AboutMichael Dean Expertise Can answer
General information on tobacco addiction, and resources for quitting.
Information on current cancer research and the health effects of tobacco.
The risk of smoking for lung cancer and other cancers, as well as SIDS, heart disease, and vision loss.
The best place to start is 1-800-QUIT-NOW
Cannot answer
Specific medical questions
Experience Cancer Researcher for over 20 years
Author of the book "Empty Cribs-The impact of smoking on child health" www.artsciencepub.com.
Author of over 200 scientific articles on cancer, genetics and human disease.
Multiple interviews in print, TV and radio media.
Organizations American Association for Cancer Research
American Association of Human Genetics
Publications Scientific journals (Science, Nature, NE Journal Medicine, etc.)
Scientific American, Discovery Medicine, Nature Reviews in Cancer
Education/Credentials PhD. in Biochemistry from Boston University School of Medicine
Awards and Honors Young Investigator award-American Association of Cancer Research
Question Dear Michael,
I an 14 years old and need to make a project on the effects of tobacco use. I was wondering if you could help me? I know that overtime the use of tobacco can cause cancer and birth defects but i still don't know the immediate effects of using tobacco. What happens to a persons body when they first try tobacco? Does anything change or does it take a while for the damages to really become noticeable? I would appreciate your help very much. Thank you in advance for your time.
Mary
Answer Dear Mary,
Great topic to study. People that smoke begin to show signs of addiction as early as the first cigarette. This is especially true for young girls. There are also immediate effects on the heart. Smokers breathe in carbon monoxide, the same poison that is in car exhaust.
Other changes accumulate over time such as damage to arteries and lungs and the risk for 13 kinds of cancer increases with each day.
There is no evidence for birth defects, but there is a large increase in infant mortality in babies born to women that smoke!
