Humans have smoked tobacco for thousands of years. We only learned about its connection with lung cancer relatively recently. It wasn’t until the 1950s that consumers were informed that tobacco is the leading cause of lung cancer. But if the dangers are so well-known, why do 8 million people still die from smoking every year? There’s the mistaken idea that some forms of tobacco are “safer.” Many smokers also rely on the nicotine boost, use tobacco as a coping tool, or fear withdrawal symptoms.
Fortunately, tobacco free cigarettes are on the rise. Companies like Naked Smokes make green tea smokes that don’t contain tobacco, nicotine, or harmful chemicals. They have similar effects to tobacco cigarettes but fewer downsides. If smokers switch to alternatives like these, we could see a decline in tobacco-related lung cancer.
The Leading Cause of Lung Cancer
Medical science shows that tobacco is the leading cause of lung cancer deaths. Nicotine, the addictive chemical in tobacco, damages our DNA. This causes out-of-control cell growth, also known as cancer. The toxins also lower our immune system response. It’s a cruel cycle that kills millions of people every year.
Beyond Cigarettes
Some people mistakenly believe that manufactured cigarettes are the only harmful way to use tobacco. While it’s true that cigarette companies add additional chemicals and concentrate the nicotine, tobacco itself is toxic. Hand-rolled cigarettes, cigars, menthols, and pipes still significantly raise your risk of lung cancer.
Smarter Alternatives
There’s no safe form of tobacco, so the only lung cancer preventative is avoiding it. Luckily, there are smarter alternatives on the market. Tobacco free cigarettes like green tea smokes from Naked Smokes still offer the effects of smoking without dangerous tobacco. They replaced the nicotine kick with a caffeine boost and the benefits of green tea. If you’re a tobacco smoker, it’s worth looking into alternatives like this.