In the 1930‘s and 40‘s smoking was much more socially
acceptable then it is in our time. For example movie stars and other celebrities were a big part of the smoking advertisements that put a certain glamor to smoking.
The makers of Kool cigarettes claimed that their brand would keep a person's head clear and protect against colds. Phillip Morris stated that three out of every four cases of smokers cough went away for those who switched to their brands. Today smokers are frowned upon and accused of harming others with second hand smoking. Recent research however shows that in some cases smoking can be good for you.
The makers of Kool cigarettes claimed that their brand would keep a person's head clear and protect against colds. Phillip Morris stated that three out of every four cases of smokers cough went away for those who switched to their brands. Today smokers are frowned upon and accused of harming others with second hand smoking. Recent research however shows that in some cases smoking can be good for you.
Smoking and memory function
Dr. James Le Fanue states that smoking makes you 50% less likely
to get a dreaded disease. In that matter it‘s worth mentioning that smoking
has long thought to have helped with Alzheimer‘s. Dr. Paul Newhouse, director
of the Vanderbilt Center for Cognitive Medicine, researched nicotine‘s effecton memory. He gave people with memory problems nicotine patches and with that,
the people regained 46% of their long term memory. Meanwhile those given a
patch with no nicotine continued to worsen, losing 26% of performance.
Smoking and concentration
Wesnes and Warbuton carried out an experiment where smokers
and non-smokers were required to watch a clock for 80 minutes. Every time the
hand of the clock paused, they had to press a button. Not only did smokers
outperform non-smokers, they were still performing just as well 60 minutes into
the experiment and they had 10-15% faster reaction time than the non-smokers.
Smoking and Parkinson‘s disease
Numerous studies have shown that long -term smokers are
somehow protected against Parkinson's, and it's not because smokers die of other
things earlier.
The most recent study was published in a March 2010 issue of the journal Neurology. Far from determining a cause for the protective effect, these researchers found that the number of years spent smoking, more so than the number of cigarettes smoked daily, mattered more for a stronger protective effect.
Harvard researchers were among the first to provide convincing evidence that smokers were less likely to develop Parkinson's. In a study published in Neurology in March 2007, these researchers found the protective effect wanes after smokers quit. And they concluded, that they didn't have a clue as to why.
The most recent study was published in a March 2010 issue of the journal Neurology. Far from determining a cause for the protective effect, these researchers found that the number of years spent smoking, more so than the number of cigarettes smoked daily, mattered more for a stronger protective effect.
Harvard researchers were among the first to provide convincing evidence that smokers were less likely to develop Parkinson's. In a study published in Neurology in March 2007, these researchers found the protective effect wanes after smokers quit. And they concluded, that they didn't have a clue as to why.
Smoking and obesity
It has been known for centuries that smoking is suppressant
on appetite. Dating back to the 1920‘s where tobacco companies began targeting
women with the lure that smoking would make them thinner.
The relationship between smoking and weight control is complex. The nicotine itself acts as both a stimulant and appetite suppressant, and the act of smoking triggers behavior modification that encourages smokers to snack less.
The relationship between smoking and weight control is complex. The nicotine itself acts as both a stimulant and appetite suppressant, and the act of smoking triggers behavior modification that encourages smokers to snack less.
Smoking and the economy
It's unquestionable that smoking is a
big industry. This
industry provides a huge number of jobs, as well as the tobacco companies pay taxes.
Shippers, packagers, retailers and so on – these are people who both pay taxes
and wages. We constantly hear about the costs that smoking has on the society.
However studies demonstrate that non-smokers cost the society more in health
care and social programs, than smokers do.
Summary
Looking
at these facts above you have to wonder if smoking is all that bad for you. We
constantly talk about the growth of the tobacco industry, but what’s out
growing it is the anti-smoking industry. Nicotine-patches, gum, pills – these
products are what pharmaceutical companies try to sell us every day, just as
well as they try to sell us the idea that smoking is bad for you. I'm not saying I agree with the makers of Kool in the 1930's, that smoking can protect you against a cold, but I think the facts speak for themselves and I can truly say that smoking isn't all that bad for you.
