Smoking Cessation – Am I addicted to smoking?
Februar 2011
The total number of tobacco consumers in the industrialised countries is decreasing for years, beyond doubt a success of countless smoking cessation campaigns. Despite of that, the WHO forecasts the smoking related number of death cases to rise to a peak of 8 Mio. per year in 2030 [1]. According to world health report, 12% of vascular diseases, 38% of chronic-respiratory diseases and 66% of respiratory system cancer is caused by tobacco consumption [2].
Did you know that one single cigarette emits over 3800 chemical compounds, most of them as respirable dust? And over 200 of them are noxious? And at least 40 of them are carcinogenic? Nicotine, produced by the tobacco plant, is a vigorous poison (Alkaloid). Consuming nicotine initially stimulates the nerve transmitting impulse but later constrains it, accelerates pulse and leads to permanent high blood pressure. In fact nicotine is known as one of the most vigorous poisons. The accumulated dosage from two packs of cigarettes (50mg) is lethal.
Although medics and scientists agree about the hazard to health, caused by cigarette smoke, smoking cessation seems to be quite a challenge to most individuals.
Medical research provides new aid. Twin studies verify that 40 - 60 % of smoking habits are co-determined by genes [3].
Three international studies have been published in the renowned journal "Nature Genetics" [4-6] involving over 100 scientists, several universities, the Icelandic company "Decode Genetics" as well as the pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline, evaluating data sets of over 140.000 patients. The scientists drew a whole bunch of conclusions and a new angle of nicotine addiction. The scientists found several variable gene spots which can be associated to different smoking habits within the proband group. From the biological point of view the most convincing association of nicotine addiction have been found in two gene variations of structural component of the nicotine receptor protein. One of these variants on CHRNA5-Gene can be found within 38% of the European population.
In fact specific gene variations do lead to increased tobacco consumption. Additionally the relevant group also have a much higher susceptibility to lung cancer.
The studies turn out a significant correlation of genetic constitution and unsuccessful efforts to quit smoking at a high relapse ratio of 7,8 %.
"This enables us to identify individuals with high risk and provides strong argument for smoking cessation therapy"states Professor Höppner, CEO of Bioglobe GmbH.
The scientists of Bioglobe laboratory picked this issue and developed a three-step test to screen your individual risk for nicotine addiction, lung cancer and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). In knowledge of your own genetic parameter you and your therapist can develop an effective strategy for smoking cessation and decide for proper preventive measures.
Literature
[1] WHO (2009) Tobacco key facts. World Health Organization, Genf
[2] WHO (2002) The World Health Report 2002. World Health Organization, Genf
[3] Amos CI, Wu X, Broderick P et al (2008) Nat Genet 40:616-622
[4] Tobacco and Genetics Consortium. Nat Genet. 2010;42:441-447
[5] Liu JZ, Tozzi F, Waterworth DM, et al. Nat Genet. 2010;42:436-440
[6] Thorgeirsson TE, Gudbjartsson DF, Surakka I, et al. Nat Genet. 2010;42:448-453.
[7] Baker TB, Weiss RB, Bolt D et al. Nicotine Tob Res 2009;11:785-796
[8] Freathy RM, Ring SM, Shields B et al. Hum Mol Genet 2009;18:2922-2927