Qom, Iran — Dr. Mohammad Ali-Gol, a faculty member at the Qom University of Medical Sciences, has formally addressed the widespread misconception that smoking acts as a stress-relief mechanism. He stated that the belief in the anxiety-reducing properties of tobacco is scientifically baseless and serves as a deceptive justification for nicotine addiction. In reality, smoking does not alleviate anxiety; rather, it tightens the “chain of anxiety” and fosters a cycle of psychological dependency.
The Fallacy of Survivorship Bias
Addressing the common anecdotal argument used by proponents of smoking—that a “90-year-old smoker” serves as evidence that tobacco is harmless—Dr. Ali-Gol highlighted a significant logical error.
“This is one of the most common yet weakest arguments used to justify tobacco consumption,” Dr. Ali-Gol explained. “It is a clear example of ‘survivorship bias.’ We tend to focus on the outlier who survives, while ignoring the thousands who succumb to lung cancer, cardiovascular disease, or stroke in their 50s or 60s. Much like arguing that seatbelts are useless because one person survived a car crash without wearing one, citing a single elderly smoker ignores the broader statistical reality.”
He pointed out that, statistically, only 3% to 5% of smokers reach advanced ages, compared to 15% to 20% of non-smokers. “Survival in such cases is typically a result of genetic factors and chance, not the absence of harm from tobacco,” he added.
The Illusion of Relaxation: The “Tight Shoes” Analogy
Dr. Ali-Gol clarified the neurological mechanism behind the perceived “calm” that smokers experience after lighting a cigarette. He noted that this feeling is not a reduction in stress, but merely the temporary satisfaction of nicotine withdrawal symptoms.
“The relief smokers feel is akin to a person wearing uncomfortably tight shoes,” Dr. Ali-Gol explained. “When they take the shoes off, they feel relief. However, this doesn’t mean that being barefoot is inherently ‘relaxing’ in a medicinal sense; it simply means they have returned to a state of normalcy after a period of self-imposed pressure. Similarly, nicotine-dependent individuals have lost their natural ability to regulate stress. Smoking only helps them temporarily return to their baseline level of anxiety—it never lowers that level below the natural, healthy state.”
Clinical Evidence: Smoking as a Driver of Anxiety
Dr. Ali-Gol emphasized that scientific literature contradicts the “stress-relief” narrative. Studies consistently demonstrate that:
- Baseline Anxiety: Smokers, on average, experience higher levels of anxiety compared to non-smokers.
- Risk Progression: Initiating smoking is linked to an increased risk of developing anxiety disorders in the future.
- Positive Outcomes of Cessation: Individuals who quit smoking report a significant, meaningful reduction in both anxiety and depressive symptoms.
“Non-smokers do not experience this vicious cycle and generally maintain a lower baseline of anxiety,” Dr. Ali-Gol concluded. “The evidence is clear: smoking does not cure anxiety; it creates and reinforces it.”
