Spinoff: OT docs, do you make it a point to tell your pts to quit smoking?

dad has smoked since he was about 13.

Was in the Navy for a couple of years, then became a postal worker.

Goes to the doctor nowadays and the doctor is amazed at his lung capacity.

Says it has been like he's never smoked at all

I'm glad both my parents finally quit and I'm thankful for the added time we had. Quitting is great for extending but that's often about it. I watched lung cancer kill both of them.

That's just how smoking basically ends.

In my specialty, while we never really encourage it, we don't explicitly tell our patients to quit smoking. We see them a few days pre op most of the time and by quitting smoking a few days prior to an operation it can actually affect mucociliary clearance and cause respiratory issues intraop. So we are just mum on the issue.

Yes. I tell them they need to lose weight also. They don't get mad bc I'm paid to give medical advice.

I've seen both my mom and mil have been dragged down by smoking over the years - its a terrible thing. mil also didn't help herself by drinking natty light and Dixie beer by the case load each week.

I'm a pharmacist and I'm amazed at the fact that some doctors don't try to scare the shite out of their patients. So many people of lower education have no idea just how bad smoking is. Outside cancer, the blood pressure and cholesterol issues a are something many people don't know.

At the same time, I have a tech who has very little education. 22 years old, drinks about 5-6 dr peppers a day. We'll wouldnt you know, her teeth are rotting out.

She has to get painful root canals. I asked her "did the dentist at least talk to you about how to improve your dental health so this doesn't keep happening?"

She says "nope"

I'm amazed by that

Yes

quote:

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I'm no expert but I think that's called COPD.

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really he breathes just fine...doesn't cough or anything... (he's 67)

now my mom on the other hand, sounds exactly like what was described in the OP (she's 53)

You need a new Doc.

I tell every patient that smokes that they should stop.