If you or a loved one is thinking about smoking, please send them this podcast episode, the Rapid Benefit of Quitting Smoking at Any Age. Folks who smoked like chimneys for years and think it’s too late to quit, THIS PODCAST IS FOR YOU. Trust me, if you are struggling to find the motivation to quit because you think it’s too late for you, this episode will give you the motivation you need. And I don’t need to remind you, but I will. Smoking kills. Second-hand smoke also kills and even third-hand smoke is horrible for you and those around you. And if you have dogs, love them and smoke, please consider quitting: A recent study showed that dog owners who smoke is linked to significantly higher rates of cancer in their dogs.

On a recent episode of Causes or Cures, I chatted with Dr. Prabhat Jha about his fascinating research recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine on the extent and speed at which quitting smoking reduces death rates from smoking-related illnesses.  What he describes in the podcast will be encouragement for anyone, no matter how long they smoked, to consider quitting. In addition to his research, we also chat about evidence for and against vaping, and he also shares a colorful tale on the lows the tobacco industry will go to keep people hooked. It involves Canada being duped by several tobacco companies. (In case you didn’t know, tobacco companies don’t have your back. But they do steal your lungs.)

Dr. Jha is an epidemiologist, researcher and founding director of the Centre for Global Health Research at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto. His research focus is death resulting from HIV, tobacco, alcohol, malaria and both infectious and non-communicable diseases in general. He was an absolute pleasure to chat with because he knows the epidemiology of smoking and quitting smoking so well. You can read more about him on his Wikipedia page here.

Tune in to The Rapid Benefit of Quitting Smoking at Any Age here. 

You can also listen on Youtube here:

In addition, I invite you all to check out some of the other podcast episodes.

This is a personal favorite on the function of dreams with a stellar neuroscientist.

And this one is about why people lie when they are sick with a contagious illness. It’s a great study on human nature, and I’m confident you’ll dig it.

Thank you to all who tune in to the podcast and/or read my blog. I just got back from Europe and am getting in the swing of things again, so expect a lot more blogs and podcast episodes.  Also, if you enjoy the podcast and get the chance to leave a review or rating, I would greatly appreciate it! And if you share it with friends or in your newsletter or on your social media page, THANK YOU!

Eeks.