Smoking
Smoking is the inhalation of the smoke of burning tobacco encased in cigarettes, pipes, and cigars. Casual smoking is the act of smoking only occasionally, usually in a social situation or to relieve stress. A smoking habit is a physical addiction to tobacco products. Many health experts now regard habitual smoking as a psychological addiction, too, and one with serious health consequences.
Smoking - most related articles:
-
Pregnant women need more help to quit smoking - 3.1
-
Smoking linked to mental decline in men - 3.1
-
Stopping smoking boosts everyday memory - 3.1
-
Smoking ban would reduce heart attack admissions in hospitals - 3.1
-
Better Tobacco Control in UK - 3
-
Smoking does not make you happy - 3
-
Anti smoking law helps waiters to quit smoking - 3
-
Pre cessation nicotine patch doubles quit success rate - 2.9
-
Quitting smoking doubles survival in lung cancer patients - 2.9
-
Law enforcement reduces smoking among minors - 2.9
Smoking articles
Cancer is preventable - Obstacles standing in the way of prevention of cancerMore than half of all cancer is preventable, and society has the knowledge to act on this information today. Researchers outline obstacles they say stand in the way of making a huge dent in the cancer burden in the United States and around the world.
Smoking linked to mental decline in menSmoking in men appears to be associated with more rapid cognitive decline or mental decline. Smoking is increasingly recognized as a risk factor for dementia in the elderly and the number of dementia cases worldwide, estimated at 36 million in 2010, is on the rise and is projected to double every 20 years.
Nicotine patches and nicotine gum not effective in helping smokers quit long termNicotine replacement therapies (NRTs) designed to help people stop smoking, specifically nicotine patches and nicotine gum, do not appear to be effective in helping smokers quit long-term, even when combined with smoking cessation counseling, according to a new study by researchers at Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) and the University of Massachusetts Boston.
Smoking causes stroke to occur 10 years beforeNot only are smokers twice as likely to have strokes, they are almost a decade younger than non-smokers when they have them, according to a study presented today at the Canadian Stroke Congress.
Stopping smoking boosts everyday memoryGiving up smoking isn't just good for your health, it's also good for your memory, according to research from Northumbria University.
Cigarette smoking implicated in half of bladder cancers in womenCurrent cigarette smokers have a higher risk of bladder cancer than previously reported, and the risk in women is now comparable to that in men, according to a study by scientists from the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health.
Chantix increases risk of heart attack or arrhythmiaSmoking cigarettes is a dangerous habit that many are struggling to break, but for the smokers who choose to use one of the most popular smoking cessation drugs on the market, new warnings about the risk of serious cardiovascular events are on their way. Use of varenicline – marketed by Pfizer under the brand name Chantix – is associated with a 72 percent increased risk of hospitalization due to a serious adverse cardiovascular (CV) event, such as heart attack or arrhythmia.
Smoking may increase risk of prostate cancer recurrenceResearchers found that men with prostate cancer who were current smokers had a 61% increased risk of dying from prostate cancer, and a 61% higher risk of recurrence compared with men who never smoked. This new study from Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) and University of California, San Francisco, researchers suggests that men with prostate cancer who smoke increase their risk of prostate cancer recurrence and of dying from the disease.
Smoking ban reduces emergency room admissionsWorkplace smoking bans are gaining ground globally, and one study has shown that they may have significant health effects. The study, conducted by researchers in Dublin, found that emergency room admissions due to respiratory illness dropped significantly in Ireland after the implementation of a workplace smoking ban, compared to admissions that took place before the ban went into effect.
Smokers believe silver gold or slim cigarettes are less harmfulDespite current prohibitions on the words 'light' and 'mild', smokers in Western countries continue falsely to believe that some cigarette brands may be less harmful than others.
Healthy lifestyle choices lower risk of a first stroke 80%Healthy lifestyle choices and emergency room interventions can help prevent first-time strokes, according to revised American Heart Association/American Stroke Association guidelines.
