Fw: 2 more Comments more on Emphysema ...

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From: " ilena rose " <ilena@...>

Sent: Monday, September 24, 2001 11:27 AM

Subject: 2 more Comments more on Emphysema ...

> From: Boone1289@...

> Date: Mon, 24 Sep 2001 12:18:51 EDT

> Subject: Re: Respiratory Therapist on: Smokers Advised to Quit Before

surgery

> KSJoenne@..., Ilena@...

>

> In a message dated 9/23/01 3:12:44 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

> KSJoenne@... writes:

> Only two things cause emphysema,1.)smoking, and 2)Alpha 1 Antitripisin (a

> heredity form of emphysema).

> Nurse Boone's response: While I applaud the advise and the intent of the

> email, I feel a need to add a comment. There are other causes of

emphysema

> besides cigarettes and heredity. They include second hand smoke, both

> indoor and outdoor air pollution, such as smoke from home cooking, home

> heating fuels, exhaust from cars and industry, as well as occupational

> dusts and chemicals! Many of the nonsmokers among us have been diagnosed

> with emphysema. Regardless of the cause, we have obstructive lung

disease.

> Yes, we often blame the implants for most of our problems, and sometimes

> that may not be the cause. But I don't think we can make a broad sweeping

> statement that rules out the silicone as a risk factor, especially

> following the NCI/FDA recent studies showing an increase in cancer in the

> lungs for women with implants. This was not the first study with those

> findings. Cancer and Emphysema are two different entities, but we still

> know that our lungs are being affected in a negative way. We know that

> silicone migrates to all organs of the body, and it is implanted right

over

> the top of the lungs. There is truly not enough real research, but there

> is way too much anecdotal evidence of severe lung problems in our

> population, including emphysema in nonsmokers. Thanks KSJoenne for the

> advice to stop smoking. I strongly agree with our RT sister on the need

to

> trash the cigarettes, especially before surgical procedures that many are

> having. I hope many will make it a lifestyle change as well. Warm hugs,

>

>

> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

> From Aggie ... RT

>

>

> As a Respiratory Therapist, you should know that it is

> alph-1 antitripsin DEFICIENCY that causes emphysema, and

> there are many more causes other than smoking and this

> deficiency that cause emphysema, i.e., asbestos exposure

> and other chemical exposures.

>

> The main reason to quit smoking before surgery is that

> smoking increases your carbon monoxide level in your

> blood and does not allow oxygen to bind to the

> hemoglobin. When your blood cannot carry oxygen to the

> tissues, they " starve " from lack of oxygen, don't heal,

> have a greater chance of infection, and can even

> necrose. Quitting at least 7 days before surgery and

> abstaining for at least 12 weeks after (or until you are

> completely healed) will greatly improve your outcome.

> aggie

>

>

>