[rodent_rodeo]

As a young, naive, trainee I met a guy once in a hospital who had smoked ONCE, turns out he had a rare condition that would cause severe vasoconstriction (his blood vessels tightened up, think why things like coffee, amphetamines, nicotine makes your hands cold). His capillary blood vessels however did not relax, developed clots, and he ended up losing his limbs. He dedicated his life to giving HS anti smoking talks.

I of course heard him and then after my shift had energy drinks, adderall, and a half pack of smokes. I don’t know that scare tactics work (at least for me) I need to experience getting my hand burned. I think many are like me. It’s not ideal. What I have found to work is motivating people, help them uncover their desire to live but it’s much more work and takes time. Time that most people won’t find anyone to have in our medical system.

What really did it for me was watching people in the hospital that can’t breathe and then struggling to go up stairs or swim. Oh man, they are struggling. Just at rest gasping for air while hooked up to supplemental O2. It’s wicked sad.

Beurger Disease https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430858/