The other day, a middle-aged couple brought their only son, aged about 23 years, with a complaint of blurred vision and restlessness. On taking detailed medical history, it is learnt that the boy has been smoking Bides and cigarettes from his school days, in other words, from the age of 14 years. His parents did not know about his habit of smoking, which too 15-20 cigarettes daily and occasional bingeing. It is found in research that many individuals develop severe health problems based on their genetic formula.
Yes, smoking can cause sudden vision loss through conditions like ischemic optic neuropathy, which results from reduced blood flow to the optic nerve. Also, blurred vision, poor vision, and several other eye diseases. It also increases the risk for other serious eye diseases that can lead to vision loss, such as cataracts, macular degeneration, and uveitis, though these are often more gradual in their progression.
Smoking can lead to sudden vision loss due to ischemic Optic Neuropathy. Smoking can disrupt blood flow throughout the body, including to the eye, which can damage the optic nerve and cause sudden blindness. Smoking is linked to an increased risk of uveitis, an inflammation of the eye’s middle layer. The symptoms of uveitis can appear suddenly and worsen quickly, potentially leading to vision loss if untreated. Further smoking can lead to gradual vision loss. Smoking accelerates the development of cataracts, which are cloudy areas on the eye’s lens that prevent light from reaching the retina. Symptoms include blurry or cloudy vision.
Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD):
Smoking is a major risk factor for AMD, a condition that damages the macula, the part of the eye that allows to see fine details. This can lead to blurriness, distortion, and blind spots in central vision. However, in some ethnic groups Chutta smoking cigarette smoking are not damaging health on comparison with the other groups in other environmental and geographical regions. A “Chutta” is a crude, hand-rolled cigar made from dried twigs of home-grown tobacco, rolled in a semi-dried tobacco leaf. “Chutta” in several parts of India, particularly in north coastal Andhra Pradesh, is often smoked in a practice called “reverse smoking” where the burning end of the Chutta is kept inside the mouth. The fire at the end of the Chutta causes long-term cancer of the palate.
When comparing reverse smokers to traditional chutta smokers and non-smokers, cytological research revealed that reverse smokers had a higher percentage of high-risk lesions in the hard palate of reverse smokers. According to a research article published in the popular medical journal of Primary Care Dentistry and Oral Health, p 67-74, Sep–Dec 2022, it is found that reverse smokers are more likely to develop precancerous palatal alterations and squamous cell carcinoma of the palate. To make healthy choices, a strong focus on health promotion is required, which includes initiatives that emphasize the need to educate individuals about disease risks. It is necessary to run information campaigns aimed at high-risk groups to influence personal routines and behaviors. Individuals and communities must be empowered to define priorities, make decisions, and plan and implement solutions to improve their health.
Smoking’s effect on genes
Genes are segments of DNA located on chromosomes, and smoking directly impacts both of these, leading to various diseases. The relationship can be understood in three parts: The chemicals in tobacco smoke can damage a person’s DNA, cause mutations or altering genetic function. Research shows that smokers can develop changes in DNA methylation patterns, affecting thousands of genes linked to smoking-related illnesses. While some of these genetic changes can reverse after quitting, some permanent damage can remain.
Genes and chromosomes:
A chromosome is a highly organized structure composed of DNA wrapped around proteins. A gene is a specific sequence of DNA on a chromosome that contains the instructions for making a protein or RNA molecule. Chromosomes, therefore, carry the thousands of genes that determine a person’s traits. Smoking can cause chromosomal defects that increase the risk of disease. For example, studies have shown that smoking can cause chromosome instability and a higher frequency of DNA breaks. One specific and notable effect is the loss of the Y chromosome in the blood cells of male smokers, which may increase their risk of cancer. The genetic damage caused by smoking contributes to a wide range of diseases through several mechanisms:
Cancer
Carcinogens in smoke directly damage DNA, which increases the risk of numerous cancers, including lung, throat, and bladder. Specific gene variants can even increase a smoker’s susceptibility to cancer by affecting their body metabolizes these toxic chemicals.
Heart problems
Smoking can disrupt gene expression and DNA methylation patterns related to cardiovascular health. For example, it can counteract the protective effect of certain genes, causing an increase in fatty plaque in the arteries. This elevates the risk for heart attacks and strokes.
Lung complications
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), where smoking can damage lung tissue and cause epigenetic changes, heritable alterations that affect gene expression without changing the DNA sequence. This leads to a persistent inflammatory response in the lung’s characteristic of COPD. Certain genetic variants also increase a smoker’s risk of developing COPD.
Birth defects
In addition to affecting the smoker’s own health, the genetic damage can be passed down. Paternal smoking has been linked to DNA damage and increased mutations in sperm, which can lead to birth defects, childhood cancers, and fertility issues in offspring.
Behavioral abnormalities:
The interaction between genes and smoking is complex and can also influence behavior of people. Genetic factors account for a significant portion of a person’s risk for nicotine dependence. Certain gene variants can affect how the brain responds to nicotine, making individuals more or less sensitive to its effects and reinforcing the addictive cycle. In the next issue, secondhand smoking and emerging health problems in the family and community will be discussed. To be concluded.
