Warning: nicotine seriously improves health

The Observer ^ | July 18, 2004 | Robin McKie

[MadIvan]

Nicotine could soon be rehabilitated as a treatment for schizophrenia, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, as well as hyperactivity disorders.

Research shows that the chemical that has addicted millions to smoking has a powerful impact on brain activity in patients who suffer from psychiatric and degenerative disorders.

Some experiments have shown that nicotine can slow down the onset of Parkinson's symptoms; others have had revealed its power in curtailing the hallucinations of schizophrenics.

'A whole range of psychiatric conditions seem to be helped by nicotine,' said Dr Dan McGehee, a neurobiologist at the University of Chicago. 'However, such benefits do not justify smoking. The lethal effects of cigarettes far outweigh any help they provide. On the other hand, our research does suggest that derivatives of nicotine, administered medically, could help to alleviate a range of psychiatric problems.'

Nicotine is known to switch on receptors on the surface of cells in certain parts of the brain, causing these neurones to release the neuro-transmitter dopamine, a chemical that is associated with feelings of pleasure. This effect leads to a person's addiction.

More than 50 per cent of people suffering from clinical depression smoke, while the figure rises to 95 per cent for schizophrenics. But smoking among the general public has dropped to about 25 per cent. 'The assumption is that people with psychiatric conditions are self-medicating,' said McGehee. 'They are smoking because the nicotine in particularly helpful in alleviating their condition.'

This point is backed by Dr Tony George, of Yale University. 'Smoking is a marker for psychopathology,' he states in the current issue of the journal Nature Medicine.

Similarly, it has been found that nicotine can sometimes slow the debilitating symptoms of Parkinson's, a disease caused by the slow destruction of certain types of brain cells.

'Either nicotine stimulates other types of brain cells to compensate for the loss of the cells involved in Parkinson's, or it is somehow providing protection to remaining healthy Parkinson's cells,' said McGehee. 'Either way, the effect is noticeable.'

[William Terrell]

. . .setting dead leaves afire and sucking the smoke into one's lungs, which is, well, stupid.

Any more stupid than drinking a beverage than contains enough carbonation to disolve a 16 penny steel nail?

[William Terrell]

You're proactive about your health concerns, and not anyone else's, right?

[JoeSixPack1]

Nicotine has successfully stemmed my desire to punch every third person I meet in the face.

I've remarked to friends that I'd be happy to quit smoking provided I can replace the habit with something equally satisfying......like murdering people.

5+ years of freeping and nothing anyone has ever said has echoed my outlook on life as closely as you just did. Bravo!!! Keep em comin'!!

[CobaltBlue]

I do eat tomatoes, etc., but my idea of a tomato patch is one that is in the yard. Maybe there are tomato patches out there to put on the arm as a "natural" nicotine supplement? Or maybe I should just duct-tape a tomato slice to my arm?

[Gabz]

LOL!!!!!!!!!!

Speaking of tomato patches, I had planned on doing some weeding in mine and picking of fruit today.....unfortunately it is currently raining so hard I can barely make out the bumper of my car which is not more than 15 feet from my kitchen window..........Sigh.

[William Terrell]

Sof as far as I am concerned, if you are a smoker who invades my space, I think you ought to suck it up - and don't exhale it until it doesn't affect me.

Maybe smokers would be willing to not smoke around you so long as you sew your asshole shut. So we all could save one another from bad smells, doncha know.

[Gabz]

You're on a roll today, aren't you??? :)

[William Terrell]

Well, I guess all this sanctimonious crap pisses me off.

These anti-smoking shills have no concern over anyone else's health; they don't even know the people they say die because of "smoking related illnesses". They are using that liberal ersatz "caring" because they don't like the smell, and are willing to turn loose the clumsy and brutal force of law on anyone to maintain their comfort.

I'll trade 'em. I'll plug one hole if they'll plug one hole.

[Gabz]

My attitude regarding the santimonious anti-smokers is not fit to print..........

