New Delhi: Is there anything that the ‘Baazigar’ can’t do? At 59, we don’t think so, no! His latest announcement of having finally said no to smoking, makes Shah Rukh Khan the real King that Bollywood has ever produced. We are not even talking of his body of filmography or his philanthropic nature here. We are speaking of all the right things he has done, when he wanted to do, and the way he wanted to do it… you get the drift. Smoking was the one bad habit, an addiction that SRK himself claimed had the better off him until in true pictorial fashion, Khan seems to have that under control too!
The question whether it is too late to give up on smoking after having lit 100 cigarettes a day once upon a time is a negative emotion at best. Because doctors will shout through the roof that quitting an addiction at any age is beneficial. Of course, not having it in the first place being the ideal situation but we are not living in an idealistic society, nor is our lifestyle an illusion. So if we have someone who is giving up on a bad habit at 60, or 70, or even 80… we will take it. “For his health going forward, yes. But also for being an inspiration for many young boys and girls who may follow suit,” adds Dr Punnet Lamba, a general physician (and may we add a SRK fan).
Why quitting to smoke at any age is cool
There are many like Dr Lamba who believe strongly that quitting to smoke or vape at any age is crucial for one’s well-being. It is the matter of an improved quality of life and humans are known to seek a good life even when they have reached their prime age. “First, there is no fixed definition of a prime age with regards to maintaining good health. So, 60 could be the new 30 or whatever if SRK is serious to make all healthy choices going forward in his life,” explains Dr Lamba.
The other thing is that cardiovascular health and lung diseases that apparently are getting younger with time, are still very much regarded as “geriatric ailments”. In simple parlance, the serious heart attacks and the strokes may happen to you at a later stage in life when the heart is incapable of pumping blood as well as it should. There are many other factors that could give you a cardiac arrest but most doctors say its a degenerative disease. “It’s true that the risks associated with a heart attack or an end stage lung disease increases with age. Because a younger heart is supposed to be behaving better,” agrees Dr Neelima Kulkarni from Jaypee Hospital in Noida.
So, does it mean that a person can indulge in unhealthy choices and rectify it later on? “Absolutely not,” say our experts in chorus. “Health is not a choice that is born out of boredom or compulsion. It is a natural option. If you have kept your health in check from a tender age and followed sane advice, you will lead a much fitter and better life,” adds Dr Kulkarni. In the case of “smoking like a chimney” the doctors warned that because lung tissues don’t grow back, the damage from smoking can become permanent.
So, while there are reports doing the round that Bollywood superstar, King Khan, has quit smoking, doctors say the move is a welcome at any age. “If he has consciously decided to give up on an addiction, that should go a long way in inspiring the youth to quit smoking as well,” say the experts.
Is breathlessness related to smoking? COPD is the answer
According to some of the reports in the media, Shahrukh Khan had complains of breathlessness which still persists. Although, he reiterated that there was no cause for worry and that Khan has been following up with routine check-ups etc, we spoke with another cardiologist to understand the connection between smoking and the feeling of breathlessness.
“Yes, smoking is known to be the leading cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It is also a trigger for COPD flare-ups in many cases. What it does is damage the air sacs, airways, and the lining of your lungs. Injured lungs, in turn, have trouble moving enough air in and out, so it may be hard to breathe,” answers Dr Vineet Malhotra, a renowned cardiac surgeon from Medanta Hospitals in Gurugram.
There are other symptoms of COPD including a chronic cough, wheezing, and chest tightness. Smoking is also known to cause other lung diseases, such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema, which too can lead to breathlessness. It is also one of the leading causes for terminal lung cancer, which can cause shortness of breath as a symptom. A breathing test called spirometry can help diagnose early-stage COPD.
