You choose.
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."
That's really cute. When you watch a family member gasping for their last breath due to smoking you won't think it's so funny or cute.
Like some of the families of dead smokers?!
I feel so bad for your family members, who were forced to smoke at gunpoint and never chose to do so themselves. What trauma that must have been for you to see.
This is why I always make sure I have no saliva in my mouth when I smoke.
"Speed limits, anti-SPAM laws, (once again)... noise ordinances, public drinking... etc."
Yep, and most of the legislation is un-necessary for people of sound mind and strong character. The weak need the government guns to bend the world to thier preferences. The legitimate laws are based on actual harm that would result. SHS doesn't cause actual harm. By your own admission you appreciate the legislation to ensure you don't have to smell a certain smell. Who gets to appoint the smell police?
No one said they didn't choose to smoke but I didn't choose to have my heart broken either. I just don't think you're being "cute" is funny.
Then don't laugh at it.
You choose.
Most smokers ARE ADDICTED.
So are most coffee drinkers and a lot of soda drinkers.
Why are you posting pictures of a coal miner's lung?
Why the hell should you be able to ruin my experience at dinner, or the ball game, or at the beach just because you can't live a few hours without your recreational drugs?
Because the property owner says that I can! Why would you enter property that allows smoking if your experience would be adversely affected? Are you to weak to resist entering property that allows smoking?
Best of luck to you!
Well thankfully smokers are an increasingly a minority, and business owners are waking up to the fact that non-smokers (and ex) don't wish to be forced to tolerate the dirty, stinky habit.
Please post evidence for your baseless claim.
Why is it baseless? It could be any lung and the poster of the picture never provided anything to prove it wasn't a coal miner's lung. I don't have to prove it's from a coal miner, they have to prove it wasn't.
Is that from the same coal miner?
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