People who smoke right after getting out of bed may face a greater risk of cancer than those who wait at least an hour before lighting up.
A study conducted by the Penn State College of Medicine, concluded having a cigarette first thing in the morning may increase the risk of lung, head and neck cancers.
“The study is trying to point out that people who light up immediately handle nicotine differently than people who don’t,” said Dr. Patrick Daugherty, of the Northwest Alabama Cancer Center. “Behavior and preference go a long way in this. It’s like some people can take a narcotic and never have a problem; others can look at a narcotic drug and be addicted.
“The message of the study is not to delay smoking — just don’t smoke period.”
According to the study, smokers who lit up within half an hour of waking up were at a 59 percent higher risk for head and neck cancer and 79 percent elevated lung cancer risk compared with those who waited at least an hour.
“These smokers have higher levels of nicotine and possibly other tobacco toxins in their body, and they may be more addicted than smokers who refrain from smoking for a half hour or more,” said Dr. Joshua Muscat, of the Penn State College of Medicine.
Dr. Therese Lango, of the Tennessee Valley Cardiovascular Center, said smoking first thing in the morning affects how much is smoked the rest of the day.
“Someone who lights up right out of bed could be smoking a pack or more a day,” Lango said. “Someone who waits awhile likely will not be smoking as much during the course of the day.”
Florence residence David Ray said he knows people who have their cigarettes and lighter on the night stand next to their bed.
“They light one up before their feet hit the floor,” said Ray, a longtime smoker. “I can’t do that. First thing I do is get a cup of coffee, and then a cigarette.
“I have to have my coffee first. I don’t smoke in the house. I get a cup of coffee, go outside and then have a cigarette.”
Matt Gruber doesn’t smoke any longer, but when he did, he said he couldn’t just get up and start smoking.
“I never had one the first thing. I like to get moving around first,” he said. “My routine was shower, breakfast and then a cigarette. It was a break before getting off to work.”
Ray said he doesn’t see how waiting to smoke can make that much difference.
“Smoking is smoking, the way I look at it,” he said.
Researchers said the risk of lung, head and neck cancer is already high for smokers compared to a non-smoker.
Cancer researcher Robert West said early morning smokers may smoke more intensively.
“The sooner a smoker lights up, the more smoke is taken into the lungs, and the higher the level of exposure to cancer-causing chemicals,” West said.
One of four people in Alabama smokes, said Daughtery, who stopped smoking 20 years ago.
He said when a physician addresses the issue of smoking it is more likely to have more of an effect on the smoker than a television ad.
“And being a former smoker, I know how difficult it is to quit,” Daugherty said. “It’s harder to quit smoking than to give up alcohol. It’s a very powerful addiction.
“Smoking habits are a part of the addiction because they become a ritual. Like smoking first thing in the morning.
"You have to be more intensive when talking with people about stopping smoking. It becomes ingrained in the brain and it takes a long time to overcome that addiction.”
