 "Photo: Photo Illustration by Hilary Stohs-Krause")
Smokers have new reasons to be worried about their health.
At the annual meeting of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery in September, new research was presented that linked cigarette smoking with the loss of sense of smell and a rise in cases of environmental laryngitis.
Dr. Marilynn Schnepf, department chair of nutrition and health sciences at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, has known about the effect of smoking on the senses for a long time.
"When we have smokers on sensory panels, we require that they not smoke for preferably two hours before they taste something, because the smoke affects their nose, and that will then affect how they can perceive odors and ultimately flavor," she said.
Cigarette smoke affects the senses because the cigarette is composed of bitter compounds, which linger longer. Because these compounds linger, they mask smells and tastes. Ninety percent of taste is affected by the sense of smell.
"I can definitely see (those effects) as a possibility," said Michael Ryan, a freshman business administration major. "I think sometimes studies stretch the possibilities a little bit, but I am aware about the risks."
Ryan said he started smoking socially at parties and is now a habitual smoker.
For Heather Manko, a sophomore political science major, the results are just another reason for her to kick the habit. She started smoking socially last September and is in the process of trying to quit.
Schnepf said she hopes people will pay attention to the results and try to quit but is realistic.
"We've had so much research showing that smoking is not good that I'm not sure more research will convince anybody to stop."
Manko is more optimistic.
"I think educating yourself makes you want to quit because you don't want to leave your husband or wife at the age of 40. I want to live a long life, so I'll try to quit."
In addition to laryngitis and losing one's sense of smell, smoking has also been linked to lung cancer, emphysema, heart disease and many upper respiratory problems.
joannacrowl@daliynebraskan.com
Be the first to comment on this article!