He hates the smoke and loves the Smoking

A test can change the life: As a Reto Auer had to perform during the state exam with a lung function test, showed the device off to a bad value. So bad that the examiner believed that the doctor-to-be had committed in the measurement of an error. But no: The measured number was correct and pointed to the mid-twenties to a lung disease. "This gave me to think," says Auer, then a heavy smoker. The medical examination brought him, finally, that he was the long-considered stop Smoking at last.

Reto Auer is now 41 and no longer smokes. He sits in a meeting room at the Berne Institute of family medicine (Biham), whose setup is similar with soft armchairs and impractical small table more of a Lounge. As a General practitioner with a practice in Bern and, as a house doctor, and a Professor at the universities of Bern and Lausanne, nicotine is still a big issue for Auer. He is heavily involved in Smoking cessation and currently directs a large national science Foundation study of the long-term effects of E-cigarette consumer.

Prior to that, he was part of a research team at the universities of Bern and Lausanne, the messed with the tobacco multi Philip Morris and for big media echo. The scientists reported in a study on the Heat-not-Burn product, Iqos, the Heat of tobacco smoke and not just steam, as the manufacturer would like to see, because he could handle Smoking, so the laws against passive. Philip Morris attempted to thwart the publication of the study, and intervened in the upper floors of the universities of Lausanne and Bern. "A completely unacceptable practice," says Auer.

respect instead of advice

the topic of tobacco is of concern to him privately, quickly becomes clear. Hardly, he is in the meeting lounge, los the father of two small children: "If a young person goes short in a Kiosk, he sees 22-time advertising." The have shown in a study from Switzerland some time ago, and is on the last weekend, when he was with his children in a gas station shop: "Anywhere it has cigarette advertising. In the case of the sweets, the magazines, next to the register, where you put, when you Pay the money on it – just about anywhere and also at eye level of the children." Auer shakes his head. "One in every two smokers dies due to his Addiction. I don't understand why for such a product can be promoted. There is no other industry that is allowed such a thing. Imagine, you are not likely to make for a yogurt commercial, the every Second kill."

His two children are only one and three years old. Nevertheless, he has as a father, all the reason to Worry. He grew up in a Smoking family. Even after he himself has ceased over ten years ago with the Smoking, get it today, first hand, what cigarettes have a devastating effect. His grandfather, whom he has never known, and a further pair have died, both at a young age. By the close members of the family, almost all were time smokers. In spite of the firm intention, it did not make up today, all, get away from that. "The dependence on nicotine is similar to strong as in the case of Heroin," says Auer.

A big study guides Reto Auer, long-term consequences of E-cigarette examine. Photo: Keystone

The doctors knows what he is talking about. His own exit from the smoke was accompanied by setbacks and Depression. The cigarette had helped him a long time to a good feeling. "I fell into a deep sadness as I realized that I would never see this any more," he says.

For well over ten years, Auer accompanied stop now, patients have a smoke. He pleads for respect instead of charges and unwanted advice. "Unsolicited advice is the spam of life", is one of his English maxims, which he inserts during the conversation. "You do not need to tell the smokers how unhealthy cigarettes are, you know already for a long time," says Auer. But of course you must repeatedly make clear what the tobacco industry do for money kill people. And the next motto: "Hate the smoke, love the smoker follows."

house doctor, his dream job

not Even if nicotine for Auer is an important issue, it is far from his only. To be at the Meeting, he revealed on several occasions his passion for family medicine: "doctor, is a huge happiness, there is hardly a profession you can be the people so close and you learn the otherwise hidden social reality." It was his dream job, ever since he could remember, probably since he was four or five years, he says. "A friend of my parents doctor and my big role model." Auer was born in Morges, VD, and in the vicinity of Lausanne grew up, however, with the Grisons accent. Because of the father, originated from there. His mother comes from Zurich.

His other great passion is science. As a doctor of medicine, Professor his research focuses on the early detection of bowel cancer aged 50, and how patients better included in decision-making can be.

in addition to the colonoscopy, and a blood detection test in stool, provides since several years, similarly good results. This must be more common, however, is much cheaper and non-invasive. "Many Doctors still offer only the colonoscopy," says Auer. With his Team he has found in a nationwide investigation, many patients can therefore no early detection of bowel cancer. With structured information material Doctors should be able to in the future educate the patient in a neutral and comprehensive (including price). "We must increasingly try to detect the preferences of the patients," says Auer.

Auer sees itself as consultant and Partner to its patients, and contributes, therefore, never a white coat. Partnership and co-operation in research is important. Otherwise, no new findings in his area even win. Not to be a single fighter, but it is also helpful if you mess with the tobacco industry, as at the time of the Iqos-study. Philip Morris tried, unsuccessfully, to discredit the work of researchers. To a single, unwelcome, researchers go, is a well-known strategy of the tobacco industry. "If you are a Team, and several colleges distributed, the more difficult," says Auer. After the publication of the study, Philip Morris adjusted its advertising campaign, and said of smoke-free tobacco consumption. In the meantime, the attention has fallen again. Auer observes: "Today, the product is touted on the web as early as a smoke-free Alternative."

(editing Tamedia)

Created: 05.04.2019, 16:47 PM