Smoking cigarettes with tea? Stop now, it could cause these 8 deadly diseases
Combining tea with cigarette smoking may seem like a harmless daily ritual, especially for those seeking a moment of calm. But health experts warn that this pairing could silently wreak havoc on your body.
A 2023 report in the Annals of Internal Medicine revealed that drinking hot tea while smoking significantly increases the risk of developing serious health conditions, including several forms of cancer. This is because hot beverages can damage sensitive internal tissues, and when paired with the carcinogens in cigarettes, the danger intensifies. Here are eight potentially deadly diseases linked to this risky combination:
8 diseases caused by the deadly combination of tea and cigarettes
1. Oesophageal Cancer: A dangerous duo for your food pipe
Hot tea on its own can cause minor injuries to the inner lining of the oesophagus.
Add cigarette smoke, which contains toxic chemicals and carcinogens, and the risk of oesophageal cancer nearly doubles. Over time, repeated thermal and chemical exposure causes chronic inflammation and increases the likelihood of cell mutations that can lead to cancer in the food pipe.
2. Lung Cancer: Smoking's most lethal consequence, made worse
Lung cancer remains one of the deadliest diseases linked to cigarette smoking. When hot tea is consumed regularly alongside cigarettes, it may further irritate and inflame lung tissues.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
See Why Seniors Are Calling This $97 Hearing Aid a Life-changer
ClarityPro MicroCIC Rechargable
Learn More
Undo
This combination enhances oxidative stress and cellular damage, especially in chronic smokers, potentially accelerating the development of cancerous growths in the lungs.
3. Throat Cancer: Heat and smoke damage your voice box
The throat is highly sensitive to both extreme temperatures and chemical irritants. Smoking introduces harmful substances like formaldehyde and benzene into the throat, while hot tea can exacerbate tissue damage. This duo contributes to chronic inflammation, voice changes, and ultimately raises the risk of throat cancer due to constant exposure to heat and toxins.
4. Heart Disease: Double trouble for your cardiovascular system
Nicotine increases heart rate and blood pressure, while the caffeine in tea can also overstimulate the heart when consumed in excess. This combination places extra stress on the cardiovascular system, leading to arterial damage, increased cholesterol buildup, and a heightened risk of heart attacks or other cardiac conditions.
5. Infertility and Impotence: Harmful to reproductive health
Smoking affects hormone levels, sperm count, and blood flow, all of which can contribute to infertility and sexual dysfunction in both men and women.
When combined with the caffeine in tea, which can also disrupt hormonal balance and cause dehydration, the risk to reproductive health becomes more pronounced over time.
6. Stomach Ulcers: A painful price for your digestion
Tea stimulates acid production in the stomach, and nicotine weakens the stomach lining's protective barrier. This dangerous mix makes your digestive tract more vulnerable to erosion and infection, often resulting in painful ulcers. Symptoms may include burning pain, indigestion, nausea, and, in severe cases, bleeding ulcers that require medical treatment.
7. Memory Loss: Cognitive decline starts earlier than you think
Studies show that smoking reduces blood flow to the brain, affecting memory and cognitive performance. When tea is consumed excessively, especially on an empty stomach alongside cigarettes, it may lead to headaches, dizziness, and long-term cognitive decline. Over the years, this habit may contribute to early-onset memory problems and reduced mental clarity.
