All of you smokers do yourself an immense favor if you stop smoking BUT you have to do it for yourself not because someone told you to! I stopped smoking for 3 months after I had my heart attack at age 49 and guess what. Then I was diagnosed with COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease).
I went back to smoking and then had to have a quadruple bypass several years later.
Then I had to have an artificial Aorta bi-femoral bypass.
Then I had to have 2 artificial bypasses to my right leg and then a vein graft lower on the same leg. They only lasted 8 months & then they all blocked up on me. Now I have only 20-30% blood flow to my right leg. Thus, the reason for my walking a mile 3 times a day on the treadmill even if it is only at 1.5 mph. You do what you can do.
The vascular surgeon told me that I stunted the growth of my blood vessels when I started to smoke at a young age of 14!!!!!
Just last year to make matters worse, they found I have 6 aneurysms on the back of my brain in what they call the "dizzy center". And no, I'm not a blond! That was serious. They had to put 5 coils in the largest aneuysm to clot the blood there and redirect the blood flow thereafter. They found those because I had been dizzy off & on for 2-3 days & had to go to the emergency room & have it checked out. They did a Cat scan or MRI.
Needless to say, I am now on Coumadin to keep the blood thinned out so I don't have anymore blood clots anywhere.
I have been diabetic for the past couple years. I take a LOT of medicine but I'm alive!
When I had my heart attack at age 49, the 1st thing to go was sweets! Then it was fried foods, junk food (yes the snack foods, too), salt, and fast food. You have to watch the cholesterol also. If you're not sure about what all has cholesterol or triglycerides in it, go to google.com and type in the word.
I snack on water & apples. Sometimes I'll eat a pretzel ROD (40 calories each). I always have a bottle of water by my side.
Now you know my sob story! But guess what? I'M STILL ALIVE!*!*! See what all my body has been through & I'm still here on this earth because we have made many lifestyle changes and are exercising.
I wasn't going to tell any of you this BUT I thought perhaps I could help save someone else from going through any of what I've gone through. It has NOT been easy!
This all started with me at age 49 & I am now 64 yrs. old. See how long I have prolonged my life. Now you know why my cardiologist calls me his "walking miracle"!
So do yourself a favor & start your changes now. You'd be surprised at what you can give up IF you HAVE to! My husband & I both go to Gold's Gym 3 times a week with my cardiac rehab maintenance group. Needless to say, I think I work out harder than others in our group because I have more reasons to do so! Many have stents in their heart, had a heart attack, a stroke, had a bypass or had vascular surgery on their legs.
TIP: If you want something a little fried, try dipping meat in egg substitute and then rolling in corn flake crumbs (buy in a box like that). Then put just a
little bit of olive oil in a baking dish & bake according to your directions. When you turn the meat over, you can spray Pam directly on the meat. We do this for chicken, pork, and fish. That's what we NOW called fried.
TIP: We eat a lot of frozen vegetables & steam them. We use Molly McButter for a butter flavor. I use a lot of Marjoram on vegetables.
TIP: When you stop using salt, try using other herbs in it's place. You'd be surprised what you can do.
I hope this will help lots of you want to help yourself & get in "good health".
Pat
Go girls! Best of luck in 2006!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!