Cigars to blame for Castro's ailment?

[Rod]

Just came across this article which I find very interesting. Funny how Aime Dunstan tries to use cigar smoking as a reason for Castro's ailment(s). Does Aime really have any proof that cigars caused this? Why would she choose to allude that cigars may have been a root cause, in her title? Perhaps because Cuba is a major mfgr of cigars?

Articles like this disgust me. The guy is 80 years old, he's an old freak'n man. If he smoked a ton of cigar and drank like a fish, I'd say he lived a pretty damn good life.

My opinion is that Aime is just another reporter trying to shun the cigar industry. Aime, get your facts in order before making assumptions. Clearly no one knows the true reason for Castro's illness. Maybe he had a poor diet. Maybe he inhaled cigar smoke. Maybe he drank too much. Maybe ulcers run in his family. Maybe it was stress. OR MAYBE HE IS JUST 80 YEARS OLD AND HUMAN?!! I don't understand why some reporters have to slam the tobacco industry every chance they get. I guess a catchy title makes for more readership.



Here's the article: http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/con...=7&cxcat=17

Love of cigars, alcohol may be at root cause of Castro's ailment
By Aime Dunstan

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Thursday, August 03, 2006

Fidel Castro's "sharp intestinal crisis with sustained bleeding" may have been the result of an overindulgent lifestyle.

"Mr. Castro has been a long-standing aficionado of cigars and alcohol, and those are two common risk factors for esophageal cancer and for peptic ulcer disease," said Jupiter gastroenterologist Dr. Chester Maxson, who noted those conditions can result in hemorrhaging and require surgery.

But Americans can only speculate on Castro's condition. It could be one of many gastrointestinal diseases, from ulcers to cancer.

Maxson, chief of staff at Jupiter Medical Center, said knowing the source of the bleeding would help divine the details.

"In the upper gastrointestinal tract, it's pretty clear that the most likely cause of bleeding would be ulcer disease," he said. "Especially in someone who is under stress or who is taking anti-inflammatory agents for arthritis, which we know he has."

Maxson said the most common reason for bleeding in people of Castro's age — almost 80 — is diverticulosis, a colon condition.

"Most diverticular bleeds do stop on their own, but about 25 percent don't. And when they don't, surgery is really the only option."

If ruptured blood vessels have to be surgically treated in an elderly person, it is serious, Maxson said. "The mortality approaches 80 percent."

When it comes to cancer, Maxson said colorectal cancer is more likely than tumors of the upper gastrointestinal tract.

"In anyone who's almost 80, bleeding from a tumor in either the upper or lower gastrointestinal tract has to be considered," Maxson said.

Castro acknowledged the operation was serious, saying in a statement Tuesday that he was "stable" but "I cannot make up positive news."

 

[alexgtp]

HOw does gastro-intestinal problems arise from cigar smoking?
I figure his diet and age did him in.

 

[Rob_k]

it is easier to blame tobacco than try to explain a gastro problem. it is easier to get people to side with the anti-smoking nazi's out there as well, when you can say an aielment is due to tobacco use.
he is 80, and you all know as well i do, he probably drank way too much cuban rum and russian vodka!

 

[Sunward]

HOw does gastro-intestinal problems arise from cigar smoking?
I figure his diet and age did him in.

i bet your right. the food in Cuba is aweful! i been sick everytime i've gone there, and stayed in 4 star hotels. BYW, didnt he quit smoking cigars a decade or two ago? (i think Fidel said: its good for the country of Cuba, but not so good for him... the hardest thing he did was quit cigars)

 

[Matt R]

I don't think he's smoked for a number of years... publicly anyway....

 

[Zeebra]

The problem is Castro STOPPED smoking cigars. Look at Alejandro Robaina, the guy is what 86? He's living in Cuba, smoking a ton of cigars and healthy.

 

[jabba]

"When asked in his late 90s if his doctor knew he still smoked, Burns said, "No ... he's dead."

 

[slowhand]

I'll take smoking and drinking until I am 80. If I get that far, I will feel satisfied that I lived a nice lifetime.

 

[Mr Peat]

Having been a survivor of Esoghial cancer..I can say this...The doctor's knew I smoked cigars and guess what. They didnt say I should stop smoking cigars. So I find that interesting. They also knew I smoked pipes. The cause was from several things and they didnt even say my diet. It was cuz I had a chronic case of Acid reflux that caused it which when they went in and "steamed" all the tissue out, I havent had many refluxes since. I was on a very high dosage of medicine to treat Bursitis in my hip which was probably the main cause of the reflux and the doctor's took me off those type of meds.

I did change my diet tho and when I eat. I'm no longer on stomach medicine which was my lifeline for many years. i think this reporter is a crack head and needs to stop drinking the bong water. But she is a reporter so we already know she doesnt know what facts mean. :laugh:

 

[SamClemmons]

I don't think he's smoked for a number of years... publicly anyway....

Are you trying to say Fidel iss gay? That is harsh. He is extremely masculine... Wait! Come to think of it I've never seen him with a woman. Not in any picture that I recall did he have his bunker with him and he was very fond of wearing those fatigue's and playing with guns, and sometimes a cigar isn't just a cigar and...
"What?"

"Let me look."

"Ah... 'publicly'... didn't see that first "L"... never mind."

NA

 

[Shooter]

What was that guys name who drank and smoked alot. George somethin or other. Oh yea Burns. Write an article on him ya dirty ho bag!!!