'm on fire!