DISCOVERY OF THE MONTH:SMOKE GETS IN YOUR SIGHS

If doctors have their way, the dire health warnings on the side of cigarette packs might have to be changed.

Researchers have discovered that smoking is, in fact, very good for you indeed if you happen to be seriously depressed.

Smokers with a major depressive disorder are more likely to suffer another bout of depression if they have succeeded in giving up the weed compared with weaker willed depressives, a study by the New York State Psychiatric Institute has found.

Some doctors are surmising that tobacco is an antidepressant, and can even help treat a bout of depression, let alone prevent one. However, antidepressant drugs are nowhere near as effective if the patient is already a smoker.

Of course, you are much more likely to contract some fatal disease as a smoker, but at least you’ll die happy (Lancet, 2001; 357: 1929-32).