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Blog author, Solai Buchanan is an experienced Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator with an MS from Columbia Teachers College. She specializes in treating heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, polycystic ovarian syndrome,and other chronic diseases. She is a provider at a full-service cardiology practice accepting most insurance and staffed with a primary care MD, pediatrician, and cardiologist. Call: 718.894.7907. NYCC is lead by Interventional Cardiologist Sanjeev Palta, MD, FSCAI, FACC. He trained at Cornell-Columbia Presbyterian Hospital and the State University Hospital of Brooklyn. He currently is an Attending Cardiologist at New York Methodist Hospital and Maimonides Medical Center. He is also an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Medicine at Mount Sinai Medical Center. Having performed over 2000 invasive cardiac procedures Dr. Palta’s patients know they are in trusted hands.

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

2 OUT OF 3 SMOKERS SUFFER PREMATURE DEATH

Findings from a new analysis indicate smoking is even more detrimental to health than previous estimates.  It had been estimated that smoking-related diseases kill about half of smokers early, but newer research has put the figure as high as 67%. Data of more than 200,000 Australians,  found that compared to nonsmokers,  smokers who consume a pack each day are four to five times more likely to die prematurely and will, on average, die 10 years earlier than the average non-smoker.  Even just smoking 10 cigarettes each day doubles the risk of premature death.

In addition to the well-known hazards of smoking such as lung, throat, & other cancers, vascular disease, heart attacks, chronic lung disease and stroke, the researchers found that smoking was linked to significantly increased risks of infection, kidney disease, intestinal disease caused by inadequate blood flow, and heart and respiratory ailments not previously attributed to tobacco.

According to the CDC about 42 million Americans --15% of women and 21% of men -- smoke.  Given the additional health problems researchers have linked to smoking, an estimated 600,000 Americans die each year due to smoking related causes.  Despite the damaging effects of tobacco use, quitting smoking has immediate and long-term benefits including improved circulation and a drop in heart rate. Even quitting late in life can have positive effects. At age 65, giving up tobacco can reduce a smoker's risk of dying of related disease by 50%.

What to do:  If you smoke, try to quit.  Previous unsuccessful efforts to quit do not mean that you cannot succeed.  Keep trying.  Discuss smoking cessation treatment options with your healthcare provider.  Check out  www.nyc.gov/nycquits or call x311 to learn about the many free resources available including local tobacco cessation programs & support groups, and free nicotine patches.

Adapted from articles available at:
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/484308
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/12/health/smokings-health-toll-worse-than-previously-thought-study-says.html

Sources:
Banks E, Joshy G, Weber MF, et al. Tobacco smoking and all-cause mortality in a large Australian cohort study: findings from a mature epidemic with current low smoking prevalence. BMC Medicine2015; 13(1), 38.  DOI:10.1186/s12916-015-0281-z

Carter BD, Abnet CC, Feskanich D.  Smoking and mortality — Beyond established causes.  New England Journal of Medicine. 2015; 372:631-640.  Published online Feb. 12, 2015.  DOI: 10.1056/NEJMsa1407211

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