Don't Smoke!: Many of you will remember... - British Heart Fou...

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Don't Smoke!

MichaelJH profile image
MichaelJHHeart Star
28 Replies

Many of you will remember Yul Brynner who starred in "The King and I" and "The Magnificent Seven". In the days before he died of lung cancer he made an anti-smoking commercial to be shown after his death:

youtu.be/JNjunlWUJJI

Besides cancer smoking is linked to PAD (peripheral arterial disease) and heart disease. In fact some cardiologists have said that smoking negates all the benefits of lifestyle changes. Something to bear in mind if you haven't given up yet!

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MichaelJH profile image
MichaelJH
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28 Replies
Zeeby01 profile image
Zeeby01

thanks for posting. Gives us hope.

SpiritoftheFloyd profile image
SpiritoftheFloyd

And despite all the evidence, people are today ranting on line about the ban in May 2020 of menthol cigarettes and the fact that their freedom of choice is being eroded!

I stopped smoking a year ago after my heart attack, and while I've gone through life with the attitude of no regrets as regrets can't change the past - but god I do regret smoking

MichaelJH profile image
MichaelJHHeart Star in reply toSpiritoftheFloyd

I had not heard that piece of news. When I smoked for about two years it was cigarettes like Capstan Full Strength and Players Navy Cut. Menthol ones were regarded as a "soft" option!

SpiritoftheFloyd profile image
SpiritoftheFloyd in reply toMichaelJH

It was passed in 2016 and becomes law in May this year - it's all about the idea that menthol cigarettes appeal to young smokers ; - Experts claim menthol and other flavoured cigarettes make smoking more appealing to non-smokers because they relax the airways and take away the severity of the smoke.

It basically follows the same argument as happened when the brewers brought out alcopops some years ago - kids wouldn't drink normal spirits due to the taste but mixed with soft drinks made them palatable to teenagers.

SpiritoftheFloyd profile image
SpiritoftheFloyd in reply toSpiritoftheFloyd

Unbelievably, I've just spotted that there was petition against this - only got 16 votes!

petition.parliament.uk/peti...

in reply toSpiritoftheFloyd

I worked in smoking cessation clinics for a year back in the noughties & though I can’t remember the specific research, one of the theories stated that as the menthol appeared to make the cigarette milder & cooler, the smokers actually inhaled the smoke deeper & longer, thus making them more dangerous than the regular ones.

Interestingly many smokers I treated smoked roll ups, thinking them ‘healthier’ than packet cigs as the tobacco was purer with less additives! Big mistake! They raise carbon monoxide levels to unbelievable heights, topped only by spliffs, probably because most make them unfiltered.

Pat x

SpiritoftheFloyd profile image
SpiritoftheFloyd in reply to

Yes I remember reading that about menthols.

As regards roll ups, the majority of people who roll their own get their tobacco from people bringing it back from Europe - the bulk of Golden Virginia produced in the UK goes abroad, and then comes back in suitcases! The criminals are now in this market and the content of some of the stuff is very scary

Dickydon profile image
Dickydon in reply toMichaelJH

Yes, I stopped 20 odd yrs ago. But my father smoked Woodbine & Senior Service and as a kid my sister and I, I remember, had a sneaky puff of his dog end he left in the ash tray and boy we were ill; sick as dogs!

MichaelJH profile image
MichaelJHHeart Star

I only remembered the advert yesterday as "The Magnificent Seven" was on. It did show how things have changed in 50 years. Nearly everybody in the film was of average build with only a few slightly chubby...

Dickydon profile image
Dickydon in reply toMichaelJH

I loved those Marlboro cigarette ads that had a cowboy on horseback in the desert of Arizona. Those were real men compared to what most men have turned out to be these days - too feminised now. (apart from me obviously) 😀

MichaelJH profile image
MichaelJHHeart Star in reply toDickydon

A number of the "Marlboro" cowboys died of smoking related diseases. One, Eric Lawson, made an anti-smoking advertisement for the American Cancer Society. It was loosely based on the Marlboro ads.

Dickydon profile image
Dickydon in reply toMichaelJH

Michael, I know your normally spot on with your spelling; punctuation; grammar and research knowledge but you have spelt the name for Marlboro cigarette’s wrong. Your spelling is a place name in Wilts. 🤙

MichaelJH profile image
MichaelJHHeart Star in reply toDickydon

And in Australia...

