Posted on 10/17/2006 1:09:34 PM PDT by trumandogz
TUESDAY, Oct. 17 (HealthDay News) -- A new study finds that at least 1 in every 4 smokers will develop progressive and incurable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a much higher risk than previously believed.
COPD is a respiratory disease that results in blocked air flow to the lungs and grows progressively worse.
For this study, published online in the journal Thorax, researchers at Hvidovre Hospital analyzed data on 8,000 men and women, ages 30 to 60. All were monitored for 25 years as part of the Copenhagen City Heart Study.
At the start of the study, all the participants' lungs were healthy and working normally. However, over the course of the 25 years, the lungs of almost all the male non-smokers continued to function normally, compared to 60 percent of men who continued to smoke.
Among women, 90 percent of non-smokers still had healthy lungs at the end of 25 years, compared to 70 percent of smokers.
Overall, 25 percent of the participants developed moderate or severe COPD over the 25 years. Persistent smokers were six times more likely to develop COPD than non-smokers.
During the 25 years, there were 2,900 deaths in the study group. Of those deaths, 109 were directly attributable to COPD, and nearly all those deaths were in people who were active smokers at the start of the study. Only two non-smokers died of COPD.
The study also found a sharp decline in the risk of COPD among people who stopped smoking soon after the start of the study. Over the 25 years, none of these ex-smokers developed severe COPD.
No. Not if I have to pay for your heart-lung machine, or your chemotherapy or your tracheotomy. Your addiction hurts all of us.
Six strawmen in one post! A new record, even for you.
Geez, Carolyn. Sorry to hear of your poor health. Be positive and keep your chin up.
Ah yes, the glorious socialist argument inevitably rears its ugly head.
That it produces creatures such as you should be argument enough against it.
(Kids, don't let this happen to you.)
You're calling me a socialist? LMAO. Smokers receive health insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, etc. That costs all tax payers. If you want to tell me that recognizing that is socialism, you're a nut. Meanwhile, turn off your heart-lung machine please.
How very sad.
Behavior you don't approve of causes you to hallucinate?
Have you considered wearing a hood?
Wish you the best. I know way too many people who have gone through exactly what you're going through. It's no fun. Be strong.
Best,
Alter
Non-smokers are immortal.
Well, the taxes more than make up for it, so the way i see it, you owe me. Pay up, sucker.
It's a bad argument to begin with becuase the taxes and money the govt's got from the tobacco settlement way more than cover any smoking-related-illnes costs borne by th public. Please don't let the idiots wrap you up in their incorrect statements.
{laughing} only if they are Christians.
I think I may be the most tolerant ex-smoker (10 years) on the planet. Twice a week rehearsing with my band (the other 3 are all heavy smokers), and I don't care a whit. However many times a month we play out - dim lights, thick smoke, and only moderately loud music.
My wife does not come out to see us much, she also an ex-smoker who would gladly make smoking indoors illegal.
Smokers pay for health insurance and are generally charged a higher premium. (I don't know about Israel.)
Medicare, Medicaid, etc
Medicare, Medicaid are thrust on everyone, wanted or not.
Rather than object to socialized medicine, you prefer to regurgitate the "arguments" of co-opted sheep.
Meanwhile, turn off your heart-lung machine please.
Another tragic side effect of sheep-like behavior is that it dulls the wit.
They don't. Sorry.
You are incorrect. Sorry.
Suck it up, deal with it and move on, unless you can prove it.
Time for a smoke break.
Trust me, they don't.
Other peoples smoke annoys me, that's why I try to be as considerate as possible when I smoke.
well done.
Please pardon for any misunderstanding.
I hear you. I realize that a lot of medical people indulge and I suppose that there is a certain amount of jadedness that comes with professional medical workers. Just by the very nature of their day to day work.
You sound like a pragmatic guy, and sometimes I do get a bit alarmist myself. My kid brother died from an illness that was probably related to his lifestyle. The particular form of Cancer that he had is generally attributed to smokers and/or certain other activities.
BTW, I like nurses too!
Thank you for the reply.
As an engineer, I am kinda wired towards being pragmatic.
Trust me, I've seen the ugly side of smoking. I know I should quit. I just don't want to. Yes, it's a crutch, and one I was glad to have as the last year of my life has been damn tough.
Have a grat day!
grat=great. dangit.
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