Re: thoughts on Carsons's cause of death

[Guest guest]

Sadly, my mother came down with a sudden, severe case of pneumonia

last spring. Upon pulmonary examination, it was found her

emphysematous changes were worse than expected, given her age and

history (smokin', 90 pack years!). Turns out she had

alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency, a genetic defect resulting in

increased damage from the body's own inflammatory processes. (I might

have inherited this problem as well).

Although the damage can not be repaired, further damage can be

mitigated via various anti-inflammatory therapies and antioxidants.

Tragic, as her mother had died too young of small cell carcinoma of

the lung (smok'n' related disease) and her mother in-law had died too

young of emphysema. But some never learn. Despite these facts, two of

my brothers have taken up smoking for various periods, although both

are Ivy League college grads......

On Mon, 24 Jan 2005 13:21:50 -0500, Francesca Skelton

<fskelton@...> wrote:

>

> When I heard that ny Carson died of emphysema, I assumed that he had

> been a chain smoker til near the end (and by his own admittion he also

> " drank too much " ). But what is of interest is that I read in today's WP

> that he had given up smoking some years ago.

>

> This is in keeping with my personal experience that sometimes the damage

> done by smoking can not be undone (contrary to the popular notion). My

> father gave up smoking before I was born because he was warned by doctors

> that he would die if he didn't. In spite of that, I never remember him

> being " normal " afa his throat and lungs. He was spitting up phlegm and

> coughing for the rest of his life and often complained of chest pains. He

> died at the age of 70 of a heart attack.

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi All,

You have it correct Francesca. Lung and and heart disease risks go

down after quitting smoking. The lung damage remains. He and other

might quit because they are choking to death.

Cheers, Al.

> When I heard that ny Carson died of emphysema, I assumed that

he had

> been a chain smoker til near the end (and by his own admittion he

also

> " drank too much " ). But what is of interest is that I read in

today's WP

> that he had given up smoking some years ago.

>

> This is in keeping with my personal experience that sometimes the

damage

> done by smoking can not be undone (contrary to the popular

notion). My

> father gave up smoking before I was born because he was warned by

doctors

> that he would die if he didn't. In spite of that, I never remember

him

> being " normal " afa his throat and lungs. He was spitting up phlegm

and

> coughing for the rest of his life and often complained of chest

pains. He

> died at the age of 70 of a heart attack.