“STATUTORY WARNING: CIGARETTE SMOKING IS INJURIOUS TO HEALTH”
We’re acutely aware of the physical health risks of smoking. Apart from affecting the teeth, gums, and fertility, the hazardous habit puts us at greater risk of developing cardiovascular disease, chronic bronchitis, and lung cancer. Even the labels on cigarette packets sport graphic images and e-cigarettes have been banned altogether.
But a recent study confirmed that tobacco also puts smokers at a higher risk of developing mental illnesses like depression and schizophrenia.
According to CNN, the research was conducted by scientists from the University of Bristol, UK, who studied genetic data from 462,690 individuals of European ancestry. The study which used the Mendelian randomization approach was published in the journal Psychological Medicine and concluded that there was a cause-and-effect relationship between smoking and mental illness. The reverse is also true but with a weaker effect.
The Guardian quoted lead author Dr. Robyn Wootton saying,
“Of course, if [smoking] is also making the risk of mental illness worse then we should be helping individuals who have existing mental health problems to stop as well.”
She also said that more research is required to determine if nicotine is responsible for influencing brain pathways linked to mental health problems.
Another reason to quit the butt and encourage other smokers to break the habit too, don’t you think?