VOA常速英语2008年-New Study Links Smoking Marijuana to Gum Diseas

By Carol Pearson
Washington, DC
06 February 2008
  

Recent studies show that cigarette smoking is one of the most significant factors leading to gum disease. And now, new research indicates smoking marijuana also promotes gum disease even for those who do not smoke cigarettes. VOA's Carol Pearson has more.

For decades, people in the United States -- and in some other countries as well -- have debated whether to legalize marijuana, or allow its use for medicinal purposes.

In the western U.S. state of California, patients in some areas can buy marijuana from a vending¹ machine.

Marijuana is known to ease some aches and pains, but a new study shows that habitual² use can lead to serious gum disease. Those most at risk? Young adults.

Murray Thomson and colleagues at a research institute in New Zealand examined roughly 900 young adults.

"When we were looking at the new cases of gum disease between 26 and 32, fully³ one-third of those new cases were due to cannabis smoking. That really surprised us," Thomson said.

They found even light users -- those who smoked marijuana once a week -- tripled their chances of getting gum disease over those who did not smoke pot. The increased risk held true even for those who did not smoke tobacco.

The researchers say toxins⁴ from marijuana destroy circulation and prevent the gums from being able to heal.

Periodontist Peter Cabrera says if you smoke marijuana, you may not even know you have serious gum disease until you start losing teeth, especially if you start smoking marijuana as a young adult. "So by the time you're in your 40s and 50s, you're likely to have lost a significant number of your teeth."

Gum disease also increases the risk of heart disease and stroke. And unless it is treated, gum disease will progress. This study was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

1 vending   

v.出售（尤指土地等财产）( vend的现在分词 )；（尤指在公共场所）贩卖；发表（意见，言论）；声明

参考例句：

• Why Are You Banging on the Vending Machine? 你为什么敲打这台自动售货机？ 来自朗文快捷英语教程 2
• Coca-Cola had to adapt almost 300,000 vending machines to accept the new coins. 可口可乐公司必须使将近三十万台自动贩卖机接受新货币。 来自超越目标英语 第5册

2 habitual   

adj.习惯性的；通常的，惯常的

参考例句：

• He is a habitual criminal.他是一个惯犯。
• They are habitual visitors to our house.他们是我家的常客。

3 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

4 toxins   

n.毒素( toxin的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The seas have been used as a receptacle for a range of industrial toxins. 海洋成了各种有毒工业废料的大容器。
• Most toxins are naturally excreted from the body. 大部分毒素被自然排出体外。 来自《简明英汉词典》