Is Hypertension Common Among Steel Guitarists?

[Bill Hankey]

Alan,

I couldn't agree with you more on your evaluations pertaining to different levels of involvements while playing in various bands. I would say that the possibility of a band's splitting for greener pastures has always existed within various groups of musicians. Traveling to and from gigs can become a major issue for some steel guitarists.

[Edward Meisse]

Tai Chi Chuan stabilizes one's posture, improving balance. When done right, it is also a meditative exercise. So it does have an effect of lowering blood pressure to some extent. Although it takes a long time and a lot of practice, it does have some very interesting self defense applications as well. I am at a rudimentary level as far as self defense goes after 15 years of study. My teacher has been studying for almost 40 years. You don't want to mess with him.

[Bill Hankey]

Alan,

Thinking about some of the negative features found in dance halls and barrooms makes me cringe. To think that I once allowed myself to breathe the cigarette smoke created by countless others is difficult to fathom. Would I allow this to happen if I could start over? Not a chance! The air conditioner would be my main concern beyond the dangerous habit of breathing unclean air. Chicken farmers may show up clodhopping the farm debris from one end of the dance hall to the other. Those track boots collect all sorts of goopy material that soon makes it way throughout the air that we breathe in the form of powdery dust. I'm just scratching the most obvious reasons for asking, is it really worth it?

[Joe Casey]

I'm starting to worry about you guys. It's starting to look like playing steel can a hazard to ones health. Please don't take me serious. Bill I do remember playing a place on old route 20 up your way called the cave. It was a cellar and the walls use to be so damp we had to cover all amps during the breaks. I believe it was up your way and I wonder what effect that place had with mold on peoples health?

[Bill Hankey]

Hi Joe,

For some reason, I can't associate the place you've described with past memories.. but wait.. I remember a place in CHESTER, MA where I was made to feel uncomfortable. It was about a third of a mile from route 20. There's a chance that it could have been the same place. Joe, NORTHAMPTON, MA at one time featured bands in a cellar hole on the main drag. (Route 9). No exaggeration, if you happened to be a bit taller than average, most likely you'd bang your head on low hanging drain pipes. I can tell you, it wouldn't tickle.

[Pat Moore]

Hey ya'll,
I've been dealing with blood pressure for the last 2 years. Never had any trouble with it 'till then.
When I read this post from Ray Montee:

"It cost me my long-held 1st Class Airman's Medical Certificate and thus any hope for gaining airline pilot status", I had just been reading about this from this doctor, so I thought I'd post it for all as well as Ray. Just copy and paste.

http://www.doctorshealthpress.com/video ... e=03112014

I know it's an ad for his insight, but for $20 bucks, it can't hurt. Food has been known to be medicinal for thousands of years!
I just read this last night, so I haven't ordered it yet, but will. I hope this might help someone who might be fighting this.
In the meantime, "Keep on Pickin'"!!!
Pat Moore

[Doug Beaumier]

Joe, I think the Cave was in Huntington MA... or maybe it was called the Cove. I saw a fight there one night that closed the place down. There were a lot of backwoods, redneck, hole in the wall clubs in those parts. The Drummers Club in Worthington was another one.

[Joe Casey]

That's it Doug I knew it was up that way. OH yes the Drummers club.I remember a bucket of blood in Bernardston also. But the Cove was quite an experience.You might say we paid our dues.

[Bill Hankey]

Doug,

I shouldn't have to remind you that some smoky bars were smokier than others. The worse case scenarios would occur when large groups of smokers would systematically smoke up the places before the bands arrive. If you think about it, it becomes doubtful that most steel players who have become wiser with the dangers of cigarette smoke inhalation, would knowingly enter establishments who show little regard for clientele. I believe WEBSTER came up short with words describing those who manifestly contribute to harmful health conditions. Personally, I "drew a bead" on the flagrant abuses, long before the new regulations became law.

[Rick Abbott]

I'd say if you could prove that people gathered in an enclosed space to systematically fill it with smoke before the band set up, you'd have an interesting lawsuit! Second-hand smoke kills more effectively than first-hand...so they say.

[Bill Hankey]

Rick,

We'll never know the damages caused by scores of smokers in terms of shore to shore properties. Consider a smoke free early saltbox home for a moment. For 200 years nonsmokers protected the home from the ravages of smokers. When the original owners passed on, a carefree family of smokers carelessly and without hesitation caused the framed structure that stood for two centuries to go up in flames. Smokers make garbage dumps wherever they go. I seriously doubt if they ever use the ashtray's convenience in their vehicles. No exceptions, storefronts are dumped on by hundreds of smokers daily. I mean to say, save the last "puff" before dropping their butts at storefronts. Some make a spectacle out of the base habit; like the two performers in the movie entitled "To Have And Have Not."

[Joe Casey]

I can attest to the fact. Having never smoked myself ever I have an acute case of Pulminary Fibrosious, (Spelling) In those days all clubs allowed smoking, you couldn't even go to a eatery that didn't have smoking. Smokers though have never been considerate of those that did not smoke. Even Parents with children smoked in the confined areas of a car. Everyone in my family smoked and I luckily couldn't stand the smell of dirty ashtrays. It was nice to see that smoking isn't allowed any more in public places in Mass. Musicians I'm afraid were in the heavy smoke zone most of the time if they wanted to work the multi nighters. Most of my band members were smokers.Most of the large clubs supposedly had smoke eaters. Most of the time it was the musicians.

[Bill Hankey]

Edward M.,

It's amazing how much more concerned people like you have become with physical wellness. When I was youngster, I rode my bike 20 miles a day for two summers. I would trudge into remote woodlands as well. I didn't have a clue back then about pulse rate, blood pressure, atrial fib, or the heart in general. Through studies, I believe that I'm somewhat beyond the "surface intelligence" stage of perceiving that which is written. Therefore I remain steadfast in my belief that hypertension is more involved in success at the pedal steel than most would be led to believe.