Genetic test for lung cancer risk prompts smokers to quitNew research shows a gene-based test for lung cancer risk assessment motivates smokers to quit or cut down, according to results of a clinical study presented today at the American Association of Cancer Research's Ninth Annual Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research.
Life expectancy in US falls behind other countriesAmerica continues to lag behind other nations when it comes to gains in life expectancy, and commonly cited causes for our poor performance-obesity, smoking, traffic fatalities and homicide-are not to blame, according to a study by researchers at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health.
Smoking increases depressive symptoms in teensWhile some teenagers may puff on cigarettes to 'self-medicate' against the blues, scientists at the University of Toronto and the University of Montreal have found that smoking may actually increase depressive symptoms in some adolescents.
Cigarette smoke causes harmful changes in lungs even at lowest levelsCasual smokers may think that smoking a few cigarettes a week is "no big deal." But according to new research from physician-scientists at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, having an infrequent smoke, or being exposed to secondhand smoke, may be doing more harm than people may think.
Headaches in teens tied to overweight, smoking and lack of exerciseTeens who are overweight, get little exercise or who smoke may be more likely to have frequent headaches and migraines than teens with none of these factors, according to a study published in the August 18, 2010, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
Passive smoking may lead to poorer mental healthSecond hand smoke exposure is associated with psychological distress and risk of future psychiatric illness, according to new UCL research that suggests the harmful affects of passive smoking go beyond physical health.
Tobacco companies challenged anti smoking signs in USIn US, 3 tobacco companies Philip Morris, Lorillard and R. J. Reynolds, and trade associations have challenged antismoking graphic images of diseased brains, lungs and teeth.
World No Tobacco Day 2010 focuses on marketing of tobacco to womenIn observance of World No Tobacco Day 2010, the World Health Organization (WHO) is urging global action to protect women and girls against the sickness and suffering caused by tobacco use.
Rheumatoid arthritis incidence on the rise in womenThe incidence of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in women has risen during the period of 1995 to 2007, according to a newly published study by researchers from the Mayo Clinic.
Alcohol consumption may protect against Alzheimer's DiseaseA new study published this month in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease suggests a protective effect of alcohol consumption on the risk of Alzheimer's disease, particularly in women who do not smoke.
Vaccine to help people quit smokingIn a unique twist to a decades-old health crisis, Michigan State University researchers are testing a new vaccine to help people quit smoking and avoid relapses.
Smoking ban would reduce heart attack admissions in hospitalsSmoking ban would save more than $90 million in US and significantly reduce hospitalizations for heart attack, according to a Henry Ford Hospital study.
Candy like nicotine products could lead to accidental poisoningA tobacco company's new, dissolvable nicotine pellet--which is being sold as a tobacco product, but which in some cases resembles popular candies--could lead to accidental nicotine poisoning in children, according to a new study from the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH), the Northern Ohio Poison Control Center, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Smoking may increase multiple sclerosis riskSmoking may increase the risk of multiple sclerosis (MS) in people who also have specific established risk factors for MS. The research is found in the April_7, 2010, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
Weight focused counseling with bupropion help women quit smokingFor women smokers worried about their weight, combining cognitive behavioral therapy addressing weight concerns with the medication bupropion appears more effective than counseling alone to help them quit smoking.
Stress raises memory loss in older diabeticsResearchers at the University of Edinburgh studied more than 900 men and women aged between 60 and 75 with type-2 diabetes, which tends to be common after the age of 40.
Smokers at risk from their own second hand smokeSmokers are at additional risk from breathing environmental tobacco smoke, contrary to the prevailing assumption that such risks would be negligible in comparison to those incurred by actually smoking, revealed by researchers.
Quitting smoking doubles survival in lung cancer patientsPeople diagnosed with early stage lung cancer can double their chances of survival over five years if they stop smoking compared with those who continue to smoke.