8. Stroke Risk: Elevated chances of a brain emergency
Nicotine and caffeine both constrict blood vessels and can raise blood pressure. Together, they increase the likelihood of blood clot formation, which can block vital arteries and trigger a stroke. The combined effect is particularly dangerous for people with underlying health conditions such as hypertension or diabetes, making strokes more likely and more severe.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Typhoid cases rise 65%; docs flag diagnostic test dilemma
Pune: Typhoid cases have risen 65% to 112 in the first half of this year as compared to 68 in the same period in 2024, PMC data showed, with experts highlighting an increase in patients with prolonged illness periods, largely attributed to incorrect diagnostic test prescribed by some medical practitioners. Dr Ameet Dravid, infectious disease specialist from Noble and Poona hospitals, said, "The ideal test for typhoid in the first week is a blood culture, but many practitioners are relying on Widal, an antibody-based extremely non-specific test." Experts said the Widal test could yield false positives for any fever. "Despite its unreliability, Widal remains the most commonly prescribed diagnostic tool for typhoid in the first week of illness. The situation is further complicated by random antibiotic prescriptions even before proper diagnosis," Dr Dravid said, recommending junking Widal altogether. You Can Also Check: Pune AQI | Weather in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune "Blood culture is the gold standard test. It will come positive in 50-80% of cases if done prior to giving antibiotics as its sensitivity goes down drastically once the antibiotic is given," he said. The use of incorrect diagnostic test leads to uncertainty in diagnosis, resulting in physicians prescribing unnecessary stronger antibiotics. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like No annual fees for life UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo "When the non-specific test results are inconclusive, practitioners often treat for upper respiratory tract infections. The fever in such cases lasts for around 20 days, after which patients land up with infectious disease consultants," Dr Dravid said. Dr Piyush Chaudhary, infectious disease specialist at Jehangir Hospital, said, "During monsoon, we see a significant number of typhoid cases. Yet, this infection often gets missed in the first 5–7 days because of empirical treatment without proper diagnostics like blood cultures." He said, "Typhoid typically doesn't cause a rise in white blood cells, so unless there's strong clinical suspicion, it can be overlooked... Blood culture is underused because its results take time, making doctors to rely on Widal test, which is highly unreliable." Dr Awanti Golwilkar-Mehendale, director and chief of laboratory at Pune-based AG Diagnostics, said the choice of typhoid test depended on the stage of illness and prior antibiotic use. "Widal tests aren't ideal for early diagnosis. However, if antibiotics have been taken, blood culture results may be unreliable. So, Widal tests might be used later for confirmation. Typhi IgM tests can occasionally yield false positives, making follow-up testing with Widal or blood culture necessary. Additionally, PCR-based tests can be used for early diagnosis," she said. The experts said Widal could be falsely negative in half of true typhoid cases, and falsely positive in half of those who don't have the disease. "In many referred cases, we found that the illness had already progressed as the initial testing was flawed or the patient was put on antibiotics before any diagnostic workup," Dr Chaudhary said. Dr Mahesh Kumar Lakhe, infectious disease expert at Sahyadri Hospitals, said, "Typhoid is a bacterial infection transmitted through contaminated food and water, typically via the fecal-oral route. Eating raw salads, improperly stored food or undercooked milk products can all lead to infection." Blood culture requires an adequate blood sample (ideally 8-10ml) and the organism may take 4-7 days to grow. "We're seeing a number of referrals with prolonged undiagnosed fever. These are often typhoid cases where diagnosis was delayed because the initial physician didn't suspect it or used unreliable tests," Dr Lakhe said, adding, "This season, we are seeing a higher number of 'Salmonella paratyphi A' cases in our lab-confirmed cultures, which tend to have a more prolonged fever course compared to the classic 'S typhi' strain. " Dr Nikhil Phadke, founder-director and chief science officer at GenePath Diagnostics, said while Widal was commonly requested, it was often done using the slide method, which was less reliable than the preferred tube method. "We get very few culture requests," he said, adding that cultures take time while antibody tests (like Widal) give faster results, which influences clinical decisions.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Indian generics wave next year set to sink obesity drug price
As several leading Indian drugmakers are readying to launch the generic versions of Danish drug maker Novo Nordisk 's blockbuster weight-loss drug semaglutide in March next year, its price is expected to crash by as much as 80% from the prevailing rate, analysts told ET. Branded Wegovy , Novo Nordisk's drug is set to lose its patent exclusivity in March in India, triggering a rush of generic copies and making it widely available and affordable. Drugmakers such as Dr Reddy's, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries , Cipla , Mankind Pharma , Torrent Pharmaceuticals , Zydus Lifesciences and Eris Lifesciences are gearing up to enter the market with affordable versions, said senior company executives. This will make adoption among the obese and diabetes patients easier and help reduce the cost of the drug by more than 90% within three-four years from about Rs 17,000-26,000 a month at present, depending on the