Don't Smoke . . . Anything
Smoking is Addictive
As an internal medicine resident at Wake Forest University, I went outside the hospital to eat lunch. What I saw has never left me — three of the pulmonary doctors were standing outside AND they were smoking! How addictive it must be if those who knew the impact of smoking were smoking! Granted, I trained in the city of Winston-Salem . . . but still!
Does Smoking Cause Heart Attacks?
Only on days that end in “Y.” People who smoke over 20 cigarettes a day are three to six times more likely to have a heart attack than non-smokers. Smoking is the second most powerful risk factor for heart disease (Cholesterol levels are #1). Now what I’m about to say could decrease my ability to send my kids to college, so let’s keep it between you and me — eliminating smoking would decrease heart attacks by 36%.
Cigars, Pipes, and Chewing Tobacco Hurt the Heart Too.
One of my literary heroes is the pipe smoking detective, Sherlock Holmes. It’s possible that had Sir Arthur Conan Doyle kept writing, that Sherlock would have died of a heart attack rather than by his nemesis, Moriarty. Why? Because, regular pipe smokers have been shown to have the same risk of dying young as cigarette smokers. Chewing tobacco is also associated with a higher heart attack risk but not as high as cigarette smokers. Cigar smokers are at higher risk of heart attacks than non-smokers.
Be a Quitter!
Some pretty fantastic news is that after a heart attack, those who quit have the same risk of a heart attack as non-smokers after three years. It’s also predicted that quitting smoking after a stent can prolong your life by two years.
Smoking Isn’t Cool Like it Used To Be
In 1965, almost half of all adults smoked. Who wouldn’t want to be Joe Camel?
By 2018, the number of US smoking adults had dropped to 13%. In fact, every year 1.3 million people quit smoking. Why? Because over time we’ve learned that smoking is the leading cause of PREVENTABLE death and is estimated to shorten your life by 10 years. Nothing like truth in advertising:
Resources To Help You Quit (And Most are FREE!)
Here’s an amazing statistic: A pack of cigarettes costs about 6 bucks, but society pays about 18 bucks in health care costs. Every state provides resources to encourage you to quit smoking because of this economic impact. Your state resources can be found at this website.
Another easy thing to do is to call 1-800 QUIT NOW to get FREE resources and counseling.
Vaping is for Guinea Pigs
Vaping is the new kid on the block. Here’s what’s scary — the long term health effects are unknown! If I gave you a medicine and told you we didn’t know what it did to you 10 to 20 years down the road, would you take it? H…E…double toothpicks, NO!
Vaping is Growing in Popularity
About 1 in 20 Americans use some form of electronic cigarettes. I’ve had people tell me it’s a great alternative to get off cigarettes. To me, you’re just picking a different poison. At the time of this writing, there exists over 7,700 flavors that you can try with all sorts of fun names like gummy bear and pink spot.
Vaping Causes Heart Attacks
No matter the name, one observational study showed that e-cigarette users are 34% more likely to have a heart attack than non users. Maybe the “gummy bear” flavor should be named “prickly bear.” Furthermore, e-cigarette users are 55% more likely to suffer from anxiety and depression — strong risk factors for heart disease.
Marijuana Causes Heart Attacks.
In my experience, many young people who suffer heart attacks are using marijuana. I thought it was a coincidence until I read that one in every 17 people with a heart attack under the age of 50 tests positive for marijuana. Marijuana can trigger a heart attack similar to cocaine. Furthermore, people who continue to smoke marijuana after a heart attack increase their risk of another heart attack. You can read more about Marijuana, especially the difference between CBD and THC in one of my prior posts.
Marijuana Use is Increasing
As of January 1, 2020, 11 states had voted to allow legalized recreational marijuana. Thirty-three states had legalized medical use of marijuana for pain, anxiety, and depression. That means 200 million Americans have access to this “experimental drug.” Data suggests that more people in the US now use marijuana than smoke cigarettes. Don’t give in.
Step 3 Summary:
Don’t smoke anything. If you cannot quit, there are heart benefits to reducing the amount you smoke. Call 1-800 QUIT NOW for FREE resources. Who doesn’t love free stuff? And think of the money you’ll save not buying cigarettes — money you could spend on real gummy bears to give to me.
