Smoking and multiple sclerosis
We spoke to Lauren from the Mayo Clinic about smoking and how it affects the course of MS. In the midst of the crazy-busy poster hall at the MS conference, Lauren managed to give us a good insight into her study:
What do you think of the video? Do you smoke? Ask us your questions and leave your comments below.
What now?
- Simon explains what the MS conference ECTRIMS actually is.
- Watch a round up of current therapies.
- Check out our other research posts and tell us what you think!
GMG said on November 24, 2011
I’m not a smoker but still watched the clip because I think the whole video series has been brilliant. It’s interesting to see how the different interviewees react to the camera – this lady was so smiley!!
anettauk said on November 24, 2011
I found all the videos very interesting
Paula said on November 29, 2011
Re: Smoking and M.S. Has there been research regarding what happens once the patient has stopped smoking? I’ve stopped for 2 years now, and wonder if the damage can be reversed?
Beki said on November 29, 2011
Hi Paula,
I’ve asked the research team here in Whitechapel, London and they’ve come back saying there’s not much data on this.
Dr. Ruth Dobson said:
“Great to quit – not only from an MS point of view, but also for lots of other health reasons!
Re. Smoking and MS – we know that smoking increases the risk of developing MS, but we don’t know how. Risk seems to increase proportionally to the amount smoked (i.e. heavier smokers=more risk). The suggestion is that risk reduces the longer you have given up for.
Smoking and progression – the data is much more hazy! There may be a relationship between smoking and secondary progression (i.e. those who smoke reach secondary progression slightly sooner) BUT this is far from certain. And we really don’t know what the effect of giving up on this is.”
So basically this research is still very early on. But you definitely did a great thing giving up!
Beki said on November 29, 2011
Another great response from Dr. Maria Papachatzaki
“People who smoke heavily for a long period of time had more severe disease at the start, but if they stop smoking, their rate of progression was similar to that of never-smokers. So these studies implied that if a smoker quits or cuts back they possibly can delay disease progression and cognitive deficits.
Quitting smoking is definitely our advice in MS since smoking is being associated with respiratory dysfunction, cardiovascular problems, loss of smell and erectile dysfunction which can complicate MS and can be partially reversible.”
Frances said on December 2, 2011
How many people in your MS smoking population and what is the time frame for the study?
It would also be interesting to know how robust the statistics are.
polq_82@yahoo.com said on December 2, 2011
Hi, my name is Pavlina, 29 years old. I have MS since september 2004. I decided to have a child in 2008 and my baby is born in 2009. After the birth Ms started to attack my body very quickly but in 2010 I made a bee venom therapy. Since than I haven’t received more attacks and I am a smoker. I smoke 3 cigarettes at day exept when we have guest and that’s not very often. When I smoke I don’t see a difference in my condition before and after the cigarette? That’s my oppinion.