Are smokers more susceptible to lung cancer than non-smokers?

Most people would agree that smokers are more susceptible to lung cancer than non-smokers. However, I would  have to disagree. A few years ago, I went to a pre-medical program and saw a cadaver whose lungs had spots on them. I automatically assumed he had been a smoker. To my surprise, he had not smoked a day in his life. He had worked in a factory all his life and the exhaust fumes from the factory had damaged his lungs. This is how he contracted lung cancer. This sparked my interest. Are smokers more susceptible to lung cancer than non-smokers? Research suggests that, "Lung cancer in non smokers is as real a threat as it is in smokers. What makes it worse is that while you, as a non-smoker, might make sure your life is healthy and without any vices, but being around smokers can cause much deadly damage to you, as it does to smokers"(Medical Health Tests). According to Harvard Medical School, "Lung cancer runs in families, but so does smoking, so it doesn’t jump out as an inherited, genetic condition. Family history was a stronger risk factor among never-smokers than among smokers, suggesting perhaps that never-smokers’ lung cancer may indeed have a significant inherited component". As you can see, lung cancer is just as prevalent in non-smokers as it is smokers. Genetics is also a big part of it. So, as a non-smoker should I be as concerned about lung cancer? The answer is yes.

References:
"Lung cancer: Not just for smokers." The Harvard Medical School Family Health
     Guide. Web. 29 Oct. 2013. <http://www.health.harvard.edu/
     fhg/updates/Lung-cancer-not-just-for-smokers.shtml>. 
 Nic. "Causes, Symptoms, Types & Risks of Lung Cancer In Non Smokers." Medical
     Health Tests. 14 Mar. 2013. Web. 29 Oct. 2013.
     <http://www.medicalhealthtests.com/articles/732/health-articles/
     lung-cancer-in-non-smokers.html>. 


Rachael S.W.

Are Electronic Cigarettes Safe?

Electronic Cigarettes, or Vaporizers, are becoming a popular alternative to smoking. These things consist of a battery, which is connected to a coil that heats up an oil (typically propylene glycenol or vegetable glycerin) held in a cartridge or tank, which then “vaporizes” into a water vapor that is flavored and can contain different strengths of nicotine.

The answer seems to depend on your definition of safe. In general, inhaling anything other than air is not a good thing, so compared to breathing, it is not “safe”. Also, the person is still consuming nicotine, which has its own effects on the body. However, most people have the wrong impression about nicotine.

Nicotine is actually a relatively harmless drug, and like all other drugs we take, has both positive and negative effects. Nicotine is a drug similar to, but stronger than caffeine – something millions of Americans drink every day. Nicotine shares many of the same effects as caffeine, although it acts as both a stimulant and a depressant. Nicotine can boost energy, and can aide in weight loss by reducing appetite and cravings. Aside from the metabolism increase, nicotine can also enhance mood, increase attentiveness and memory, and typically without the “crash” you experience from caffeine.  On the other hand, nicotine can also calm and relax you if you are feeling stressed.

Because of this unique effect, smokers can become very easily addicted to nicotine. Since they are inhaling it, the nicotine goes quickly to their brain. This causes a psychological dependency on nicotine, and withdrawal symptoms vary, but can get very bad. So while nicotine is, in many senses, a more effective caffeine, withdrawal is typically much worse.

Now for the “safe” part. If you are a cigarette smoker, you may want to consider switching to a vaporizer. When compared to cigarette smoke, it is almost unanimously agreed upon that the vapor itself is not nearly as detrimental to your body. Plus, many of the things that make smoking pleasurable make vaping pleasurable: you still get your nicotine fix, you can enjoy smoking socially, it tastes better, and you can still blow smoke rings like a dragon. Even better, they are virtually odorless, becoming cheaper and cheaper, and you can step down the nicotine levels until you can break the habit for good, without experiencing a terrible withdrawal.

However, if you are a non smoker, vaping may sound appealing at this point. At the end of the day, while nicotine may have positive effects, it will always be safer to simply avoid drugs. If you’re absolutely dying to see how nicotine feels, chew some nicotine gum. Inhaling nicotine can be a slippery slope, and many underestimate just how addicting it can be.

-Ioan Ozarchevici

Does marijuana have different effects when smoked or when taken as a suppository? Which would be best for medical use?

According to Medicalcbd, there are more ways than just these two in take marijuana. There is a vaporizer, tincture under the tongue,  and eating it as well. To get the different effects you would try different blends of marijuana and not try different ways. The difference in the uses would be the amount of time that it takes to start affecting the body. This is important to know when to stop. Vapors and tinctures are the fastest, whereas suppositories are the slowest and may be easier to take more than needed. Smoking marijuana is dangerous for the lungs and hard to prevent from burning. As stated by Medicalcbd, when ingesting marijuana, it is absorbed in the liver making it more psychoactive. Medicalcbd recommends vapor or tincture because the effects are fastest and don’t cause any harm to the body.

Source: http://medicalcbd.wordpress.com/marijuana-use-cautions-and-contraindications/ 

Chelsea Grzeskowiak

Tobacco related to hairy tounge disease?

I was really intrigued to see that statistic of tobacco use to the amount of money that people spend on it. According to Center for Disease Control and Prevention,” Almost $23 million spent every day in 2011” coupled with that “$8.37 billion total spent in 2011”. That is an absurd amount of money for something that has statistically been proven to decrease your health and even lead to mortality.  as stated by Center for Disease Control and Prevention ,”Worldwide, tobacco use causes more than 5 million deaths per year, and current trends show that tobacco use will cause more than 8 million deaths annually by 2030. So my question is why do it? A question I was curious about is a disease that I have heard of called hairy tongue that comes from smoking. How exactly does smoking cause hair to grow on the tongue? The answer to this question that I found was that hairy tongue isn’t necessarily directly related to smoking. Rather it is a result from either too much bacteria or yeast in your mouth. When the bacteria builds up it resides in small bumps on the tongue which are essentially your taste buds. The dark black fuzzy color and build up  is a direct result of certain types of bacteria or yeast.

Arin Gilliland

Refrences: http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/fast_facts/

http://www.1800dentist.com/black-hairy-tongue/

How Long Until Caffeine Overdose?

Caffeine overdose can occurs when you ingest more than the recommended amount of caffeine, which is about 200-300 mg per 24 hours. This amount can vary between people and depends on body weight, age, and overall health. Symptoms in adults may include trouble breathing, confusion, dizziness, irregular heartbeat and mild hallucinations.

http://www.healthline.com/health/caffeine-overdose