Life expectancy Question

[paixavous]

My husband is 60 yrs, cardiac pt 2002 heart attack & quad bypass, w/33% heart damage, ascending aorta 4.3, EF 27-35%, long time Marlboro smoker, still smokes, has COPD and has an oxygen machine for sleep re: oxygen levels tested 77-89 during sleep x5 for 15min. Dr. said if EF tests next week is below 35% then defib surgery will be recommended.  I've noticed his breathing to be more labored after bending over, walking up 3-4 steps. What is my husbands life expectancy re: my mom was told years ago to stop smoking or she'd die within 2 yrs. She couldn't stop. She died from respiratory problems in 1.5 yrs.  

[kenkeith]

Q:With such a stressful recession going on, I personally think the number of heart issues will continue to rise. Is it me or doesn't it make sense that a huge drop in the number of smokers still sees a rise in heart problems?

>>>>I see your point, but how high would the heart disorders be if there wasn't  a cutback in smoking in the countries that closely monitor the statistics?. Probably a better test would be to observe the heart disorders, cardiovascular disease in some countries that have had an increase in their smoking population. Also, more women are having heart problems, and that group has increased their cigarettes use.

From a world wide perspective smoking has not decreased.  The common stock of Altria (manufacturer of cigarettes) continues to increase their dividends as their revenue increases.  Granted the increase may be due to higher prices, but the demographics indicates there are populations that have increased tobacco products and Altria is a main supplier.

[calcium539]

I totally agree with Ed. I am 63 and smoked since I was 18. I have just stopped smoking in Aug. last year. My calcium score total was 257. My recent angiograph shows 30-40 plaque in LAD.
I used to smoke 20 cigs a day. I was expecting a lot worse result than that of my Angio.
I also played lot of high level cricket in my younger days. Perhaps that saved my heart. I am still without major symptoms.
It may be that cigarettes take away the stress? I am also a type 2 Diabetic but I have never loved sweet things or sugars and played lot of sport.
Thanks.

[ed34]

My grandparents smoked from the age of 13 to 89/91/93 and 87. They were unfiltered too. What seems incredible to me is how the price increase of cigarettes, banning of smoking in public places, and the huge drop in cigarette sales has made no difference to the number of cases of heart problems. I'm not saying smoking is good for you, far from it, but in the UK the biggest blame for decades for any illness has been cigarettes. The first question you are asked on arrival in hospital is "do you smoke". With such a stressful recession going on, I personally think the number of heart issues will continue to rise. Is it me or doesn't it make sense that a huge drop in the number of smokers still sees a rise in heart problems?

[vienna13]

Husband....

Sometimes my English cries for an edit button..:)

[vienna13]

I am sorry I said your father. I meant your husaband.

[vienna13]

Second for what Jon said. It is so sad to know we are losing family and friends because they are smokers.
I remember one thing from an old statistic. 2 people a smoker and a non smoker  if they are having the same life style, same health problem, same circumstances  financial etc. will die in a 10 years a part in time because of smoking or not.
Hope your father will stop and you all will more years together with him!

[erijon]

His life expectancy is partly up to him. If he decides to keep smoking with COPD, one MI, low EF% and a quad bypass, he is making the decision for himself. No one can say for sure how long he'll live, but it is certain he is not trying to prolong his life.

He needs to stop smoking.

Jon