Dr. Javier Perez-Fernandez, Critical Care and Pulmonary Medicine Physician with Baptist Hospital and West Kendall Baptist Hospital, explains Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) affects the lungs and breathing. "People with COPD have difficulty breathing. It is not a hereditary disease, it is an acquired disease that happens at adult age." He also points out it…...

According to Dr. Veronica Palmero-Gonzalez, Pulmonologist with South Miami Hospital, secondhand smoke has potential risk for health, including development of lung cancer, COPD and chronic bronchitis. "In children it is particularly important, because they may develop asthma, ear infections, and respiratory infection." She also recommends creating more free smoking spaces, to prevent problems from secondhand…...

Exposure to tobacco smoke, people with asthma who smoke, occupational exposure (dust and chemicals), exposure to fumes, age, and genetics are some of the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) risk factors. Dr. Raul Valor, Pulmonologist with Baptist Health South Florida, says patients that come from Central and South America, where they used firewood for cooking…...

Any advice that physicians give to their patients is proven and scientifically based, says Doctor Sergio Jaramillo, Neurologist at Baptist Health Neuroscience Center. There's just loads of evidence of the primary and the secondary effects of smoking. It's very clear, according to him, the link between smoking and the carcinogenic effect or the risk of…...

The Centers for Disease Control says one out of every five deaths each year is cigarette related. That is, more deaths than AIDS, alcohol, car accidents, illegal drugs, murder and suicides combined. Men account for almost 280,000 deaths, while women are over 200,000. And men who smoke are at an increased risk for dying from…...

The most common substance use disorders are alcohol use disorder (AUD), tobacco use disorder, cannabis use disorder, stimulant use disorder, hallucinogen use disorder, and opioid use disorder. Christopher Irizarry, Vice President of Primary Health Care Services at Banyan Health Systems, says most people do not see tobacco as a drug, but it is nicotine,…...

Rodney Benjamin, Critical Care and Pulmonary Medicine Physician at South Miami Hospital, says quitting is the best thing smokers can do for themselves. "It's so dangerous to smoke, it affects your heart, blood vessels, lungs, bladder, the whole body and it gives you wrinkles," he points out. For our viewers out there, who maybe…...

There are some ways to quit smoking. Michael Hernandez, Critical Care & Pulmonary Medicine Physician at South Miami Hospital, says one of them is medication. He highlights the most evidence in smoking cessation is pharmacologic therapy, such as nicotine replacement therapy with patches, gum and lozengers; bupropion and varenicline. In addition, counselling is very helpful…...