Is it OK or not

[voyager2007]

I had a stent fitted back last June following a heart attack due to a block in my right coronory artery.
I was told to quit smoking cigerettes. This I have done, I have quit now for 6 months.
BUT,,,
I very occasionally treat myself to a pipe in the evenings, just the one bowl, and I am very careful NOT to inhale at all. I dont do this every night, just now and then, lets say twice a week, 1 medium bowled pipe.
The reason I do this is because I find it very relaxing as I also suffer from very severe depression, my antidepressants are Mirtazapine 45Mg daily + Prozac 60Mg daily + Diazapan (valium) 15mg daily. I find that this "little luxury" eases the stress of the depression.
For my Heart condition I take Congescor 2.5mg twice a day, Aspirin 15mg once a day and Simvastatin 40mg once a day.
Do you think that this pipe smoking is detrimental to my heart condition as if it is, then I shall stop it at once.
thanks
Voyager2007

[Flycaster305]

I wouldn't trust myself in that situation to limit it to one bowl, it would be really easy for me to rationalize a bad day with a second bowl, and on and on.  Tobacco is so addictive and so hard on the heart.  Keep in mind that life-saving drugs like Nitro pills and sprays and Imdur all dialate blood vessels, and tobacco constricts blood vessels.  I don't think that you have to inhale to be harmed with tobacco.  People who chew tobacco experience contracting blood vessels and smoking strong pipe tobaccos would coat your mouth.  I understand the attraction, believe me, it's been quite a few years since I smoked but I still reach in my shirt pocket for a pimp stick (what my grandfather called cigarettes) when I'm under stress!    

[Laban]

Find yourself a different, safer stress reliever. Pipe is not only bad for your heart but lungs and other systems. you already have higher risk factors than you did prior to the heart attach. Good Luck