Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/5/84; site aecom.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!aecom!werner 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."