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From: werner@aecom.UUCP (Craig Werner)
Newsgroups: net.med
Subject: Re: Re: Risk factors (Type A)
Message-ID: <1992@aecom.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 29-Oct-85 22:29:55 EST
Article-I.D.: aecom.1992
Posted: Tue Oct 29 22:29:55 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 1-Nov-85 01:18:46 EST
References: <1939@aecom.UUCP> <796@terak.UUCP> <1955@aecom.UUCP> <822@terak.UUCP>
Distribution: na
Organization: Albert Einstein Coll. of Med., NY
Lines: 35

> [It's hard to argue with someone who knows what he's talking about]
> 
> But, but, but...
> 
> The conclusion does not *necessarily* follow.  I do accept the
> conclusion, but I don't believe that it has been properly proven.  It
> is the method of "proof" that I'm questioning.
> 
> As a counter-theory, try this:
> 
> The kind of person who smokes is often a "Type A" person.
> The kind of person who has heart disease is often a "Type A" person.
> -- 
> Doug Pardee -- CalComp -- {calcom1,savax,seismo,decvax,ihnp4}!terak!doug

	The only part of the article I agree with is the first line.  Here is
the fatal flaw in the counter-argument:
	Type A behavior is at best, a lousy risk factor for CHD (Coronary
Heart Disease), despite what you read in Reader's Digest.
	Smoking increases the risk in both type-A and non-type-A  people, and
is much stronger than type A,  and it is Dose-related to the number of pack
years.  To put it plainly, a Type-A non-smoker is much less likely to have
heart disease than a non-Type-A chain-smoker.  Counter-argument fails.

	I repeat:
	Smoking is the #1 preventable risk factor in heart disease, and is the
#1 cause of shortened life expectancy in the United States from all causes.
	So, if you smoke, see a doctor or other professional to enroll in a
quit-smoking program.  If you don't wish to quit, cut down.

-- 

				Craig Werner
				!philabs!aecom!werner
     "I never knew there was anything wrong with me till I met Dr. Hackenbush."