Dickydon profile image
Dickydon in reply toMichaelJH

Also, in MA, USA.

MichaelJH profile image
MichaelJHHeart Star in reply toDickydon

Besides cardiology we do trigonometry and geography here! 😀

Dickydon profile image
Dickydon in reply toMichaelJH

👍🏻🤣

SpiritoftheFloyd profile image
SpiritoftheFloyd in reply toMichaelJH

Probably cos they all smoked! 😊

I remember seeing that as when I was a teenager but it didn't stop me chain smoking for the next 20 years

Sunnie2day profile image
Sunnie2day

Brynner died two months before my dad did, we watched the advert on his hospital room television. By then I was in my late 20s and had been smoking 20pd for nearly ten years - and I didn't quit until 2013. Every year I have my pulmonary function test - so far so good, and apparently I 'dodged a bullet' for any smoking related complications. But I still wish I'd quit the day I saw that public service message Brynner did.

Ftr, my dad died of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and congestive heart failure (CHF). His lungs were seared in an industrial accident in the early 1960s but he kept smoking Kools and Salems (menthol) right up to the day they fitted him with 24/7 O2 in 1983. At his funeral the doctor told me while his smoking didn't cause his illness, smoking those menthols made his condition much worse. Much, much worse.

Handel profile image
Handel

Thanks Michael xxx

Redsea profile image
Redsea

I had my two heart attacks the end of May last year. One stent, but major issues mentally and physically and on going problems with breathlessness. But, I am proud of myself for stopping smoking! I had smoked 10/12 a day for 40+ years giving up three times when pregnant. My last cigarette was the day of my heart attack. The cardiologist told me one more cigarette would kill me! In hospital I was offered patches and a inhalater but I thought why still take nicotine? just give up! Which I did, the consultants words are constantly in my head. I admit on occasions it's been hard, but if I can live a few more quality years I will be thankful. For those still smoking, please try giving up, it's easier than you think if you want to live. Happy New Year And good luck !

Patsy10 profile image
Patsy10

I have never smoked but was a great fan of Yul Brynner and had never seen this before. He was and remains Amazing.

Maisie2014 profile image
Maisie2014

My dad gave up smoking Senior Service when he was 28 because he and mum couldn’t afford it. She continued to smoke Woodbines. He died of a heart attack at 49 and she died a very slow painful death of mesothelioma and lung cancer at 62. She always said she never had a cough so wouldn’t give up smoking and giving up didn’t do dad any good. I never bought her cigarettes nor would I get her any from the shop. I never preached to her about it but whenever she had been in the house the kids used to complain about the smell of cigarettes. She used to bring an air freshener with her for when she left. When she was diagnosed with cancer she said she wished she had given up smoking but it was too late. She didn’t realise, she said, how much it affected everyone else. I never asked her to give up. Now one of my grandsons smokes and I’m on at him all time to pack it in

Rose54 profile image
Rose54

Hi

I tried for many years to give up with no success then about 15 years ago came across Reiki

My life changed from then asked my then Husband to move out after about 27 years .Set myself the target of stopping smoking the next weekend ,never had another cigarette from then on .

Even the stress of divorce selling the house we built and managing to find a new home never once gave into the temptation.

Its a hard thing to do but I am sure the Reiki helped

unless it was stress of putting up with him that led me to smoking in the first place.

My advice would be to never give up trying to stop

Statex profile image
Statex

Cigarette smoking also causes bladder cancer. I know of two people who were heavy smokers both died of bladder cancer, is is the arsenic in cigarettes that cause the cancer.

Statex profile image
Statex

PS. Arsenic is also found in some rice, especially brown rice and well water.

Maisie2014 profile image
Maisie2014

My son in law and his mum were very heavy smokers and had tried to stop lots of times with various ways without success. Then my son in law was recommended a hypnotist who specialised in smoking cessation. He and his mum (who is a Type I diabetic) decided to try it. That’s over 15 years ago and neither of them have smoked since.

Palpman profile image
Palpman

Been vaping for 8 years. Plain with no nicotine. Best decision I ever made

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