I Can't Believe I Have To Say This...

Summary

In a heated podcast debate, Dr. Steven Gundry controversially links smoking to longer life, sparking controversy. Despite being a cardiothoracic surgeon, he argues against common knowledge of smoking's health risks. The ensuing discussion with Doctor Mike, a health-focused podcast host, leads to a cease and desist demand from Gundry after a contentious Instagram clip goes viral. The video script unravels the misinformation, emphasizing the well-established scientific consensus on smoking's detrimental effects on health and lifespan.

Takeaways

• 🚫 Dr. Steven Gundry, a cardiothoracic surgeon and author, claimed on a podcast that smoking cigarettes is linked to longer living, which sparked controversy.
• 📢 Dr. Mike, the host of the Checkup Podcast, disagreed with Dr. Gundry's claims and challenged them during the interview.
• 🤔 Dr. Gundry's statements were confusing as he does not smoke and does not recommend smoking to others.
• 🔍 The podcast clip that was posted on Instagram by Dr. Mike's team showed a heated discussion about the effects of smoking on health and lifespan.
• ⚠️ Dr. Gundry sent a cease and desist letter to Dr. Mike, alleging that the clip misrepresented his views on smoking.
• 🏥 Dr. Danielle Belardo, a preventive cardiologist, was shocked by Dr. Gundry's claims and emphasized that smoking is a proven risk factor for severe diseases.
• 📉 The British Doctors Study mentioned by Dr. Gundry actually showed that continuous smokers died about 10 years younger than non-smokers and that stopping smoking at different ages can increase life expectancy.
• 🧠 While some studies suggest a lower rate of Parkinson's disease in smokers, researchers do not yet understand why and caution against assuming a direct causative relationship.
• 💡 Dr. Gundry's mention of a protective effect for dementia was countered by evidence from Alzheimer's Society and Alzheimer's Research UK, which showed increased risk of Alzheimer's and dementia in smokers.
• 🚭 The Lancet Commission ranked smoking as the third among modifiable risk factors for developing dementia, further debunking Dr. Gundry's claims.
• 🗣️ Dr. Mike emphasizes the importance of not glamorizing smoking and not using potential associations with benefits as a rationale for smoking, but rather for studying disease mechanisms and improving treatment searches.
• 📚 The situation serves as a reminder to doctors, especially those on social media, to acknowledge mistakes and avoid doubling down on misinformation or using legal means to silence accurate information.

Q & A

What claim did Dr. Steven Gundry make on the Checkup Podcast with Doctor Mike?

Dr. Steven Gundry claimed that smoking cigarettes was linked to longer living.

Why did Dr. Gundry send a cease and desist letter to Doctor Mike?

Dr. Gundry sent a cease and desist letter because he believed an Instagram clip from the interview made it look like he recommends smoking.

What is the general consensus on the health effects of smoking?

The general consensus is that smoking is unhealthy and shortens lifespan, being a proven risk factor for cancer, cardiovascular disease, and other severe diseases.

What was the major exception during the podcast interview with Dr. Gundry?

The major exception was Dr. Gundry's repeated assertion that people who lived longer lives could have done so because they smoked cigarettes.

What did Doctor Mike do with the heated discussion section of the interview?

Doctor Mike's team decided to clip that section and make it into a short video, without cutting any of the dialogue.

What study did Dr. Gundry reference to support his claim about smoking and Parkinson's disease?

Dr. Gundry referenced the British Doctors Study, which showed a 30% less incidence of Parkinson's and dementia among smokers.

What is the actual finding of the British Doctors Study regarding smoking and lifespan?

The study found that men who smoked continuously died about 10 years younger than lifelong non-smokers, and stopping at different ages could gain varying amounts of life expectancy.

What is the correlation between smoking and Alzheimer's disease according to the Alzheimer's Society in the UK?

The Alzheimer's Society in the UK states that current smokers are 40% more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease compared to never smokers.

How does the 2019 Lancet Commission rank smoking in terms of modifiable risk factors for developing dementia?

The 2019 Lancet Commission ranks smoking as the third among nine modifiable risk factors for developing dementia.

What is Doctor Mike's stance on the potential associations between smoking and benefits, and how should they be used?

Doctor Mike believes that any potential associations between smoking and benefits should not be used as a rationale for smoking, but could be used for studying mechanisms of disease and improving the search for new treatments.

What is Doctor Mike's advice for doctors, especially those on social media, regarding misinformation?

Doctor Mike advises that it's okay to make a mistake or misspeak, but it's not okay to double down on misinformation or use the legal system to silence those interested in the accuracy of information.