The sorry thing about these anti-smokers is that they don't see how they are being used and manipulated by the anti-smoker industry. And they consider smokers to be pawns of the tobacco industry.....BWA HAAA HAAAAAAAA

[William Terrell]

Indeed.

[SheLion]

Speaking of tomato patches, I had planned on doing some weeding in mine and picking of fruit today.....unfortunately it is currently raining so hard I can barely make out the bumper of my car which is not more than 15 feet from my kitchen window..........Sigh.

Are you getting that rain? I'm not sure if it made it to New York yet. Maine isn't supposed to be in on this storm..........thank God.

[SheLion]

Maybe smokers would be willing to not smoke around you so long as you sew your asshole shut. So we all could save one another from bad smells, doncha know.

OUCH!

FOFLMAO!!!!!!!!

[SheLion]

The sorry thing about these anti-smokers is that they don't see how they are being used and manipulated by the anti-smoker industry. And they consider smokers to be pawns of the tobacco industry.....BWA HAAA HAAAAAAAA

How true, Gabz!

[Gabz]

I don't know which storm system this is....we missed most of the brunt of the ones on Monday and Wednesday that did all the damage in Delaware, Pennsylvania and Jersey.

This one started around 3 this morning and has been coming and going ever since.....of course now that it is daytime there is no thunder - which had my dogs going bonkers for nearly until around 4 this morning.

[Redcloak]

I can understand how it might affect schizophrenia. I am often of two minds when deciding between smoking a pipe or a cigar.

[Gabz]

Pathetic, isn't it.

[nmh]

Hopefully "banning" smoking will not be necessary.

But when push comes to shove?

I'm not adverse to banning it since it ups health care costs - CANCER and there is NO benefit derived from it - yellow teeth, bad breath, smelly person, yellow finger nail - not an impressive looking or healthy person to be around.

The reason it hasn't been banned is the hope that people will stop smoking on their own.

[jodorowsky]

there is NO benefit derived from it

I think baseball is stupid and gay, and a waste of time for all concerned. Who cares? I just don't watch it, and I smile politely when others who enjoy it talk about it.

One of the best things about FREEDOM is that the rest of us don't have to satisfy delicate flowers like you that our choices have the kind of "benefits" you approve of.

If you don't like it, as a free man your only recourse is to just go away. Problem solved.

[Gabz]

"benefits" of anything is a subjective idea....you have yours and others have theirs....get it?

As to your other claims regarding smokers - you apparently hang out with people who have little interest in personal hygiene, which probably means they have problems besides your dislike of their smoking.

Since you are not adverse to smoking bans because of your personal perceptions, let's see what it is that you like to do that I have a different perception on and see how adverse you would be to having it banned........

The reason it hasn't been banned all together has nothing to do with people quitting or health or anything else......the one and only reason is that governments are far more addicted to the money it generates than any smoker has ever been addicted to nicotine.

[MainFrame65]

Actually, good manners would elicit an apology from me for such an inadvertent eructation, although I must admit that many of the flatulent pass their wind in silence, without apology (or warning) to others affected. But this is a natural act, not always suppressible even with maximal effort. Setting fire to dead leaves in the presence of others who find the result objectionable is absolutely voluntary.

I would point out that our republican form of government does relieve us from the tyranny of a simple majority. But it does so only by increasing the character of the majority required, and the mechanism for expressing that majority. As a member of one of the smaller religious minorities in the US, I appreciate those restrictions. Nevertheless, I recognize that the customs and culture of this Country will largely reflect its Christian majority - and will, I hope, continue to do so in the face of the secular tide that is trying to eliminate this influence.

I lived through decades of discomfort, including my entire childhood and youth, without accommodation from smokers, who assumed I would just "get over it." In those days, about 40% or more were smokers. Today they are shrinking to the level of minority that can no longer prevent being overridden. That means coalition and cooperation, not confrontation.

I called myself a zealous NON-smoker, NOT an ANTI-smoker. I do not mirror your desire to eliminate nonsmoking tables and accommodations with a desire to eliminate all public smoking, as some would wish. If you consider me your enemy, even of only on this issue, that is a choice solely on your part.