3 ms·

Fun fact: strangely enough, there are two conditions for which smoking is known to be a protective factor. Parkinson's disease, and Ulcerative Colitis (UC). In

by epgui 5y ago

Fun fact: strangely enough, there are two conditions for which smoking is known to be a protective factor. Parkinson's disease, and Ulcerative Colitis (UC). Interestingly, though Crohn's Disease (CD) and UC are strikingly similar forms of IBD, nicotine has the opposite effect on both. Nicotine will increase inflammation in CD and reduce it in UC, through the a7 receptor and up/down-regulation of Treg cells: https://www.jimmunol.org/content/187/5/2677 https://www.jimmunol.org/content/187/5/2677

jsmith99 5y ago
For colitis, it doesn't seem to simply be the nicotine as studies using nicotine patches saw little or no effect. This suggests the smoke itself may have some effect. There is a summary at https://www.crohnsandcolitis.org.uk/about-crohns-and-colitis/publications/smoking-and-ibd https://www.crohnsandcolitis.org.uk/about-crohns-and-colitis....
colechristensen 5y ago
Smoking also makes you less likely to contract covid but more likely to have serious outcomes from it if you do. Something about the immune reaction to the smoke being beneficial to avoid infection and the long term lung damage making it worse when infected.
- edmundsauto 5y ago
  Is that true when adjusted for close human connection? My understanding of smoker culture is they are less likely to be in close quarters with other people, unless those others are also smoking. And then they tend to be outside.
- Retric 5y ago
  My suspicion is it’s a byproduct of coating the lungs with tar. You sacrifice lung function for a slightly more robust physical barrier. The obvious test for immune system response would be if chewing tobacco users would see similar resistance to infection. Hopefully this will eventually clear things up: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04896918 https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04896918
  - epgui 5y ago
    Cigarette smoking definitely does not provide with a better physical barrier, and does not "coat" the surface of your lungs with tar. There could be some effect from reduced surface area (see: emphysema, although typically patients with this condition, or even smokers generally, will have an increased risk of infection), but my bet is on some nicotine receptor effect. These are quite immunomodulatory.
    - Retric 5y ago
      That’s why I was so interested in the study of smokeless tobacco users. Anyway, I don’t mean the tar is the physical barrier, inflammation response plus common changes to the extracellular matrix should both result in a physical barrier. The compensative increased respiratory rate seems like it would offset reduced surface area, but these changes are more complicated than that. Also, it’s increased risk of detected infection, but patients without symptoms are rarely tested for viral disease at this scale. That makes comparisons very tricky.
    - donatj 5y ago
      Everything in a relative of mine who smokes house is coated with tar. They regularly burn out computers because they get so impacted with tar covered lint. I find it very likely their lungs are covered in tar as well - moreso I don’t understand how they could possibly not be. This same relative has Crohn’s which is why I am here reading this.
  - dnautics 5y ago
    I thought it was lowered expression of the receptors covid-19 binds to (known condition among smokers) ace-2... Because smokers have suppressed ace-2 while smoking but a higher baseline; they are protected from getting it because when they are in public they are likely smoking and protected but once they get it they get very severe COVID... I mean it's all kind of a just-so story. Iirc Omeprazole which also depresses ace-2 failed as a prophylactic treatment
sterlind 5y ago
Smoking is also ridiculously prevalent among schizophrenics, and nicotine seems to help with the negative symptoms. I smoked just long enough to get addicted, but successfully weaned myself onto nicotine lozenges some years back. From what I've read, nicotine itself is fairly safe, but I wonder what it's helping/hurting (I have several rare diseases.)
- tata71 5y ago
  MAOI
  - nextaccountic 5y ago
    What do you mean?
    - dboreham 5y ago
      https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monoamine_oxidase_inhibitor https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monoamine_oxidase_inhibitor
- BoxOfRain 5y ago
  Tobacco contains monoamine oxidase inhibitors which might act as anti-depressants, also this is very anecdotal but I have a sensory processing disorder (visual snow syndrome) and my concentration has gone to shit ever since I stopped smoking.

by epgui 5y ago

jsmith99 5y ago

For colitis, it doesn't seem to simply be the nicotine as studies using nicotine patches saw little or no effect. This suggests the smoke itself may have some effect. There is a summary at https://www.crohnsandcolitis.org.uk/about-crohns-and-colitis/publications/smoking-and-ibd https://www.crohnsandcolitis.org.uk/about-crohns-and-colitis....

colechristensen 5y ago

Smoking also makes you less likely to contract covid but more likely to have serious outcomes from it if you do. Something about the immune reaction to the smoke being beneficial to avoid infection and the long term lung damage making it worse when infected.

edmundsauto 5y ago
Is that true when adjusted for close human connection? My understanding of smoker culture is they are less likely to be in close quarters with other people, unless those others are also smoking. And then they tend to be outside.
Retric 5y ago
My suspicion is it’s a byproduct of coating the lungs with tar. You sacrifice lung function for a slightly more robust physical barrier. The obvious test for immune system response would be if chewing tobacco users would see similar resistance to infection. Hopefully this will eventually clear things up: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04896918 https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04896918
- epgui 5y ago
  Cigarette smoking definitely does not provide with a better physical barrier, and does not "coat" the surface of your lungs with tar. There could be some effect from reduced surface area (see: emphysema, although typically patients with this condition, or even smokers generally, will have an increased risk of infection), but my bet is on some nicotine receptor effect. These are quite immunomodulatory.
  - Retric 5y ago
    That’s why I was so interested in the study of smokeless tobacco users. Anyway, I don’t mean the tar is the physical barrier, inflammation response plus common changes to the extracellular matrix should both result in a physical barrier. The compensative increased respiratory rate seems like it would offset reduced surface area, but these changes are more complicated than that. Also, it’s increased risk of detected infection, but patients without symptoms are rarely tested for viral disease at this scale. That makes comparisons very tricky.
  - donatj 5y ago
    Everything in a relative of mine who smokes house is coated with tar. They regularly burn out computers because they get so impacted with tar covered lint. I find it very likely their lungs are covered in tar as well - moreso I don’t understand how they could possibly not be. This same relative has Crohn’s which is why I am here reading this.
- dnautics 5y ago
  I thought it was lowered expression of the receptors covid-19 binds to (known condition among smokers) ace-2... Because smokers have suppressed ace-2 while smoking but a higher baseline; they are protected from getting it because when they are in public they are likely smoking and protected but once they get it they get very severe COVID... I mean it's all kind of a just-so story. Iirc Omeprazole which also depresses ace-2 failed as a prophylactic treatment

sterlind 5y ago

Smoking is also ridiculously prevalent among schizophrenics, and nicotine seems to help with the negative symptoms. I smoked just long enough to get addicted, but successfully weaned myself onto nicotine lozenges some years back. From what I've read, nicotine itself is fairly safe, but I wonder what it's helping/hurting (I have several rare diseases.)

tata71 5y ago
MAOI
- nextaccountic 5y ago
  What do you mean?
  - dboreham 5y ago
    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monoamine_oxidase_inhibitor https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monoamine_oxidase_inhibitor
BoxOfRain 5y ago
Tobacco contains monoamine oxidase inhibitors which might act as anti-depressants, also this is very anecdotal but I have a sensory processing disorder (visual snow syndrome) and my concentration has gone to shit ever since I stopped smoking.