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What Are The Repercussions Of Chain Smoking?
Question: I recently had an operation on my aortic aneurism, which according to the specialists, was 8.5 cms in diameter. I know "WOW". It was discovered during my annual check-up and an ultrasound. Successfully removed and am now recovering quite well. My question is "I have been a smoker for 59 years, I am now 72. Other than a blocked artery in 1991 cleared with angioplasty, I have had no other major operations or problems. The doctors along with all blood tests performed in hospital have confirmed that my blood pressure is very good. I smoked approx. 15 cigarettes a day and am having some problems trying to quit. I am aware of the many stop smoking programs out there, but I really enjoy smoking. I also find they provide stress relief for me; (obviously, in my mind). Based on the above information and with no guarantees, how much, if any, damage could result during the balance of life possibly remaining if I were to resume this habit of approx. 10 - 15 cigarettes a day. Given your occupation, I know you are probably against any smoking, but given my age, a straight forward honest answer would be appreciated.
Brief Answer:
My answer is as follows
Detailed Answer:
Hello. Thank you for your question and welcome to HCM. I carefully read your query.
First of all, congratulations on the successful procedure. I will address your concern, according to your needs. The current and rational medical opinion is, of course, that smoking is very harmful habit, in any domain of the organism, and not only in post-surgery patients. It is not a specific harm. There is a myriad of studies and a body of evidence that it damages all the organ systems in the organism. My opinion remains that if quitting smoking generates stress, well we basically have avoided one risk factor and generated another. My strongest advice and recommendation for you is to quit smoking, by recognizing it as a bad and harmful habit. If quitting smoking generates stress to you, at least try to lower your number of cigarettes on a week-to-week or a month-to-month basis, until you quit it altogether. There are cardiac patients that are only occasional smokers and end up with severe cardiac diseases, since there are many factors co-operating with smoking, causing the disease. My recommendation stands firm, but if you cannot stop smoking altogether, at least lower your number of cigarettes a day. Feel free to stay in touch with me or my colleagues to discuss about the progress you have made on gradually quitting it.
I hope I was helpful with my answer. I am happy to help, if you have follow-up questions.
Kindest regards,
Dr. Meriton
My answer is as follows
Detailed Answer:
Hello. Thank you for your question and welcome to HCM. I carefully read your query.
First of all, congratulations on the successful procedure. I will address your concern, according to your needs. The current and rational medical opinion is, of course, that smoking is very harmful habit, in any domain of the organism, and not only in post-surgery patients. It is not a specific harm. There is a myriad of studies and a body of evidence that it damages all the organ systems in the organism. My opinion remains that if quitting smoking generates stress, well we basically have avoided one risk factor and generated another. My strongest advice and recommendation for you is to quit smoking, by recognizing it as a bad and harmful habit. If quitting smoking generates stress to you, at least try to lower your number of cigarettes on a week-to-week or a month-to-month basis, until you quit it altogether. There are cardiac patients that are only occasional smokers and end up with severe cardiac diseases, since there are many factors co-operating with smoking, causing the disease. My recommendation stands firm, but if you cannot stop smoking altogether, at least lower your number of cigarettes a day. Feel free to stay in touch with me or my colleagues to discuss about the progress you have made on gradually quitting it.
I hope I was helpful with my answer. I am happy to help, if you have follow-up questions.
Kindest regards,
Dr. Meriton
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Naveen Kumar
Answered by
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