Green tea may reduce lung cancer risk in smokersDrinking green tea could modulate the effect of smoking on lung cancer. Results of this hospital-based, randomized study conducted in Taiwan were presented at the AACR-IASLC Joint Conference on Molecular Origins of Lung Cancer, held here from Jan_11-14, 2010.
Stressing the benefits of quitting smoking helps smokersSmokers who received gain-framed messaging from quitline specialists (i.e., stressing the benefits of quitting) had slightly better cessation outcomes than those who received standard-care messaging (i.e., potential losses from smoking and benefits of quitting).
Smoking increases AMD risk even after age 80Smoking, even after age 80, continues to increase one's risk for age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of blindness in Americans over 65.
Obesity in US population, more are overweightIf obesity trends continue, the negative effect on the health of the U.S. population will overtake the benefits gained from declining smoking rates, according to a study by U-M and Harvard researchers published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Nicotine Patch, Lozenge - best for smoking cessationIn a comparison of five different smoking cessation medications, a nicotine patch plus a nicotine lozenge appears most effective at helping smokers quit.
Smoking in pregnancy causes psychotic symptoms in teenagerMothers who smoke during pregnancy put their children at greater risk of developing psychotic symptoms in their teenage years. New research published in the October issue of the British Journal of Psychiatry shows a link between maternal tobacco use and psychotic symptoms.
Public smoking bans reduce heart attacksPublic smoking bans appear to significantly reduce the risk of heart attacks, particularly among younger individuals and nonsmokers, revealed by researchers in a new study.
Anti smoking law helps waiters to quit smokingResearchers from the Catalan Institute of Oncology have studied the impact of the law banning smoking in public places such as bars and restaurants on those working in these places.
Obesity, alcohol use and smoking increase second breast cancer riskObesity, alcohol use and smoking significantly increase the risk of second breast cancer among breast cancer survivors, revealed by researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.
Smokers' tongues fail taste testSmokers have fewer and flatter taste buds. A study of the tongues of 62 Greek soldiers, published in the open access journal BMC Ear, Nose and Throat Disorders, has demonstrated how cigarettes deaden the ability to taste.
Stress and worry hazardous to healthPersonality traits associated with chronic worrying can lead to earlier death, at least in part because these people are more likely to engage in unhealthy behaviors, such as smoking, according to research from Purdue University.
Smoking increases brain lesions and brain shrinkage in MSPeople who smoke and have multiple sclerosis (MS) may be at increased risk of brain shrinkage and increased brain lesions related to the disease, revealed by researchers.
Smoking leads to rapid progression of multiple sclerosisPatients with multiple sclerosis who smoke appear to experience a more rapid progression of their disease, revealed by researchers in the Archives of Neurology.
Pre cessation nicotine patch doubles quit success rateUsing a nicotine patch before quitting smoking can double success rates, revealed by researchers at the Duke University Medical Center. This should be highlighted on nicotine patch labeling.
Boxed warning required for Chantix and Zyban, says FDASmoking cessation drugs Chantix and Zyban are causing unusual changes in behavior, depression, and suicidal thinking in those who have taken these drugs to quit their smoking habits.
Soy, tofu, sprouts can improve COPD symptomsUsing soy products, like tofu, natto, bean sprouts and soy milk, can reduce the risk and symptoms of lung disease i.e. chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Taking 75g of soy products daily is having the most health benefits and improving the lung fuction in human beings.
Heart disease mortality decreased 30% in CanadaHospital admissions and mortality for heart diseases (cardiovascular disease) declined 30% over a 10-year period in Canada, revealed by canadian researchers.
Smoking promotes insulin resistance and then heart diseaseResearchers at Charles Drew University of Medicine and Science in Los Angeles and Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona have discovered a reason why smoking increases the risk of heart disease and strokes.
Evaluating risk factors of sporadic colorectal cancerColorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancers in China. Although the association between the epidemiological factors and sporadic colorectal cancer is not known and still remains uncertain.
