Why President Obama Needs to Quit Smoking
What He Can Do to Help Other Cigarette Smokers
Jan 22, 2009
Smoking cigarettes is an unhealthy habit. Researchers continue to investigate the various health effects associated with first hand, second hand and third hand cigarette smoke exposure. Our new President, Barack Obama is a smoker and according to the news media, he is still struggling to quit. Not to add onto his already full plate, but President Obama needs to quit smoking. He is up against a negative double whammy. His position however is unique. He has the power to influence millions of others by quitting and more importantly he can influence policy and change public perceptions on cigarette smoking related issues.
Cigarette Smoke is Also Responsible For Non-Lung Cancers
Cigarette smoke causes more than just lung cancer. Most people that light up know that cigarette smoke causes lung cancer. Survival rates for lung cancer are pretty dismal at 15.5%. The threat of lung cancer alone is only a small deterrent, as the people still continue to pick up cigarettes. Studies however are confirming that not only does exposure to cigarette smoke cause lung cancer but in male cigarette smokers, exposure to cigarette smoke increases their risk of developing other cancers (Bruce N Leistikow et al. “Male tobacco smoke load and non-lung cancer mortality associations in Massachusetts” BMC Cancer, 2008, 8:341).
African-American Men are More Susceptible to Lung Cancer than Caucasians
The second part of the double whammy is that President Obama is at a higher risk of ending up with lung cancer. A study conducted among a multiethnic group of 183,813 men and women, over an eight year period' showed that African Americans and native Hawaiians had significantly greater risks of lung cancer. The results were more noticeable among the men who smoked less than 20 cigarettes a day. (Christopher A. Haiman, Sc.D., et al, “Ethnic and Racial Differences in the Smoking-Related Risk of Lung Cancer.”New England Journal of Medicine 2006; 354:333-42).
Spend More Research Dollars on Finding Effective Treatment Strategies
Since people insist on smoking, it will work to the public’s advantage to invest more money into finding the specific chemicals that are responsible for the associated cancers and health effects. This strategy can lead to better prevention and treatment strategies. A recent study showed that hydrogen peroxide and other oxidants in cigarettes are among the chemicals responsible for causing lung cancer (Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology 2008, March 1. How Cigarette Smoke Causes Cancer: Study Points). The study took human lung cells and exposed them to cigarette smoke and hydrogen peroxide in the lab setting. The results showed that both groups had the markings of cancer development. The results of this study and others like it could lead to the development of new specific targeted cancer treatments.
Encourage Policies That Protect the Public by Making Cigarettes Safer
Public campaigns to encourage people to quit smoking are having some success. For those still struggling to quit smoking, like our President Obama, there needs to be other options. Cigarette smokers should charge cigarette companies with the task of developing new lines of safer cigarettes. Of the 4,000 chemicals in cigarette smoke, 40 plus are known carcinogens. Some of the carcinogenic chemicals are added as flavor enhancers while others are added to extend burn time. It only makes sense for the public to demand safer cigarettes, hence safer cigarette smoke (if there is such a thing) since a majority of the population is affected by either second hand or third hand cigarette smoke. Knowing the far reaching health effects of smoking cigarettes should further encourage smokers to quit and encourage the President to lead the public by fighting for tightened tobacco production regulations to create a healthier environment.
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