Keisha Shakespeare-Blackmore, Staff Reporter

Smoking can put a damper on a relationship. - Norman Grindley Photo

Smoking is a habit that affects smokers, in particular, and non-smokers - through second-hand smoking. In many relationships, there is one person who smokes and often this can create problems, especially if the non-smoking partner is allergic to smoke.

Dr. Asquith Reid, clinical psychologist, says that some people smoke because they are in a stressful relationship. He notes that smokers tend to do so after meals, after lovemaking and - or while watching television, times when partners are usually spending time together. This he says immediately sets up a blockage against their doing so.

Dr. Reid told Flair that, for the partner who does not smoke, having to cope with one who does may be a difficult task. The smoke can be irritating to the eyes and nostrils and if the non-smoking partner is allergic to smoke, then it is even worse. "Also, kissing may become a distressing exercise because all the nicotine smell and taste will be in mouth," he said.

There is nothing worse than the smell or the taste of sour tobacco, cigarette or marijuana. "Plus, most smokers have a cough, a nasty, throaty and slimy cough which is absolutely disgusting, and can inhibit the non-smoking partner's intimacy with smoking partner," he said.

Quality time

Smoking tends to interfere with couples spending quality time together. The non-smoking partner also has to share time with a cigarette or tobacco spliff. Dr. Reid said that usually if the partner who does not smoke insists that the smoking partner quits or infringes on their smoking time, then the smoker will become irritated because of the desire to fill the nicotine need.

Coping mechanisms

Despite the fact that having a smoking partner can be a torturous experience for some, love blinds all the disgust that comes with smoking. Therefore, below, Dr. Reid gives a few tips on coping with a smoking partner:

Create a designated smoking area, whether it is a room or outdoors, instead of polluting inside the house where everyone lives.

Practise proper hygiene - brush teeth and visit the dentist regularly to remove stains and bad breath.

Use medicine to get rid of the terrible smoker's cough.

The best remedy is to quit. Substitute cigarette with nicotine gum or join a support group.