Cigarette Smoking Prevalence and Policies in USThe United States is becoming a nation of haves and have-nots when it comes to tobacco control, according to a comprehensive publication on cigarette smoking prevalence and policies in the U.S. that was released today.
Genes and smoking play role in rheumatoid arthritisRecent genetic studies have revealed several new sites of genes that are risk factors for developing rheumatoid arthritis (RA), revealed by researchers in the June issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism.
Tobacco packages must use pictorial warnings, says WHOWarnings on tobacco product packaging increase public awareness of the serious health risks of tobacco use. Images are a particularly powerful and cost-effective vehicle for communicating the risks.
Stem cell clue to lung cancer developmentCancer Research UK scientists have revealed that stem cells become 'activated' in severely damaged lungs and help to repair them, according to a study published in the Proceeding of the National Academy of Sciences.
Statins may help prevent stroke recurrencePeople who take cholesterol-lowering drugs called statins after a stroke may be less likely to have another stroke later, according to research published in the May 26, 2009, print issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
Healthy lifestyle is on decline in USDespite the well-known benefits of having a lifestyle that includes physical activity, eating a diet high in fruits and vegetables, maintaining a healthy weight, moderate alcohol use and not smoking, only a small proportion of adults follow this healthy lifestyle pattern, and in fact, the numbers are declining, according to an article published in the June 2009 issue of The American Journal of Medicine.
Ontario's primary health care reforms questionedOntario has invested millions of dollars into the healthcare system in response to a serious doctor shortage. But despite improvements in primary care, a study out of the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES) has found Ontario's chronically sick and poor are the least likely to benefit from the investments.
Computer programs help for smokers trying to quitTrying to quit cigarettes but don't know how? A new analysis led by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, School of Public Health, suggests that Web- and computer-based smoking cessation programs are worth a try, and fortunately during these tough economic times, many of them are free.
Urine test predicts lung cancer risk in smokersResearchers may have uncovered why lung cancer afflicts some smokers and not others, according to data presented at the American Association for Cancer Research 100th Annual Meeting 2009.
Law enforcement reduces smoking among minorsIncreased merchant compliance with underage tobacco sale laws contributes to lower daily smoking in adolescents and provides a complementary measure to raising cigarette prices in order to decrease smoking rates among youth.
Smoke affects functions of heartSecondhand tobacco smoke and smoke from cooking oil and wood smoke affected cardiovascular function of men and women who were exposed to small doses of the smoke for as little as 10 minutes, according to a study from the University of Kentucky.
Marijuana smoking increases COPD risk for tobacco smokersSmoking both tobacco and marijuana increases the risk of respiratory symptoms and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), found a study in CMAJ.
Pregnant urged to give up smoking before 15 weekWomen who stop smoking before week 15 of pregnancy cut their risk of spontaneous premature birth and having small babies to the same as non-smokers, according to research published on bmj.com today.
Unhealthy lifestyle doubles stroke riskPeople who lead unhealthy lifestyles are more than twice as likely to suffer a stroke than those who eat and drink sensibly, don't smoke, and take regular exercise, finds a study published on bmj.com today.
Smoking kills irrespective of social class and genderA well-off professional who smokes has a much lower survival rate than a non-smoking low-paid worker of the same sex concludes new research published today on bmj.com.
Passive smoking linked to dementiaResearchers from the Peninsula Medical School, the University of Cambridge and the University of Michigan have published the results of the first large-scale study to indicate that second-hand smoke exposure could lead to dementia and other neurological problems.
Bar workers health improved from smoking banThe health of bar workers, who actively smoke cigarettes, significantly improves after the introduction of a smoking ban, reveals research published ahead of print in Occupational and Environmental Medicine.
Genetic influence in social networksResearchers from Harvard University and the University of California, San Diego have found that our place in a social network is influenced in part by our genes.