dosage strength, as per analysts. Productivity Tool Zero to Hero in Microsoft Excel: Complete Excel guide By Metla Sudha Sekhar View Program Finance Introduction to Technical Analysis & Candlestick Theory By Dinesh Nagpal View Program Finance Financial Literacy i e Lets Crack the Billionaire Code By CA Rahul Gupta View Program Digital Marketing Digital Marketing Masterclass by Neil Patel By Neil Patel View Program Finance Technical Analysis Demystified- A Complete Guide to Trading By Kunal Patel View Program Productivity Tool Excel Essentials to Expert: Your Complete Guide By Study at home View Program Artificial Intelligence AI For Business Professionals Batch 2 By Ansh Mehra View Program by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Join new Free to Play WWII MMO War Thunder War Thunder Play Now Undo The domestic weight-loss drug market is expected to expand to Rs 8,000-10,000 crore by the turn of the decade from about Rs 700 crore at present. 'Weight-loss molecules like semaglutide and tirzepatide will be the largest category of drugs in the country in the next 4-5 years,' said Vishal Manchanda, pharma analyst at Systematix Group. 'While semaglutide going off patent will trigger immediate price erosion of 80%, it will also lead to a significant spike in adoption of this class of drugs.' The market size in the first 12- 24 months after the expiry of semaglutide patent in India is estimated to be Rs 4,000- 6,000 crore, before nearly doubling thereafter by 2030, he said. There are about 254 million classified as obese in India and about 40 million are on diabetes medications . 'Looking at the trend in developed markets like the US, the number of Indians taking weight-loss or GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) drugs is pegged at about 1.2 million in the first two years and 4 million by 2029-2030,' said Manchanda. Live Events Currently, about 100,000 people in the country are estimated to be on GLP-1 drugs. Till June, sales of rival Eli Lilly's Mounjaro stood at Rs 50 crore since its launch in March, while Wegovy recorded Rs 2.53 crore within a week of launch. 'Sales volumes of the drug will expand 3-4x in the first year and about 10x in five years,' said Bino Pathiparampil, head of research at Elara Capital. He estimates the Indian market to expand to $1 billion (about Rs 8,800 crore) in the next three to five years. Wegovy is currently priced at Rs 17,345 to Rs 26,050 per pen-filled injection, which comprises a month's dose of four once-a-week shots. It is available in five dosage strengths (0.25, 0.5, 1, 1.7 and 2.4 mg). Mounjaro (tirzepatide) comes in 2.5 mg and 5 mg vials, which are also given on a weekly basis, and is priced at Rs 14,000 to Rs 17,500 for a month's dose. Vyankatesh Shivane, diabetology and endocrinology consultant at Jaslok Hospital & Research Centre in Mumbai, said Mounjaro has captured the major share of the Indian market so far due to its early launch and higher weight loss efficacy. 'Diabetes patients prefer Wegovy, while non-diabetes obese patients prefer Mounjaro,' he said. Mounjaro has a weight loss efficacy of 20-22% while Wegovy has a weight loss efficacy of 16-18%. 'The world will move towards twincretins like tirzepatide because they have higher weight loss efficacy,' Shivane said. Twincretins are dual agonists of both GLP-1 and GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide) receptors that are involved in regulating blood sugar levels and appetite. Novo Nordisk is looking at developing a combination of semaglutide and cagrilintide that could potentially have a 20% higher weight loss efficacy.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
As road turns into muddy field, family forced to carry ailing woman on cot
Koraput: Lack of a proper motorable road forced family members to carry an ailing Lalita Janis (30) on a cot and trudge for nearly 2 km before an ambulance could pick her up and take her to the hospital. But their effort failed to yield result as Lalita died at Koraput Medical College. A similar sight unfolded during her return journey, with family members forced to carry her body back to Jobaguda, a small tribal village in Nabarangpur district, as the ambulance got stuck in the slush on the way. "Due to the pathetic road condition, the ambulance refused to go any further. We had no choice but to carry her body back home the same way as we had taken her from the village," said Harisingh Jani, her husband. On Sunday night Lalita complained of high fever. Her family called an ambulance, but the vehicle could not make it past the knee-deep mud and slush. With no other option, family members placed her on a cot and carried her on foot to Kantasar, from where an ambulance took her to Maidalpur hospital. From there she was referred to Koraput Medical College, where she breathed her last. For around 45 families of Jobaguda, this incident is a grim reminder of a reality they have been living with for years. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like No annual fees for life UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo Despite numerous petitions, pleas, and even protests, they claimed that their demand for a proper road was not met. Villagers alleged that while political leaders and administrative officials frequently visit with promises and assurances, they vanish soon after, leaving the road and the people stuck in the same place. "This is not the first time we have suffered," said an elderly villager. "We even boycotted the last elections hoping it would force some action. Block officials and politicians gave us written assurances, but nothing changed," the villager added. When contacted, Papdahandi block development officer Kapildev Sahu said a kuccha road was constructed to the village under the NREGA scheme last year. "But due to heavy rain, the road has got damaged. This year, it has been included in the action plan, and once sanctioned, the road work will begin," Sahu said.
