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."
Now you're comparing yourself to a reporter?
Bad comparison considering the state of reporting nowadays.
Or, actually, a pretty good comparison considering some of the stuff you say.
It's only reality in your own mind.
If you really think that all smokers put tobacco ahead of their God then I really think you need to get out more.
If I have made any blatantly false statements, please let me know and I will retract them.
I don't think all do but I have seen some good people put smoking ahead of their family and friends.
You are on the wrong side of freedom. Freedom is not about harming others.
In any case, this all started with some posters here claiming that smoking isn't bad for you. I haven't read all of the thread but I'm curious if you've told them that they're wrong.
I'd rather get a nice rack of baby back ribs.
You are making broad unsupported statements about the priorities of others as you see them and as you don't. This is not your mandate from God. I would be very careful before I started judging the hearts of Christians, be very certain you exceed the standard before you condemn.
I will grant the fact that smoking can be a speck, but the log rolling through this issue deserves a little more attention.
Then the reason smokers are 8x more likely to get lung cancer is because smokers have worse genes and poorer diets?
For this to be true, there must be a genetic disposition to cause smoking (time for inclusion on the DA list?) and smokers have poor eating habits. The second could be possible since it has been noted that smokers are generally more obese than non-smokers.
I agree. You can see where they put down their butts on the sidewalk and grass.
I worked with a non-smoking nurse who weighed 320 pounds, could barely do her job, increased the load on everyone else....One day, she told me the following story (true!) "God told me that if I'd quit smoking, He'd make it easy for me, which He did."
I told her that God didn't give me any such message, so I was going to keep up with my five a day until He did. I did ask her if God had told her to loose weight yet...by the way, 50 of that 320 she gained after quitting smoking...but she was already a lazy heifer anyway.
Oh,give it up! Your answers are becoming ridiculous.
Go out for a jog or something and clear your head.
Interesting. I didn't know that SHS was listed as a risk factor for ovarian cancer.
What percentage of kids today are fat compared with smoking?
What kind of a temple of the Lord is a tub of lard?
I guess we will just have listen for their righteous indignation when the fat man walks in.
No. Just most of them.
I agreed with you. I would hate to see your response if I had disagreed.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.