Smoking linked with most male cancersThe association between tobacco smoke and cancer deaths - beyond lung cancer deaths - has been strengthened by a recent study from a UC Davis researcher, suggesting that increased tobacco control efforts could save more lives than previously estimated.
Healthy, younger adults could be at risk for heart diseaseEven younger adults who have few short-term risk factors for heart disease may have a higher risk of developing heart disease over their lifetimes, according to new findings by a UT Southwestern Medical Center researcher.
US failed to prevent tobacco caused illnessThe American Lung Association released its State of Tobacco Control 2008 report today, which includes a report card that grades the strength of state and federal laws to protect citizens from tobacco caused illness now at the heart of America's chronic disease crisis.
Smoking during pregnancy increases cancer risk in childNew research by the Cancer Institute NSW has provided the strongest indication yet that smoking during pregnancy increases a child's likelihood of developing cancer.
Smoking during pregnancy fosters aggression in childrenWomen who smoke during pregnancy risk delivering aggressive kids according to a new Canada-Netherlands study published in the journal Development and Psychopathology.
Smoke free policy leads to drop in heart attack hospitalizationsHeart attack hospitalizations in the city of Pueblo, Colorado fell sharply after the implementation of a municipal law making workplaces and public places smoke-free, and this decrease was sustained over a three-year period, according to a report in this week's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
5 reasons to be tobacco free this New Year 2009 - FixNixerFor those resolving to become tobacco-free, FixNixer is a new quitting tool that helps people to overcome their tobacco addiction anonymously, with effective methods and motivational support.
Third hand smoke - another reason to quit smokingNeed another reason to add "Quit Smoking" to your New Year's resolutions list? How about the fact that even if you choose to smoke outside of your home or only smoke in your home when your children are not there – thinking that you're keeping them away from second-hand smoke – you're still exposing them to toxins?
Smoking increases colorectal cancer riskAn analysis of previous studies indicates that smoking is significantly associated with an increased risk for colorectal cancer and death, according to an article in the December 17 issue of JAMA.
Second hand smoke raises fertility problems in womenWomen exposed to second hand smoke, either as adults or children, were significantly more likely to face fertility problems and suffer miscarriages, revealed by researchers from University of Rochester Medical Center.
A new research on climate change and public health - WHOA meeting of experts convened by the World Health Organization (WHO) in Madrid agreed to a research agenda to develop an evidence-based framework for action on the human health implications of climate change.
People with mental illness smoke moreAustralians with mental illness smoke at four times the rate of the general population, says a new study from the University of Melbourne.
Indoor pollution in homes in China causing respiratory diseasesIf current levels of smoking and biomass and coal fuel use in homes continues, between 2003 and 2033 there will be an estimated 65 million deaths from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and 18 million deaths from lung cancer in China, accounting for 19% and 5% of all deaths in that country during this period.
Second hand smoke may trigger nicotine dependence symptoms in kidsParents who smoke cigarettes around their kids in cars and homes beware – second-hand smoke may trigger symptoms of nicotine dependence in children. The findings are published in the September edition of the journal Addictive Behaviors in a joint study from nine Canadian institutions.
Electronic cigarette not a safe or proven quitting method for smokersContrary to what some marketers of the electronic cigarette imply in their advertisements, the World Health Organization (WHO) does not consider it to be a legitimate therapy for smokers trying to quit.
Lung cancer among lifelong nonsmokersA new American Cancer Society study sheds light on the ten to fifteen percent of lung cancers that are caused by factors other than tobacco smoking. The study analyzed data on lung cancer occurrence among lifelong nonsmokers in North America, Europe, and Asia and found that lung cancer death rates among never-smokers are highest among men, African Americans, and Asians residing in Asia.
Gene found responsible for smoking habitAnyone who has ever tried smoking probably remembers that first cigarette vividly. For some, it brought a wave of nausea or a nasty coughing fit. For others, those first puffs also came with a rush of pleasure or "buzz."
