Where can I find research proving Coffee is not more harmful then cigarettes?

Question

Some one I know foolishly believes that Caffeine and Coffee is worse then cigarettes. I know that caffeine is considered more addictive, but I am trying find substantial research to disprove their idiotic statement that, “Coffee is worse for you then Cigarettes, go look it up, it’s a fact”.

Answer 1

Setting aside the argument over whether caffeine is more addictive than nicotine (and research suggests nicotine is FARRR more addictive than caffeine - even moreso than heroin or cocaine)...

There is a plentitude of medical literature that proves a significant correlation between smoking and the development of lung cancer, cardiovascular disease, and adverse cardiovascular events, such as stroke. Smoking also hastens the progession of existing disease, and it has long been known that smokers recover significantly slower than non-smokers after surgery.

In short, there is not much that can be stated with absolute certainty in medical science. One thing that can be stated with near certainty however is the fact that smoking kills, hastening the death of millions.

On the other hand, although caffeine might be addictive, there are no studies that really correlate caffeine intake with adverse health outcomes. In addition, there are promising studies that show certain health benefits correlate with the intake of certain caffeinated beverages such as teas and coffees.

By contrast, nearly every study in which smoking is considered a variable shows an increased incidence of adverse outcomes among smokers.

Tell your friend to consult the New York Times Health section, the Journal of the American Medical Association, and the New England Journal of Medicine.

Answer 2

I believe UCLA did a study on the effects of Caffeen. It leaches calcium from the system, but it stimulates neurological activity. By the same token, cigarets increase the risk of cancer and cause a drop in the oxygen going to the brain.

I have a book called Licit and illicit drugs that says something to that effect, but it is not a recent book, so should not be used as a source. The people at "Truth" should also not be used. They have a way of presenting facts desceptively and tend to draw skewed conclusions from the facts.

Cigarets are a LOT more dangerous, and I wish I knew better sources, but I thought you should know where not to look.

Answer 3

I think there are too many things to consider when you say "more harmful". If one causes stomach cancer and the other causes lung cancer (just as an example), then "more" will not help the situation.

Now if you find data on deaths caused by useage or percent of users killed by use, then you'd have something you can compare. With that, you may be able to do a few web searches for "smoking kills in a year" or "percent of people coffee" to find some numbers.

Answer 4

Hmm good question, but honestly if your friend believes that coffee is worse for you, I don't think finding research will make them believe you. Something like that happened to me. Different though, it was with Marijuana and Cigarettes though not as different as coffee and cigarettes.

I'd try google or yahoo and search under "caffeine health reports" and "cigarette health reports". I'm sure if you search an FDA site. www.fda.gov you can run searches on the site for different things. Maybe even getting two different reports and comparing. I wish you luck!

Answer 5

Drinking 4 cups or more of coffee a day increases heart diseases with 64%. Now the combination of coffee and cigarettes is very harmful!

Answer 6

Try looking up The American Lung Association, and The American Cancer Institute on your search engine. I know they have websites. You might have to go to "Contact Us" to have them email you the information you're looking for.

Answer 7

tell em to read a pack of smokes