Dooley Noted: 5/6/2015
Leaving Grenada yesterday, I stopped by the duty-free shop.
I saw copious alcohol, cigarettes and candy.
But I was surprised to only see health warnings on the cigarettes.
The pictures are seen below. They feature warnings like. “Smokers die younger,” and “Smoking kills.”
I’m not arguing with this truth.
My father smoked for 57 years, and many blame smoking for his small cell bronchogenic carcinoma.
But I’m still concerned.
I see inconsistent, small print warnings on alcohol. But they never mention decreased life span. The warnings are usually to prevent fetal alcohol syndrome in the babies of pregnant, drinking mothers.
The candy was completely devoid of warnings. Although heart disease, diabetes, and strokes have a significant dietary component, all warnings were absent.
One doesn’t stroll up to fast food joints and read warning signs that state, “Eating fast food may contribute to the unhealthy eating patterns that leave you diseased and dying younger.”
While I understand the smoking stigma, I think we have to start warning labels on all contributors to heart disease and stroke, which collectively kill more than a million people per year in the U.S.
When we let stress get the best of us, we need a warning label!
When we consistently eat food that makes blood sugar erratic, those foods could use warning labels, too.
If smoking is getting stigmatized, we need to open up about the other contributors to cardiorespiratory and cardiovascular disease.
Please consider all steps that can be taken to decrease your chances of surviving heart and lung disease.
Here are some places to start.
1. Don’t smoke.
2. Eat less refined carbohydrate and sugar.
3. Don’t drink to excess.
4. Exercise.
5. Manage your stress.
6. Get sleep.
7. Meditate.
8. Be productive without running oneself into the ground.
As always, it’s your call.
– Dr. Kathy Dooley