Smoking and Depression
Published on April 22, 2008 8:34 AM
Anti-smoking researchers have shown that smokers are generally more predisposed to depression than non smokers. The scientific connection between nicotine addiction and depression has been well documented.
Many smokers start as teenagers, when peer pressure and anxiety are at their summit. A history of depression is a common link between many people suffering from nicotine addiction. Depression has been shown to increase when dependent smokers quit using nicotine. Attempts to quit smoking often lead to a decreased level of pleasure and undesirable mood swings.
Individuals with underlying or current depressive symptoms are more likely to experience mood disturbances when they attempt to quit.
Studies have shown that regular smokers have lower Monoamine Oxidases (MAO) A and B activity. MAO-A is found in the liver, gastrointestinal tract and placenta. MAO-B is mostly found in blood platelets. These enzymes serve many functions in the body, one being the regulation of moods. That’s why when a smoker tries and fails to quit, depression increases.
New research has suggested that there may be something in cigarette smoke that has antidepressant properties, which explains why cigarette smoking is much more common among depressed patients.
A study has shown that smokers who reported at least one episode of major depression were less likely to succeed in smoking cessation programs than smokers without depression.
The U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention consider that $92 billion is lost every year due to cigarette smoking. On average, smokers take 6.16 sick days while non-smokers take 3.86 days per year. Scientists suggest that the productivity loss is due to the depression caused by nicotine addiction and withdrawal. Because of this loss, employers would love help their employees kick the habit.
Employers are constantly searching for ways to increase productivity. Millions of dollars are spent trying to encourage employees to quit smoking and get back to work.