The relationship smoke snuff and mental condition
Supporters of the open spaces of bad smoke their extra arguments to support the need to protect nonsmokers from smoke snuff in the environment. However, British scientists provide just one more. Because according to new research, this second-hand smoke increases the risk of psychological stress and mental illness in healthy adults.
The relationship smoke snuff and mental condition has been ‘registered’ in previous studies in both mice and humans. It is known, in fact, that the smoke increases the risk of hyperactivity in children. In animals, for example, have been found to induce a negative mood.
To do this, we used an analysis of saliva cotinine levels established (metabolite of nicotine). “To our knowledge this is the first study to demonstrate prospectively and objectively an association between environmental smoke and mental health in a representative sample of the general population,” say the authors in their study.
The investigation has enjoyed the participation of non-smoking adults 5560 and 2595 smokers (all with a mean age of 50 years) without previous history of psychiatric disorders. The authors established the mental health of participants through the General Health Questionnaire, which allows for psychological stress, in addition to ‘measure’ the symptoms of depression and anxiety and sleep problems, among other problems.
Revenues from mental disorders over the six years of follow up were also included in the investigation, and the levels of cotinine in saliva.
14% psychological stress
The data reveal that 14% of the sample had psychological stress. “Non-smokers or former smokers with high levels of cotinine in saliva were younger, had poorer social status, body mass index more, presence of chronic diseases, low physical activity and greater alcohol consumption than those with lower levels” .
But in addition, the risk of psychological stress was higher in participants more exposed to environmental smoke compared with those whose levels of nicotine metabolite were not detectable.
It was also found that in the six years of follow up, 41 study subjects were admitted to a psychiatric hospital. “People addicted to snuff and not smoking very ‘contaminated’ by smoke were more likely to be admitted [...] because of a depression, schizophrenia, delirium or other mental disorders,” reads the test.
The researchers believe it should carry out more tests in order to “establish the possible biological mechanisms by which exposure to environmental smoke affects mental health.”