Smoking is already known to increase the risk of cancers in multiple organs in the body. A new study finds that males who smoke may be more at-risk for smoking-related cancers than females who smoke are. Researchers at Sweeden's Uppsala University believe that smoking is related to the deterioration of the Y-chromosome and therefore
linked to the cancers caused by it.
A study done with 6014 men showed the difference in the Y chromosome between non-smokers and smokers. Three groups of males had their blood tested and then were followed for about 20 years in order to retest their blood after they all were at least past the age of 48. The DNA in each sample was studied to determine any differences. All the men had normal Y-chromosome counts when their blood was first tested. The final tests showed that the men who were smokers had a much greater loss of their Y-chromosome than the non-smokers did.
The good news was that in the men who had stopped smoking, the Y-chromosome did not seem to deteriorate in the way it once had, and were similar to those who never smoked, This caused scientists to believe that the condition is reversible
Smoking is already a high health risk activity. Even with the warnings, some people cannot break past the addiction. With this new information and the idea that smoking is even more dangerous for men than it was before, it could be the encouragement to get men to stop smoking for good, especially since the condition is potentially reversible.
Sources:
http://www.medicaldaily.com/smoking-cigarettes-causes-men-lose-y-chromosomes-while-increasing-their-risk-cancer-313212
http://www.sciencemag.org/content/early/2014/12/03/science.1262092
Studies like this are just another reason important reason why you shouldn't smoke. There are so many ways to relieve your stress, without harming you health and others around you. I do realize that some did start smoking when it was unclear how harmful it was to your health, like my grandmother. It is also clear that not all smoking patients have issues with health because of it but the chances are very great and can be fatal. I hope for one day that it is stopped altogether.
ReplyDeleteI also did a post on this study. I found it very informative. This is just an additional negative side affect of smoking. I believe studies like this could reduce the amount of smokers if they had more publicity.
ReplyDeleteI found this post extremely interesting and was shocked by the findings in this study. I wonder if the deterioration of the y-chromosome is completely reversible or if there will always be signs on the chromosome of long time smoking. This just proves the damaging effects that smoking can have. Everybody is well aware of the effects that can be seen and felt but not many people know about the effects on chromosomes. This article is very informative.
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