Gross-Out Health Warnings ~ Oh Brother!

New York Times ^ | 15 December 2002 | KATE JACOBS

[SheLion]

Sounds true to me. Figure about 100,00+ deaths per year due to lung cancer (most due to tobacco), factor in head and neck cancer, esophageal cancer etc. and then add in all the deaths due to heart disease and you can see how it adds up.

But only about 1/4th of these deaths are related to smoking. You can't blame everything on smoking. What about all the non-smokers who die?

[jalisco555]

I've got his latest "No Way to Treat a First Lady" sitting on my dresser ready to be read.

[mamelukesabre]

haha

That would take care of the population problem in third world countries really fast.....if it were true.

since everyone in third world countries smokes, and they still have a population problem, it seems that number isn't entirely accurate.

[SheLion]

Reminds me of Christopher Buckley's hilarious novel "Thank You For Smoking".

This one?

[jalisco555]

But only about 1/4th of these deaths are related to smoking. You can't blame everything on smoking. What about all the non-smokers who die?

Not sure where the 1/4 comes from. Lung cancer is rare in non-smokers. Statistics bear this out. On a personal note, I'm a pathologist and I've personally diagnosed hundreds if not thousands of cases of lung cancer, very few in non-smokers. I can tell because smoking causes characteristic changes in lung tissue apart from the cancer.

Everyone dies eventually. The only question is when. The decision to smoke can be the difference between dying at age 60 or at age 75. I'm no anti-smoking Nazi. If people wish to smoke that's their choice. They should just be aware of the possible consequences of their choice.

[SheLion]

....since everyone in third world countries smokes, and they still have a population problem, it seems that number isn't entirely accurate.

Good thinking. Thank you.

[SheLion]

If people wish to smoke that's their choice. They should just be aware of the possible consequences of their choice.

I've had cancer twice in my life, and a team of Doctors both times. Each team ask me if I smoke, and how much. They all said my cancers were not caused by smoking, and not one of them advised me to quit.

I feel that if a person who smokes developes lung cancer, you have to dig further to find out other causes. For instance: how much exposure did this person have to mining, or asbestos, or Radon? Just because a person smokes and developes lung cancer, right away, the cancer is blamed on smoking. There are always other circumstances that one has to consider.

[mewzilla]

Smoking causes a lot of things besides lung cancer. Guess it just depends on how much you love your life, I guess. Personally, I think eating a bullet is a much quicker and cheaper way to go.

[jalisco555]

I'm not sure what kind of cancer you had. Many are not related to smoking. Breast cancer and lymphoma for example. However, if your doctors never advised you to quit they are doing you a real disservice.

All the things you mentioned increase risk of lung cancer but smoking remains the overwhelmingly most important risk factor. Off the top of my head, I believe the decision to not smoke reduces the risk of lung cancer by 90%.

[SheLion]

Smoking causes a lot of things besides lung cancer. Guess it just depends on how much you love your life, I guess. Personally, I think eating a bullet is a much quicker and cheaper way to go.

Why don't you just stop eating, too. I am not obese. Our Surgeon General brought out a report that Obesity has now overtaken smoking, poverty and alcoholism for health care and disease. Just stop eating, then you will be safe.

How's that.

[SheLion]

All the things you mentioned increase risk of lung cancer but smoking remains the overwhelmingly most important risk factor. Off the top of my head, I believe the decision to not smoke reduces the risk of lung cancer by 90%.

Well, we are all adults. We know the good and the bad to everything. I know the risks of smoking. I enjoy smoking. And if it is so deadly, why hasn't it been banned long before this? Instead of just making a dirty scapegoat out of people who choose to smoke.

Like I said: I am not obese. I think the health profession better start worrying about the fat people in the U.S. One out of 10 are obese today. That can't be good.

[jalisco555]

Smoking hasn't been banned because it's been here since before Europeans arrived. If tobacco were to be discovered today not question it would be banned. As to obesity, no argument from me except to say that you must eat to survive but not smoke.

[metesky]

They should just be aware of the possible consequences of their choice.

You'd have to have been living in a cave for the last 40 years to not be aware of the possible consequences.

[coydog]

See what I thought of this...

http://yerf.com/macnmoni/smokrs.jpg

[SheLion]

You'd have to have been living in a cave for the last 40 years to not be aware of the possible consequences.

That's for sure, metesky! That's why I can't understand all the successful lawsuits. Adults who choose to smoke are certainly aware of any future health problems, should there be any.

[SheLion]

As to obesity, no argument from me except to say that you must eat to survive but not smoke.

I eat to live, I don't live to eat!

[Dan Day]

I don't mind the government studying various health issues and issuing reports so that the public can make informed decisions about how they want to conduct their lives.

But they go *way* beyond the realm of their proper role when they decide that too many people choose to continue to smoke even after knowing the risks, and mandating things like those ugly photographs on cigarette packs.

Government should *NOT* assume the role of being our Mommy, trying to nag/scold/annoy/scare us into behaving the way they think we should.

[SheLion]

Did you draw that? It's excellent!!!

[Great Dane]

Now TWO Congressmen in the U.S. put a bill in to do the same in the States. But I wonder if any Tobacco Company would ever consent to this.

Ours didn't, but the government just made it law, by the way, big T has consented to just about everything else. :-}

[SheLion]

Government should *NOT* assume the role of being our Mommy, trying to nag/scold/annoy/scare us into behaving the way they think we should.

Dan, we are seeing more Government Intrusion every day. And not just with the smokers. I am sure you know what I mean. I'm not real happy with this.