Why Did Dr. Steven Gundry Send Doctor Mike a Cease and Desist Letter?

TL;DR

Dr. Steven Gundry sent Doctor Mike a cease and desist letter demanding the removal of an Instagram clip in which they debated Gundry’s claims linking smoking with longer life. Doctor Mike argues that continuous smokers in the British Doctors Study died about 10 years younger than lifelong nonsmokers, while Gundry said he does not smoke or recommend smoking. Read on for the evidence behind their dispute.

Transcript

• I can't believe I would have to make a video like this. - [Narrator] A health guru claimed puffing on cigarettes is linked to longer living, but now he's trying to extinguish the controversy. - You guys hear this on Doctor Mike's podcast? - [Narrator] Dr. Steven Gundry appeared on the Checkup Podcast with Doctor Mike and claimed that smoking ciga... Read More

Key Insights

• 🧑‍⚕️ Misinformation in health discussions can spread rapidly, especially when it involves prominent figures like Dr. Gundry.
• 🧑‍⚕️ The association between smoking and purported longevity is contradicted by extensive research showing its detrimental health impacts.
• 🥹 Public figures in health must be held accountable for the accuracy of their claims, particularly regarding smoking.
• 🥺 Smoking is a leading cause of preventable diseases, and glamorizing it poses significant public health risks.
• 🤗 The legal threats against opponents of health misinformation can inhibit open dialogue and the pursuit of truth in medical discussions.
• 🥺 Misinterpretations of scientific studies can lead to harmful misunderstandings about lifestyle choices and health outcomes.
• 🥺 The normalized culture of celebrity health advice can overshadow established scientific consensus, leading to dangerous beliefs.

Questions & Answers

Q: Why did Dr. Steven Gundry send Doctor Mike a cease and desist letter?

Dr. Gundry sent the letter after Doctor Mike’s team posted an Instagram clip from their Checkup Podcast interview. The letter demanded that Doctor Mike remove the clip, which showed their heated disagreement over whether smoking could be linked to longer living.

Q: What did Dr. Steven Gundry claim about smoking and longevity?

Dr. Gundry repeatedly suggested that some people who lived longer may have done so because they smoked cigarettes. During the clipped exchange, he told Doctor Mike he was wrong for saying those people lived longer in spite of smoking.

Q: Does Dr. Gundry recommend smoking?

No. Doctor Mike explicitly says that Dr. Gundry stated he does not recommend that people smoke and does not smoke himself, which made his claims about smoking and longevity confusing.

Q: How did Doctor Mike respond to Dr. Gundry’s smoking claims?

Doctor Mike pushed back throughout the interview and argued that smoking is unhealthy, pro-inflammatory, and associated with shorter lifespans. He insisted that the discussion end with the clear statement that smoking is not good.

Q: Was the disputed podcast clip edited to remove part of the smoking discussion?

Doctor Mike says his team did not cut any dialogue from that section because they wanted to avoid being disingenuous. According to him, the clip began with smoking and ended with smoking.

Q: What did the British Doctors Study show about smoking and life expectancy?

The study found that men who smoked continuously died about 10 years younger than lifelong nonsmokers. Stopping at ages 60, 50, 40, or 30 gained about 3, 6, 9, or 10 years of life expectancy, respectively.

Q: Does smoking protect against Parkinson’s disease?

Some research cited in the discussion found that smokers tended to have lower rates of Parkinson’s disease. However, the researchers did not identify a mechanism and said it was premature to assume that tobacco directly caused the reduced risk; another cited researcher said smoking’s hazards greatly exceed any potential benefit.

Q: Does smoking reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease or dementia?

The evidence cited by Doctor Mike does not support a protective effect. A review of 37 studies reported that current smokers were 40% more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease than people who had never smoked.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Dr. Steven Gundry's controversial claim that smoking may contribute to longevity incited confusion and concern, particularly given his qualifications as a cardiothoracic surgeon.

• The ensuing debate highlighted the dangers of misinformation in healthcare, especially from prominent figures, leading to a cease and desist from Dr. Gundry’s team after a podcast clip went viral.

• Research overwhelmingly supports that smoking is harmful, contradicting Gundry’s assertions, as established studies indicate shorter lifespans and increased disease risk associated with smoking.