Menthol Cigarettes May Be More Harmful

Although menthol cigarettes have long been considered a “good” option for those seeking to minimize the side effects of tobacco, science has proven that menthol cigarettes may actually be more harmful than regular cigarettes. In this article, we focus on a few studies that support this hypothesis.

Before we take a closer look at this issue, we would like to point out that efforts to reduce tobacco smoking seem to have resonated. According to a global report by the World Health Organization, the total number of smokers in the world fell by 60 million between 2000 and 2018.

The cause of tobacco addiction is the nicotine it contains.  According to a research report by the National Institute on Drug Abuse , the release of endorphins caused by  its use makes people want more.

Initially, nicotine raises dopamine levels, but over time, it changes the neural networks involved in learning, stress, and self-control.

Use of menthol in cigarettes

The first commercial brand to add menthol to its cigarettes was Spud® in the 1920s. The promise marketed by most companies is a fresh taste in the mouth after smoking menthol cigarettes.

The use of menthol cigarettes is popular among the young population. According to the Spanish National Committee for Smoking Prevention (CNTP), it is hypothesized that the pleasant taste produced by menthol in the mouth may contribute to the initiation of tobacco smoking in this population.

Reasons for its greater popularity include ease of breathing smoke and reduced irritation. On the other hand, there is also a false belief in the Community that the use of menthol has been seen as beneficial for decades.

An article published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that African-American smokers and members of other ethnic minorities are the target group for menthol cigarette ads  , which increases use in these groups.

Why might menthol cigarettes be more harmful than regular cigarettes?

Many menthol cigarette smokers find it easier to smoke. However, they are not aware of some of the physiological processes that increase their disadvantages. Although menthol cigarettes cool the cucumber, the dehydrating effect of menthol causes smokers to inhale the smoke deeper into their lungs and hold it longer. This phenomenon is explained by the American Cancer Society.

Studies show that  this feeling occurs because menthol acts as an anesthetic in the airways. This suggests, on the one hand, that smokers feel less discomfort when smoking, but also, on the other hand, that a person smokes more cigarettes per day, which exacerbates and accelerates the side effects of tobacco.

Electric tobacco menthol

There is no doubt that menthol in traditional cigarettes causes serious health problems – but not as much as menthol in e-cigarettes. In addition to the origin of such products, other harmful substances in them also cause health problems.

Studies show that burning e- cigarettes is associated with severe lung damage, such as the so-called EVALI, whose symptoms resemble those of pneumonia (cough, fever, shortness of breath).

This may be due to the tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, and vitamin E acetate contained in these cigarettes.

Pulegoni

According to an article in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine , Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found high levels of pulegon in liquids contained in menthol-containing e-cigarettes.

Pulegoni is one of the ingredients in the extracts of peppermint, spearmint and spearmint oils. Its use is problematic because it has been reported to be a potent carcinogen,  at least according to experiments in rodents.

It is so harmful that in 2018, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned its use as a food additive. Due to the numerous warnings given about its health risks, U.S. tobacco companies have begun to minimize the amount of pulegon used in their cigarettes.

Finally, it is important to note that the risks of inhaling pulegon and other substances contained in e-cigarettes are currently being investigated. So far,  studies suggest that the risk is higher compared to the use of traditional cigarettes.

Tobacco as a cause of cancer

According to a World Health Organization report, smoking kills eight million people every year. More than 40% of these deaths are related to diseases such as lung cancer, COPD and tuberculosis.

The Spanish National Cancer Institute, for its part, shows that  tobacco is the leading cause of cancer and cancer mortality in the world. This is because of the chemical compounds it contains that can cause DNA damage.

The most common cancers for this reason are lung cancer, laryngeal cancer, esophageal cancer, throat cancer, bladder cancer, liver cancer, kidney cancer, colon cancer, and cervical cancer. It is important to note that tobacco also adversely affects people who are passively exposed to smoke.

Experts have identified more than 4,000 chemicals of unknown origin in tobacco smoke. Of these,  about 250 are classified as harmful, including 50 carcinogens.

It is possible to stop smoking!

Whether you smoke menthol or regular cigarettes when you want to quit, you may develop withdrawal symptoms. As already mentioned,  nicotine is one of the most significant addictive substances.

Stopping smoking prevents the development of serious diseases such as cancer. In addition, you also prevent your family or close friends from passively suffering from the side effects of environmental tobacco smoke.

You may need to seek professional help and support from a doctor to help you quit. If this is the case for you, don’t be embarrassed or ashamed. Your life is worth it.