Brain mechanism revealed to control smoking, nicotine addictionResearchers from the University of Western Ontario provide a better understanding of why some people seem to become hooked with their first smoke and nicotine.
Positive school environments reduce student smokingA survey of high-school children in Scotland has shown that pupils who experience positive and inclusive social environments in schools are less likely to take up smoking. The teachers who succeed in creating a positive environment in school may be responsible for their pupils staying smoke-free.
Better Tobacco Control in UKUK Department of Health has announced certain ideas to reduce the number of people who smoke, like plain cigarette packets with no branding or logos, minimum pack sizes of 20 and a ban on the advertising of cigarette papers.
Second hand smoke increases infectious diseases risk in infantsSecond hand smoke decreases immunity in infants and thereby raises risk of infectious diseases and early hospitalization even in the first year of life in infants, revealed by researchers in the BMJ journal Tobacco Control.
Anti-smoking medicine Chantix banned for pilotsUS Federal Aviation Administration ordered pilots and air traffic controllers to stop taking anti-smoking medicine Chantix immediately, as a new study reported that the anti-smoking medicine Chantix might lead to some health problems in its users and finally may lead safety problems during flight.
Decision to quit smoking appears to be contagiousThe decision to quit smoking appears to be taken up almost communally, with whole clusters of spouses, friends, siblings and co-workers giving up the habit at about the same time, revealed by researchers.
Cholesterol and blood pressure control may reverse atherosclerosisAggressively lowering cholesterol and blood pressure levels below current targets in adults with type 2 diabetes may help to prevent – and possibly reverse – hardening of the arteries, according to new research supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health. Hardening of the arteries, also known as atherosclerosis, is the number one cause of heart disease and can lead to heart attack, stroke, and death.
Cigarettes to be sold in plain cardboard packsCigarettes should be sold in plain, dull cardboard packs, with nothing but the health warning and the brand name allowed, researchers at the School of Public Health have argued.
Pregnant women need more help to quit smokingMidwives and doctors should do more to encourage pregnant women to give up smoking, research suggests. A survey by the Auckland Tobacco Control Research Centre (ATCRC) at The University of Auckland showed that only 11% of midwives and 71% of GPs suggest women abstain completely from smoking during pregnancy.
Aspirin reduces asthma risk in womenAspirin in small quantity on alternate days can cut the risk of developing asthma among women, suggests a large study, published ahead of print in Thorax from UK.
Quit smoking in pregnancy to have easy going childGiving up smoking during pregnancy may boost the chances of giving birth to an easy going child, indicates research in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.
Smoking does not make you happyIf you are planning to ignore the messages of national No Smoking Day on 12th March by claiming that smoking is one of the few pleasures left to you, then recent research from the Peninsula Medical School in the South West of England may make you think again.
Alcohol intake may increase blood pressureThe relationship between heavy drinking and hypertension is more significant than previously thought according to a new analysis of recent studies by researchers at Bristol University, published in PLoS Medicine.
Snoring linked to cardiovascular diseaseLoud snoring with breathing pauses is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and increased health care utilization, according to a study published in the March 1 issue of the journal SLEEP.
Tobacco use, secondhand smoke exposure during pregnancy, may threaten healthRates of tobacco use during pregnancy, as well as exposure of pregnant women and their young children to secondhand smoke, are significant threats to health in several low and middle-income countries, reveals a study from National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Bowel cancer rising in Australia, reports AIHWA new Australian report released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) presents a mixed bag on favourable and unfavourable trends in chronic diseases over time. The report, Indicators for chronic disease and their determinants, 2008, focuses on the 12 chronic conditions that represent a large burden of disease in Australia.
Gene changes after smoking affects lung cancerSmoking plays a role in lung cancer development, and now scientists have shown that smoking also affects the way genes are expressed, leading to alterations in cell division and regulation of immune response. Notably, some of the changes in gene expression persisted in people who had quit smoking many years earlier.
100 Smoking articles listed above.