Smoking Harms Not Just Physical Health, But Mental Health Too
By admin - November 7, 2020

It has long been known that smoking is harmful to health and is associated with many life-threatening diseases. Although we know a lot about the physical harms of smoking, the effects of smoking on a person’s mental health have been little studied. Since cigarette smoking causes significant damage to blood vessels and lungs, it is logical to assume that the constant pressure of these organs also affects human thinking and behavior.

In addition, smokers have lower immunity, more inflammation, and, finally, lower metabolism. Smoking is not only harmful to a few organs, but to the whole body.

According to a study published by University of Belgrade professors Tatiana Gazibara and Marija Militia, cigarette smoking causes serious harm to university students. The researchers collected medical and mental health information from more than 2,000 students. According to the information obtained, a number of mental problems are much more common in smokers than in non-smokers, for example, depression was found in 14% of smoking students, while in non-smokers only 4% had depression.

The difference is noticeable. Although this study only studies the correlation, it is a known fact that smoking is directly related to a number of inflammatory processes and physiological changes in the body, which in turn are associated with depression.

It should be noted that the study was conducted taking into account the socio-economic background and marital status of students. The researchers said they ruled out as much as possible all the other factors that could have contributed to this difference.

“This study is further evidence that smoking and depression are closely linked,” said Haggai Levine, a professor at the Jewish University of Israel.

The human body is a very complex, tangled system where everything is connected to everything. Negative impact on one part of it, often on all other parts as well.

Fortunately, the number of smokers in many countries is constantly declining. States should pursue policies that minimize the number of smokers and potential smokers