Menthol verses non menthol

[John]

I have a couple of ? First how many of you smoked menthol? I did & I do know the menthol open me up and I could inhale deeper. Also I've done a small survey among Friends who either still smoke or have recently quit and it seems that the ones who smoked menthol are more vulnerable to copd than the ones who smoke non menthol .I wounder if there is any credence to this ! Can anyone verify the facts that the tobacco co.s put medicines to open up our lungs in their product in the last seven years! This should give every one something to ponder about ! I'm looking forward to your input

[bobbioh]

I smoked Marlboro lights non menthol. My husband smoked menthol. He is healthy as a horse and smoked twice as much as me. bobbioh

[Joyce7]

I always smoked non-mentol...usually Winston lights. For some reason, I have never been able to tolerate the menthol smell. It makes me wheezy. My mother, sister and her children all love to put mentholatum on their lips and around their noses at night. They swear it's addictive and use it religiously. My mother is now deceased but she didn't have copd nor does my sister or her family. My sister has never smoked though. Another reason I never smoked menthol cigarettes is because even when young, the menthol seemed to hurt my lungs and cause me to cough... Joyce

[Vic]

The highest percentage of Menthol Smokers is found among the Afro-American communities, about 3 out of 4 were Menthol smokers. Among caucasian communities the average was exactly reversed...that is to say 1 out of 4. -- Vic

Here are what some top researchers say about menthol in cigarettes:

"Smokers of menthol cigarettes tend to inhale more deeply because menthol has an anesthetic and cooling effect." (Dr. Karen Ahijevych, The Ohio State University)

"Because menthol alters the metabolism of carcinogens in tobacco smoke, it may be the reason for greater mortality and morbidity among menthol smokers." (Dr. Jasjit S. Ahluwalia, University of Kansas)

"Mentholated cigarettes are associated with higher cotinine levels and carbon monoxide concentrations than non-mentholated cigarettes." (Dr. Pamela I. Clark, Journal of Chest Physicians)

"Research has shown that smokers of low- and medium-nicotine menthol cigarettes have as much as three times the exposure to toxic and cancer-inducing agents as smokers of non-menthol cigarettes with comparable nicotine content." (Dr. Karam El-Bayoumy, American Health Foundation)

Revised 9/3/00
The Onyx Group

www.naaapi.org/documents/menthol_factsht.asp

[Blossom/Jackie W.]

You know never I never gave menthol vs non menthol a second thought; makes you wonder

Good finds Vic.

[larrynz]

My wife smoked menthol and I did not, I am the one with COPD

[morningstar]

I always smoked Menthol. Tom didn't he doesn't have COPD I do.

[maryaz]

I never liked Menthol, nor my husband. I have often thought the 'lite' cigarettes were full of more harmful stuff. No real reason.

I smoked Marlboro Reds for many years and my husband. Then for many years I switched and smoked Merit Ulta Lights. You seem to smoke more too that way.

I will always believe there is maneuvering by the tobacco companies in all of this. I wonder how many Marlboro Red smokers have COPD. It is awful popular cigarette.

These type subjects are really interesting. I think cleansers add to lung destruction too. Vanish granulas I put in toilet and every time I looked away due to fumes. I used lots of aersol lysol spray. But that is a whole other subject. Goodnight.

[Vic]

Larry -- As you know, some smokers could smoke the living room sofa and never get COPD, while others could get it from the second-hand smoke from those same sofas.

Mary -- I sure do agree with you about cleansers. Also, I spent a great number of my working years in a very high anhydrous ammonia fumes area and this is now known to be a causative factor for COPD.

BTW, BH may not understand your meaning when you said: "I never liked Menthol, nor my husband." -- Vic

[larrynz]

I agree with you Vic
I think it comes down to smokes plus the sort of thing talked about in 'Occupational Causes'

[LindaNY]

I always smoked non menthol.

Several years ago, my doctor said ( and I saw a big discussion on this, on another forum, a couple of years ago)
that the cigarette manufacturers put bronchodialtors in the tobacco.
I was told this when I said that I could breathe much better when I did smoke.

[bobbioh]

i smoked non menthol I have COPD my Husband smoked menthol is fine. bobbioh we both smoked lights