Best of 2016: New info about risks of smoking anything!
We weren't blowin' smoke when we warned (over and over) about the health risks of smoking - anything! We know you want to kick the habit: Over 80 percent of U.S. tobacco smokers say they intend to quit. According to Dr. Mike's Cleveland Wellness Center data, most folks need to try six times before succeeding. But it's worth it!
There are 600-plus chemicals in cigarettes; when burned, they produce over 7,000 chemicals, 69 of which are known cancer-causers. Some of the cancer-causing toxins include acetone (nail polish remover); arsenic (rat poison); butane (lighter fluid); cadmium (part of battery acid); cyanide (poison); and formaldehyde (embalming fluid).
So how about switching to e-cigs? Not so fast. Canadian researchers looked at the effect of 15 minutes a day of vape exposure on cells that line your mouth. Usually those cells die at a rate of around 2 percent; it hit 53 percent after three days of exposure to the vapors from e-cigs - just as damaging to gum tissue as tobacco cigarettes, raising the risk for gum disease and probably cancers.
Smoking marijuana doesn't get a pass, either. We reported that its use during pregnancy can trigger health and developmental problems for newborns. Plus, studies indicate cannabis smoke is almost as toxic as tobacco and can reduce levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine, triggering depression when you stop. It also decreases blood flow to your memory center, perhaps the reason why those who smoke more than three joints weekly lose IQ points faster than non-frequent users or abstainers.
Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
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