Dr Jeremy London, a board-certified cardiovascular surgeon with more than 25 years of experience, has revealed the number one thing he will always avoid: smoking. With over one million followers on Instagram, Dr London regularly shares informative health videos and has appeared as a guest on The Mel Robbins Podcast.
During the podcast, the host asked Dr London: "As a heart surgeon, what are the things you absolutely avoid?" The surgeon replied: "Smoking is top of the list." He elaborated: "I cannot come up with one single thing that does as much damage to every organ in the body as smoking cigarettes. And look, it's incredibly addictive, and I know that, and I pass no judgment because I know how difficult it is."
Smoking's Impact on Health
Dr London noted that he has dealt with chronic smokers for years and understands the struggle, but emphasized that smoking remains "the single most dangerous thing you can do for yourself, not to mention the causal relationship with lung cancer, and I could keep going. So it's probably one, two, and three on the list to begin with."
According to the NHS, smoking can cause heart disease, cancer, vision loss, dementia, and high blood pressure, among many other conditions. The health service states: "The good news is your body will start to heal almost immediately after you quit. Within just 20 minutes, your pulse rate will return to normal."
Benefits of Quitting Smoking
The NHS further explains: "After eight hours, harmful chemicals like carbon monoxide in your blood will have halved, making room for more oxygen to flow through your body. And after 10 years, your risk of dying from lung cancer is half that of someone who still smokes."
Support is available for those looking to quit. The NHS website says: "Local stop smoking services are free, friendly and can massively boost your chances of quitting for good. These services staffed by expert advisers provide a range of proven methods to help you quit. They'll give you accurate information and advice, as well as professional support, during the first few months you stop smoking."
Getting Help to Quit
More NHS advice adds: "When you quit smoking, you'll begin to see almost immediate improvements to your health. It's never too late to quit and it's easier to stop smoking with the right support." Further information is available on the NHS website.
