Posted on 06/02/2004 4:43:14 AM PDT by Colosis
LONDON (Reuters) - Smoking destroys protective molecules in saliva and transforms it into a dangerous cocktail of chemicals that increases the risk of mouth cancer, scientists say.
"Cigarette smoke is not only damaging on its own, it can turn the body against itself," said Dr Rafi Nagler, of the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa, Israel.
Saliva contains antioxidants, molecules that normally protect the body against cancer, but Nagler and his colleagues have discovered that cigarette smoke destroys the molecules and turns saliva into a dangerous compound.
"Our study shows that once exposed to cigarette smoke, our normally healthy saliva not only loses its beneficial qualities but it turns traitor and actually aids in destroying the cells of the mouth and oral cavity," he added.
In research reported in the British Journal of Cancer on Wednesday, Nagler and his team studied the impact of cigarette smoke on cancerous cells in the laboratory.
Half of the cells were exposed to saliva exposed to cigarette smoke and the other half just to the smoke. Cells exposed to the saliva mixture had more damage and it increased along with the time of exposure.
"Most people will find it very shocking that the mixture of saliva and smoke is actually more lethal to cells in the mouth than cigarette smoke alone," Nagler added in a statement.
Smoking and drinking are the leading causes of head and neck or oral cancers, which includes cancer of the lip, mouth, tongue, gums, larynx and pharynx. Nearly 400,000 new cases of the illness are diagnosed worldwide each year with the majority in developing countries. The five-year survival rates are less than 50 percent.
Nagler and his colleagues believe the research could open up new avenues to develop better treatments to prevent oral cancer.
"This insight into how mouth cancer can develop offers more reasons for smokers to try and quit," said Jean King, of Cancer Research UK, which publishes the journal. "People know the link with lung cancer and this research adds compelling evidence about the damage smoking can do to the mouth."
"True, but eaters are also staying alive by eating even if what they eat may not always be healthy. We all gotta eat to survive."
Not the eaters of junk food! Anyone not adhering to a hard and fast health food diet is causing damage to themeselves and any attempt to point it out to them will fall on deaf ears! Down with chocolate!
Why do you come onto a thread like this and become so judgemental? BTW, many of the oldest persons on this earth are also smokers. Genetics and diet play a much bigger role than smoking!
You'd think the risk of impotence would wake up at least half of them!
livers are diers - and that is their right
Why do smokers discount science as "junk"?
GASP!! Oh, no!!
And all along, I've lived such a sheltered, careful life.
Now I've gone and done it....
The reality is, we all die. Jim Fixx, noted fitness guru, died at 40 while jogging.
None of us is guaranteed our next breath.
I do believe we should care for our bodies. After all, if we are saved, our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit.
But the obsession with health that some have in an attempt to ward of death is all in vain. They will die.
Please don't confuse them with the facts.
This is strictly an emotional debate...
And besides, emphysema, strokes and heart attacks are all junk science.
Some people can't help it. They're sanctimonious. Sanctimonious people don't think right.
There is much good science out there saying that smoking is not good for you.
There is much junk science out there saying the ETS (Environmental Tobacco Smoke) is as bad as first hand smoke.
As an aside, "Cells exposed to the saliva mixture had more damage and it increased along with the time of exposure."
Considering that saliva is supposed to help break down food while eating, it doesn't surprise me that cells exposed to both smoke and saliva had more damage. Pretty much common sense.
This is another study that's supposed to demonize smokers.
"Oh No!, Don't let that smoker spit on you. You'll die from their saliva!"
No, that isn't what will actually be said but that's where it's heading.
That's it, then. Well, it was a fun ride while it lasted! How long do you have, do you think? Toxic saliva, besides being a great band name, sounds like a pretty dire condition.
I think cancer is probably one of the nicer consequences. But if smelling like an old turd won't wake them up, nothing will!
I thought it had already been established that saliva causes cancer?
Of course, there is nothing to worry about, as this can only happen if it is swallowed in small amounts over long periods of time.
"Why do smokers discount science as "junk"?"
For the same reason that I discount news printed in the NYT or the Boston globe as "junk"! Do you believe all propaganda that supports your agenda?
When you sit back and examine the situation as a whole, it is actually rather amusing.
All these gnatzie nannies screaming that smokers are junkies and addicts, while at the same time they are getting off on their feelings of superiority............pathetic, but amusing in an off the wall way.
Saliva is an ultrafiltrate of plasma (speaking with my biochemist hat one). In other words, whatever is in saliva is also in blood/plasma (including ingested drugs - you can do a drug test on saliva same as you could on blood, though blood is much more pleasant to work with) and will find its way to the cells via their blood supply. I am skeptical of this report without knowing a lot more about it.
All of this is easy to avoid: french kiss a dog, with lots of tongue action. Dog spit is very healthy...
Oh my God! Just when I think they've covered all bases regarding the dangers of smoking they come up with another one.
Ignore all studies!!!! Eventually someone will come along and disprove them.
What an incredible waste of time.
I really wish more people would take your approach....including the writers of these type press releases......
IT STINKS.
And I shouldn't have to smell it at sporting events, the beach, concerts, or when I go play pool.
BTW, I feel the same way about unshowered bums that hang out at the library.
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