The photo at the right represents a smoker at 50. It is of a person who had smoked one pack per day for 20 years. There is a slight hyperinflation, maybe- 5 of 9 radiologists stated that in a report that was published years ago in a journal that I am afraid I cannot quote. At least that is honesty, so if you like, go ahead and discount this part of the blog. It is merely here to point out that the old familiar chest X-ray is a very poor indicator of early lung disease. It is just too nonspecific. If you see the tumor, you are fairly sure that the tumor is in its advanced stages. CT is better, but a recent study suggested that CT may actually increase the number of cancer deaths. 15-20% of all lung tumors are in non-smokers.
So why start a blog on Chantix with the Church Lady and a chest Xray? Because I like the chest X-ray and the Church Lady reflects the title.
Somewhere in the deep core of the mind- there is evolving an understanding of how we unconsciously relate images to:
- self reflection
- assessment of worth
- and envisionment of future self.
There are researchers at the University of Michigan
(go Appalachian State!) who through imaging
techniques are looking at the role of this area in the
effectiveness of cigarette cessation ads. Iterestingly
this is also an area that is ablated when frontal
lobotomy is performed and may have a role in
Schizophrenia.
I would suggest that it also has a role in the effectiveness of pro-smoking material.
This area lights up on scan when a person is affected by a anti-tobacco ad. The follow-up to this is still in the works, but inferences that calming, cigarette ads may alter the envisionment of harm and lessen the cognitive perception of what tobacco does over time are an reasonable hypothesis. The shocking images on tobacco products may serve to affect some smokers through self reflection and envisionment of future harm.
CHANTIX (CHANTOX in my book)
So Chan(p)tix- where does this fit in. Chantix is varenicline, a weaker binding agent at the nicotine receptor and thus is intrinsically an ideal agent to alleviate cravings and displace nicotine, in a competative manner, and therefore decreasing smoking behaviors. It is called a partial agonist as it binds but does produce the brains expected response.
It also has a black box warning on the packaging matreial- risk of depression and suicidal thinking that are not always reversible and now increases cardiac risk 72% in users. It is a dangerous and pathological entity that has no data on population risk (except to put the burden on the doctor to screen for the their patient's mood and cardiac status.
THE POINT
Chantix is the Corvair of Ralph Nader fame.
MMMMMMM- could it be SATAN?
Or are smokers seen in the average ANTZ mentality as disposable. If any other drug had come out with the suicidal ideation and complication findings that Chantix has it would be hauled off the market immediately. Makes sense in the ANTZ mentality- save a few with it (because it does statistically work- barely) and if a few die to get a few off, it is the smoker's fault for picking up the nasty habit. If this were a diabetic or cardiac drug (see initial studies with citalopram and Hismanil), they would be removed for study. Chantix- it's for people who will die anyway. And of course the recent CNN report says; well it helps some, "I had a friend who tried everything else......" and that it seems to help some. So does nicotine.. it helps some people.
I took Chantix, and have been on antidepressants since. I hadn't been chronically before.
The superior race of ANTZ makes no suggestion that this is a problem. The main message is smokers are expendable.
NOW VERY LOW NICOTINE CIGARETTES
In its schizophrenic manner the XX22, a <5% vs marlboro nicotine content agent is being funded by the FDA for Phase IIb studies. Who just punched me in the head, support nicotine free cigarettes in a combustion based delivery system and you get tar and ash. The FDA is looking for a quick fix with solo control on outcome.The FDA has already stated that the tobacco smoke is dangerous. (More to come).
You just cannot argue with a mind fixated on safer cigarettes through the removal of nicotine. Those 4000 chemicals and carcinogens are still there.
What frightens me is not tobacco ads- it is having a significantly discriminatory bias against e-cigs and SNUS that is found in the agency leading the fight against tobacco using the term harm reduction and talking of risk related tobacco taxation (more later).
I'll leave it to the media to express my last point-
Network-the movie Peter Finch
John Cleese on extremism
And I am mad as hell, and extremists beware, your the partial agonists of truth. Multiple studies show e-cigs and SNUS are agents beneficial to the Harm Reduction effort. Drs. who remove their patients from nicotine only or reduced harm agents- you are practicing genocide in some of those you recommend they cease alternative nicotine sources or quit cold turkey.
Remember those who analyze everything they read, whether pro their cause or against their cause will learn from both. The ANTZ and the Harm Reduction Faction have their diehards. Every time you look in a mirror you see yourself as you believe other's see you, we must always remember that the image in the mirror is reversed- it is just a reflection and reflections reverse our features.
Gotta go, need to open a window and say a few words.
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