Smoking continues to be a common behavior around the world despite the fact that there is scientific consensus about how harmful it is to human health. But not only that, a recent study revealed that smoking increases the likelihood of being hospitalized for mental illness.
The research, published in the scientific journal Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, found that people who smoke are up to 258% more likely to be hospitalized for a mental illness than those who don’t.
It is pointed out in the work conclusively of 350,000 samples, in terms of statistics it shows the correlation between smoking and schizophrenia, but in particular, the depression and bipolar disorder.
One of the decisive elements is that smoking precedes the diagnosis of these pathologies. Therefore, the average onset of tobacco consumption is at the age of 17, while the average at which they are admitted to psychiatric units is around and after the age of 30.
Speculation
What does the brain, tobacco and mental health have to do with each other? There are three theories: one is the genetic correlation that may be the basis of a common disease. But, perhaps the most interesting thing is that smoking creates an inflammatory process in the brain, which in the long term damages parts of this organ and causes various mental disorders.
A third theory is that nicotine damages the brain by blocking the flow of serotonin in the brain. Nicotine stimulates the production of serotonin in the brain and it inhibits its own mechanisms. This changes the metabolism of serotonin, which means the use of higher doses and, sometimes, produces the opposite effect such as anxiety, restlessness and instability.
