Nerdy Science Blog

news.com.au

The deep, slow inhalation and long breath hold is predisposing cannabis smokers to a condition of rapid lung destruction much younger in life, a study by Melbourne researchers has found.

A team from the Department of Allergy, Immunology and Respiratory Medicine at Monash University reviewed the lung condition of middle-aged chronic cannabis smokers.

They found high rates of bullous lung disease, a debilitating condition where air trapped in the lungs causes obstruction to breathing and eventual destruction of the organ.

It is often caused by exposure to toxic chemicals or long-term exposure to tobacco smoke.

Studies have shown the disease will most likely strike tobacco smokers around the age of 65, but the new review, published in the journal Respirology, shows dope smokers are being hit 20 years earlier, while in their early 40s.

Popularity: 2% [?]

When I was reading the about how movies affect teens in smoking behavior, I recalled the movie “Thank You for Smoking” directed by Jason Reitman.

This movie was about a tobacco industry lobbyist, Nick Naylor (Aaron Eckhart), whose job was to promote smoking cigarette, which included getting their cigarette onto the big movie screen. In the movie, what Nick told the pretty reporter why he helped tobacco industry was because of the population control.

I love Nick’s philosophy though, everyone should have that kind of philosophy (including scientists) to sell themselves and their products without losing values.

Popularity: 1% [?]

The long term pregnancy study conducted in Australia showed that there is relation between mother and children smoking behavior.

The proportion of the children who took up regular smoking was greater among those whose mothers had smoked during the pregnancy than among those whose mothers had not.

—— ScienceDaily: Pregnant Smokers May ‘Program’ Their Kids To Become Smokers

Although there are other factors that will lead one to smoking, but it is discouraged to smoke during pregnancy.

1. Higher chance of having stillborn baby
2. Higher chance of miscarriage
3. Deliver low birth-weight baby
4. The chance of occurring Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is twice in those who smoke during pregnancy
5. Lead to wide variety of pregnancy complication (premature rupture of membranes, vaginal bleeding and premature placental detachment, etc.)
6. Lead to neural tube defects
7. Harm your developing baby

You can read more for detailed effects of smoking during pregnancy.

Popularity: 11% [?]