The risk of lung cancer for people who smoke menthol cigarettes is no greater than that of those who prefer regular cigarettes.
The risk of lung cancer for people who smoke menthol cigarettes is no greater than that of those who prefer regular cigarettes.
The findings echo those of a U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory panel that made headlines when it said a ban on mentholated cigarettes might benefit the public health. While the panel concluded that menthols' minty flavour seems to help people take up smoking more readily, it added that there was no evidence menthols were any more dangerous than regular cigarettes in terms of risks for lung cancer or other respiratory ailments. Some studies have raised the possibility that menthol influences smoking behaviour, causing deeper inhalation for instance, or that it increases dependency or affects the biology of the lung. Others have suggested that menthol makes it harder to quit smoking.
Researchers analysed data from almost 86,000 people taking part in an ongoing multiracial study in 12 southern states of USA. They identified 440 lung cancer patients and compared them with more than 2,200 healthy people.
Researchers found that people who smoke menthol cigarettes might even have a somewhat lower risk of developing and dying from lung cancer than other smokers. But one expert said that no one should be misled by the findings into thinking menthols can keep lung cancer, emphysema and other respiratory diseases at bay.
Menthol cigarettes were associated with lower lung cancer incidence and fewer lung cancer deaths than regular cigarettes. Among people who smoked 20 or more cigarettes a day, menthol cigarette smokers were about 12 times more likely to develop lung cancer than never-smokers while the risk was about 21 times higher for smokers of regular cigarettes. Menthol cigarettes are no more, and perhaps less, harmful than regular cigarettes, concluded the researchers.
Cigarette smoking remains the leading cause of premature death but undue emphasis on reduction of menthol relative to other cigarettes may distract from the ultimate health prevention message that smoking of any cigarettes is injurious to health. While the above study finds no difference in lung cancer rates in smokers of menthol cigarettes versus non-menthol cigarettes, it is still inconveniently true that all cigarettes can cause lung cancer, as well as other cancers, heart disease, COPD [chronic obstructive pulmonary disease] and circulatory problems. There is simply no safe smoking.
The findings echo those of a U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory panel that made headlines when it said a ban on mentholated cigarettes might benefit the public health. While the panel concluded that menthols' minty flavour seems to help people take up smoking more readily, it added that there was no evidence menthols were any more dangerous than regular cigarettes in terms of risks for lung cancer or other respiratory ailments. Some studies have raised the possibility that menthol influences smoking behaviour, causing deeper inhalation for instance, or that it increases dependency or affects the biology of the lung. Others have suggested that menthol makes it harder to quit smoking.
Researchers analysed data from almost 86,000 people taking part in an ongoing multiracial study in 12 southern states of USA. They identified 440 lung cancer patients and compared them with more than 2,200 healthy people.
Researchers found that people who smoke menthol cigarettes might even have a somewhat lower risk of developing and dying from lung cancer than other smokers. But one expert said that no one should be misled by the findings into thinking menthols can keep lung cancer, emphysema and other respiratory diseases at bay.
Promoted
Listen to the latest songs, only on JioSaavn.com
Menthol cigarettes were associated with lower lung cancer incidence and fewer lung cancer deaths than regular cigarettes. Among people who smoked 20 or more cigarettes a day, menthol cigarette smokers were about 12 times more likely to develop lung cancer than never-smokers while the risk was about 21 times higher for smokers of regular cigarettes. Menthol cigarettes are no more, and perhaps less, harmful than regular cigarettes, concluded the researchers.
Cigarette smoking remains the leading cause of premature death but undue emphasis on reduction of menthol relative to other cigarettes may distract from the ultimate health prevention message that smoking of any cigarettes is injurious to health. While the above study finds no difference in lung cancer rates in smokers of menthol cigarettes versus non-menthol cigarettes, it is still inconveniently true that all cigarettes can cause lung cancer, as well as other cancers, heart disease, COPD [chronic obstructive pulmonary disease] and circulatory problems. There is simply no safe smoking.
COMMENT
DoctorNDTV is the one stop site for all your health needs providing the most credible health information, health news and tips with expert advice on healthy living, diet plans, informative videos etc. You can get the most relevant and accurate info you need about health problems like diabetes, cancer, pregnancy, HIV and AIDS, weight loss and many other lifestyle diseases. We have a panel of over 350 experts who help us develop content by giving their valuable inputs and bringing to us the latest in the world of healthcare.
