5 ms·

I do think that people underestimate the dangers of prolonged stress. My hypothesis is that stress is the real killed. This might be survivorship bias, but I o

I do think that people underestimate the dangers of prolonged stress. My hypothesis is that stress is the real killed. This might be survivorship bias, but I often see people that are above average old, smoking. That's why I think that perhaps the reduction of stress that smoking provides, could be more beneficial than the negative side. We do know that nicotine does have a neuroprotective effect and smoking does include a specific way of breathing. I'm not saying smoking is good or that anyone should smoke. But I do think it's worth investigating. I personally try to avoid stress whenever possible, of course, within reason.

chii 3y ago
> often see people that are above average old, smoking. it's quite a sample bias, because those who you see smoking are likely quite healthy and thus is _able_ to smoke to old age (or won a genetic lottery to be able to withstand smoking). What you need to count is how many people smoke, and then the % of them dying earlier than those who don't. Otherwise, sample bias will give you the wrong conclusions, esp. if this bias is affirming your own world view.
- zeteo 3y ago
  Isn't it the same with exercise, though? > Those who you see exercising are likely quite healthy and thus _able_ to exercise to old age (or won a genetic lottery to be able to withstand a lot of exercising). > What you need to count is how many people try to exercise, and then the % of them dying earlier than those who don't
  - chii 3y ago
    It's not exactly the same, because there's actually studies that tries to answer this exact question - https://youtu.be/-3dt7rpvz4g?t=294 https://youtu.be/-3dt7rpvz4g?t=294 TLDW; the curve of risk/mortality vs amount of exercise is a u-shaped curve, which means if you _don't_ exercise, you also die earlier, and if exercised _too much_ , you also die earlier.
danjc 3y ago
Might be helpful to think of stress as a response as opposed to a stressor which is an input. The more control you can exert over your response, the better.
hgomersall 3y ago
Weird, I often comment how rarely I see old people smoking. I assumed the smokers had all died early.

chii 3y ago

> often see people that are above average old, smoking. it's quite a sample bias, because those who you see smoking are likely quite healthy and thus is _able_ to smoke to old age (or won a genetic lottery to be able to withstand smoking). What you need to count is how many people smoke, and then the % of them dying earlier than those who don't. Otherwise, sample bias will give you the wrong conclusions, esp. if this bias is affirming your own world view.

zeteo 3y ago
Isn't it the same with exercise, though? > Those who you see exercising are likely quite healthy and thus _able_ to exercise to old age (or won a genetic lottery to be able to withstand a lot of exercising). > What you need to count is how many people try to exercise, and then the % of them dying earlier than those who don't
- chii 3y ago
  It's not exactly the same, because there's actually studies that tries to answer this exact question - https://youtu.be/-3dt7rpvz4g?t=294 https://youtu.be/-3dt7rpvz4g?t=294 TLDW; the curve of risk/mortality vs amount of exercise is a u-shaped curve, which means if you _don't_ exercise, you also die earlier, and if exercised _too much_ , you also die earlier.

danjc 3y ago

Might be helpful to think of stress as a response as opposed to a stressor which is an input. The more control you can exert over your response, the better.

hgomersall 3y ago

Weird, I often comment how rarely I see old people smoking. I assumed the smokers had all died early.