Does Chronic Smoking Affect Your Heart? " Jeanine is a 45-year-old construction worker who has been smoking "

Case study ( 7098 views as of December 21, 2024 )

Jeanine is a 45-year-old construction worker who has been smoking since she was 17 years old. She usually works 8 hours per day in varying weather conditions. Recently, on a very hot day, she fainted at her work site and was taken to an urgent care clinic. When she had regained consciousness and was discussing with the urgent care doctor, Jeanine said she doesn't feel like eating much during the day even though her work is very physically demanding. When she does eat during her breaks, she prefers to snack on foods that are easy to bring with her and don't take any preparation such as chips, cookies, or granola bars. She says she would like to quit smoking because her father, a heavy smoker, died of a heart attack after struggling for many years with heart disease worsened by his smoking.

Jeanine would benefit from seeing her physician or a cardiologist to assess her risk of heart disease and learn more about nicotine replacement therapy or medications that will help her quite smoking. Meeting with a Registered Dietitian would also be beneficial to discuss strategies for replacing her current snacks with more nutrient-dense ones, and addressing nutritional deficiencies she may be experiencing as a result of her poor appetite. Jeanine could also visit an endocrinologist to ensure her appetite hormones are adequately balanced. Additionally, a wellness coach may be able to help Jeanine develop some attainable habits that will support her health goals.

Author: Ms. Sarah Ware

Does Chronic Smoking Affect Your Heart? " Jeanine is a 45-year-old construction worker who has been smoking "

Case Introduction

Smoking and the Risks of Heart Disease

Presented by

Dr. Milan Gupta

FRCPC, FACC

Cardiologist

Treatments

How To Quit Smoking

Practitioner help from:

Grant Rowley

Pharmacist
Wellness Coaching and Smoking Cessation

Practitioner help from:

Yvette Thompson

Nurse
Smoking as a Risk For Heart Disease

Practitioner help from:

Dr. Brett Heilbron

MD, FRCPC

Cardiologist

Treatments

Healthy Snack Tips For Smokers

Practitioner help from:

Christina Grieve

RD

Registered Dietitian
Smoking Cessation and Restorative Yoga

Practitioner help from:

Ms. Leanne Kitteridge

Yoga Instructor
Diet and Smokers - How Protein Is Important

Practitioner help from:

Christina Grieve

RD

Registered Dietitian

Conversation based on: Does Chronic Smoking Affect Your Heart? " Jeanine is a 45-year-old construction worker who has been smoking "

Does Chronic Smoking Affect Your Heart? " Jeanine is a 45-year-old construction worker who has been smoking "

Mr. Jackson Sayers BSc., Kinesiologist, Vancouver, BC 01 January 2024

However, there are also other methods of tobacco smoking. Pipes and cigars are two examples. With pipes, tobacco is packed into a chamber, and the smoke is drawn through a stem and inhaled or released through the mouth. Cigars, on the other hand, are made of tightly rolled tobacco leaves and are usually not inhaled but rather the smoke is held in the mouth and released. It's important to note that tobacco smoking is highly addictive due to the presence of nicotine, a stimulant drug found naturally in tobacco. Smoking tobacco has been associated with a wide range of health risks, including various types of cancer, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory problems, and other adverse health effects. As a result, there has been a significant effort to raise awareness about the risks of smoking and to implement regulations and public health campaigns to discourage tobacco use.

Reply to: Does Chronic Smoking Affect Your Heart? " Jeanine is a 45-year-old construction worker who has been smoking "
Dr. Duncan Miller MD Family Doctor, Vancouver, BC 13 October 2020 Broadway Plaza Family Practice Vancouver

The evidence tells us that when people use smoking cessation medications they’re more likely to be successful in quitting. There are three main classes to smoking cessation medications. The first is the nicotine replacement therapies, also known as thes. The nicotine replacement therapies consist of a patch, the gum, the lozenge, the inhaler and we also have an oral spray as well.

Reply to: Does Chronic Smoking Affect Your Heart? " Jeanine is a 45-year-old construction worker who has been smoking "
Mr. Jackson Sayers BSc., Kinesiologist, Vancouver, BC 25 April 2019

No matter how you look at it smoking is bad for your lungs and effects your exercise levels.

Reply to: Does Chronic Smoking Affect Your Heart? " Jeanine is a 45-year-old construction worker who has been smoking "
Dr. Milan Gupta FRCPC, FACC Cardiologist, Brampton, ON 20 February 2017 Osler Cardiology

We have newer agents that have become available in the last five to seven years that in many ways are better than Warfarin. They provide predictable blood thinning, so you don't need blood testing on a regular basis, there are no food interactions, they do have a slight advantage in preventing stroke, and they are safer with respect to major bleeding.

Reply to: Does Chronic Smoking Affect Your Heart? " Jeanine is a 45-year-old construction worker who has been smoking "
ShirleyG 13 September 2016

Diet and exercise are a great way to keep your body health. As we get older our bodies change, so we must ensure we are fueling them properly to try and avoid issues.

Reply to: Does Chronic Smoking Affect Your Heart? " Jeanine is a 45-year-old construction worker who has been smoking "
Mr. Jackson Sayers BSc., Kinesiologist, Vancouver, BC 30 June 2016

Many studies have shown that exercise is associated with a decrease in the risk of getting cancer and of dying from it. Colon cancer is perhaps the most commonly studied and most studies have shown a 30-40% decrease in the incidence of colon cancer. Similarly, there is a benefit of 20-80% decrease in breast cancer, 20-40% decrease in endometrial cancer and 20% reduction in risk of lung cancer. Not all different cancers have been studied in this way, but it seems as though exercise does not have any beneficial reduction in risk of prostate cancer. Some studies have shown the exercise can have a beneficial effect on survivorship once the cancer is diagnosed. Those who are active have better survivorship and less recurrence than those who do not when there is a diagnosis of breast or colon cancer. It is not clear how this occurs but it might be that the immune system is more active in those who exercise regularly compared to those who are sedentary. Some studies of animals have suggested the part of the immune system that helps fight off cancer has been shown to be stronger in mice that exercise compared to those that do not. Given that the immune system tends to decline as we age, this could be a very beneficial improvement.

Reply to: Does Chronic Smoking Affect Your Heart? " Jeanine is a 45-year-old construction worker who has been smoking "
Dr. Jason Kur MD,FRCP Rheumatologist, Vancouver, BC 22 June 2016 Artus Health Centre

I think its pretty clear how smoking effects your lungs and your cardiovascular system but I think Sarah brings up many good points about diet and exercise.

Reply to: Does Chronic Smoking Affect Your Heart? " Jeanine is a 45-year-old construction worker who has been smoking "
- Mr. Jackson Sayers BSc., Kinesiologist, Vancouver, BC 23 June 2016
  
  Further to my earlier comment I think exercises under supervision with trainer would be a good idea.
- Mr. Jackson Sayers BSc., Kinesiologist, Vancouver, BC 22 June 2016
  
  I think meeting with a Registered Dietitian would be beneficial as well as they can give great advise on eating an choices of food.
- Dr. Stacy Elliott MD, Mens Sexual Health Specialist Psychiatrist, Vancouver, BC 22 June 2016
  
  I think Dr Kur makes some good points that smoking effects many parts of your body and not just lungs.