Smoking and Botox - When Common Sense and Wishful Thinking Collide

Back in the 1950s and 60s (yes, I'm dating myself, but I was just a kid!) I remember thinking that smoking was a horrible thing. My parents smoked then, and the smell permeated life. It was everywhere. My sisters and I would ride in the back seat of the car and feel carsick from breathing the smoke.

Through this child's eyes, smoking was horrible and I wanted nothing to do with it. All this time later, despite the obligatory friends-try-smoking-in-the-woods-to-be-cool at age 10, I don't smoke. ugh.

Years later, when the horrible influences of smoking on human health were finally revealed, then as additional negatives continue to be revealed, I ask myself why anyone is surprised? All those smokers, on a regular basis, invite poisons into their bodies, all the while in denial that there won't be negative influences on their health... how can they be surprised that they get sick after years of accumulation?

The answer is wishful thinking, in the form of "it happens to everyone else but it's not going to happen to me."

Today, I ask these questions about the new millennium's version of smoking (yes, my humble opinion)... Botox. A report from the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) cites adverse reactions to botox injections. The report addresses Botox Cosmetic. Adverse reactions include "patients experiencing difficulty holding up their heads, dysphagia and ptosis. Some reports described systemic effects that occurred distant from the site of injection and included weakness and numbness of the lower extremities. Among the adult cases that were serious, including hospitalization, none required intubation or ventilatory support."

Among the adverse effects cited for children with cerebral palsy who also received Botox injections -- death.

Botox, a neurotoxin, is a form of botulism. Does it come as a surprise that getting injections of botulism would lead to adverse effects? I think not! And these are short term studies... Botox has only been in mainstream use for 10 years or less. What will those studies tell us in 30 years?

Of course, I have no doubt for those people who are fighting their wrinkles and their normal signs of aging using Botox injections to do so on a regular basis ... wishful thinking will say "it happens to everyone else but it's not going to happen to me."

Where is their common sense? In pursuit of the quick fix, they are willing to put up with injections of botulism...? Hey -- I get the fighting the wrinkles part! But I'll stick to my face cream regimens, thanks.

And does this suggest we need to ask questions of other choices we make, too? Are there other drugs or supplements we aren't vetting well enough to make sure the short term gain (a nicotine hit, or a smooth forehead) doesn't destroy our long-term health?

I don't know the answer. I'm just suggesting that in our quick fix society, an empowered patient knows it's a good question to ask before making choices that common sense would tell us to avoid.

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Photo ©Andreas Rentz/Getty Images

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