Some studies have
discovered health benefits correlated with smoking. These
studies observed a reduction in the occurrence of some diseases,
but all such studies stressed that the benefits of smoking did
not outweigh the risks.
Several types of "Smoker’s Paradoxes", (cases where smoking
appears to have specific beneficial effects), have been
observed; often the actual mechanism remains undetermined. Risk
of ulcerative colitis has been frequently shown to be reduced by
smokers on a dose-dependent basis; the effect is eliminated if
the individual stops smoking. Smoking appears to interfere with
development of Kaposi's sarcoma, breast cancer among women
carrying the very high risk BRCA gene, preeclampsia, and atopic
disorders such as allergic asthma. A plausible mechanism of
action in these cases may be the nicotine in tobacco smoke
acting as an anti-inflammatory agent and interfering with the
disease process.
Evidence suggests that non-smokers are up to twice as likely as
smokers to develop Parkinson's disease or Alzheimer's disease. A
plausible explanation for these cases may be the effect of
nicotine, a cholinergic stimulant, decreasing the levels of
acetylcholine in the smoker's brain; Parkinson's disease occurs
when the effect of dopamine is less than that of acetylcholine.
In addition, nicotine stimulates the mesolimbic dopamine pathway
(as do other drugs of abuse), causing and effective increase in
dopamine levels. Opponents counter by noting that consumption of
pure nicotine may be as beneficial as smoking without the risks
associated with smoking e.g. CO poisoning.
Considering the high rates of physical sickness and deaths among
persons suffering from schizophrenia, one of smoking's short
term benefits is its temporary effect to improve alertness and
cognitive functioning in that disease. It has been postulated
that the mechanism of this effect is that schizophrenics have a
disturbance of nicotinic receptor functioning.
Effect on healthcare
costs >>
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Tobacco smoking
Methods of smoking
Health effects
1.
Establishing a link between smoking and health effects
2. Health risks of smoking
2.1 Carcinogenicity
2.2 Effects on the heart
2.3 Smoker's attitudes
3. Passive smoking
4. Somatic and psychological effects
5. Mood and anxiety disorders
6. Health benefits of smoking
Effects of the habit and
industry on society
1. Effect on healthcare costs
2. Tobacco and other drugs
3. Advertising
4. Peer pressure
5. Parental smoking
6. Smoking in movies and television
7. The use of smoking to project an image
Religious views
on smoking Smoking cessation
Legal issues and
regulation
1. Age restrictions
2. Taxation
3. Restrictions on cigarette advertising
4. Package warnings
5. Smoking bans
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