Radio Smart Talk for Thursday, August 11:
It's been almost 50 years since the U.S. Surgeon General determined that cigarette smoking is a major health risk. Still, about 20% of Americans smoke. Many smokers have tried to quit because they know their health may suffer, but have found it difficult since smoking and nicotine are so addictive.
According to the American Cancer Institute, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the United State and between 80 and 90% of lung cancers deaths are due to smoking.
Smoking contributes other forms of cancers as well such as throat, mouth, stomach, kidney and bladder cancers. PinnacleHealth's Pulmonary Nodule Clinic, which helps diagnose masses on the lung, can be reached at 1-855-855-LUNG (or 1-855-855-5864) or (717) 231-8399. The phone number for its Lung Cancer Screening hotline, which will begin taking calls Monday, August 15th, is 1-800-654-0924.
As part of witf's Facing Cancer Together multimedia, interactive initiative, Thursday's Radio Smart Talk will focus one segment of the program on smoking and cancer.
The second part of the show features Dennis Downey, a Millersville University history professor who has co-authored the book, Coatesville and the Lynching of Zachariah Walker -- Death in a Pennsylvania Steel Town. Saturday, August 13 marks the 100th anniversary of the last lynching in a northern state. It's a tragic but historically significant story that led to anti-lynching laws throughout the country.
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Since the unfortunate man couldn't breathe, and was losing blood by the second, sticking a lit cigarette in his mouth struck me, even as a child, . . . . .as sheer insanity.
America sure had a long-lasted relationship with its tobacco.......
The riots in Britian and the flash mobs in Philadelphia are examples of violence occuring today. But I will say that we can learn from events in history like the lynching of Zachariah Walker. Unfortunately, we haven't learned enough.
Anecdotally, when I or friends have tried them (pack or carton) the effects on breathing, digestion, and overall health seem worse but, "your mileage may differ." Doctors tell me smoking is smoking...
It is known that the process of preparation of today's common tobacco products certainly impacts their carcinogenic and toxic qualities. For instance, the fermentation of tobacco involved in producing cigars makes this form of tobacco potentially even more carcinogenic than the tobacco in cigarettes. Additionally, the non-porous wrappers used on cigars result in a less complete burning of the cigar tobacco and produces a higher concentration of toxins in this smoke compared to cigarette smoke.
In essence, there are certainly factors involved in current day tobacco production that impact the carcinogenic and toxic qualities of these products, but these factors are small contributions to the inherent potentially lethal qualities of any tobacco.
Smoking is so taboo in our society today that it almost shocks you when you do see TV shows, movies or old photographs where the characters were smoking. In the past, there is no doubt it contributed to more people smoking because it glamorized it.
To answer the question about the risk of disease related to smoking: As a male male smoker, your risk of lung cancer is 23 times higher than that of a non-smoker. Your risk of heart disease, heart attack & stroke is 2-4 times greater, and if you smoke 16-25 cigarettes daily your risk of Type II Diabetes is 3 times greater than for a nonsmoker. Smoking also increases your risk of dying from obstructive lung disease by 12-13 times. It puts you at risk of aortic aneurysms, osteoporosis and at much greater risk for a host of other cancers throughout your body.
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