THE EFFECTS OF SMOKING – HEART MUSCLE
So, if one values life, the heart muscle ought to be well cared for. This brings to mind some words of ancient wisdom: ‘More than all else that is to be guarded, safeguard your heart, for out of it come the sources of life.’ Even though these words have a deep symbolic meaning, they indicate nevertheless that our heart is an organ that demands our whole attention, for if the heart fails what else remains but death? When the liver or the kidneys fail the patient is able to stay alive for a little while, but when the heart suddenly stops beating the person will drop as if struck by lightening and death follows instantly. Anyone who has witnessed a case of heart failure is extraordinarily affected by the tragedy -the sudden transformation from life to death. The pathologist will probably say that the heart muscles had been starved of blood for many years and were therefore terribly changed. The information that nicotine had been responsible for the fatal damage is then, unfortunately, no longer of any use. It is too late. Fortunately, it need not come to this, because the mere fact that the effects of nicotine poisoning become apparent long before the possible fatal consequences should make the addict decide to give up the habit before it is too late. Or would it not be better to give up smoking long before disturbances arise?
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