Secondhand smoke riskier than cholesterol

The risk of clogged arteries is greater from secondhand smoke than from several well-known heart disease risk factors, including high cholesterol, researchers found. The overall prevalence of coronary artery plaque in those exposed to secondhand smoke was 24%, which rose to 26% in those with the highest exposure compared with 19% for the general public, Harvey S. Hecht, MD, of Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City, and colleagues reported online in JACC: Cardiovascular Imaging. Those with the highest amount of exposure to passive smoke were 90% more likely to have coronary plaque compared with the general public. Even after adjusting for other cardiovascular risk factors, the odds associated with developing coronary disease from secondhand smoke were greater than from other well-established danger signs

Smoking rots brain more than high blood pressure and being overweight

Smoking rots the brain, causing brain damage that affects memory, learning and reasoning, a study has found. The research, by Kings College London, found smoking is worse for mental health than having high blood pressure or being overweight. The research; cardiovascular risk factors and cognitive decline in adults aged 50 and over: a population-based cohort study, found the risk of having a heart attack or stroke was associated with cognitive decline. According to the study, published in the journal Age and Ageing, smokers over the age of 50 who had high blood pressure were at greatest risk of suffering a stroke. This group also performed poorly on cognitive tasks that tested memory recall, verbal fluency and attention. A spokesperson from the Alzheimer's Society said: "We all know smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels and a high BMI is bad for our heart. This research adds to the huge amount of evidence that also suggests they can be bad for our head too

Teen smoking linked to earlier death

Teenagers who smoke are more likely to die of heart disease decades down the line, even if they quit by the time they're middle-aged, researchers have found. Still, the worst off were people who started smoking in adolescence and kept up the habit their entire lives. They were twice as likely to die early as were non-smokers, according to findings published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. "The risks are cumulative," said David Batty, who worked on the new study at University College London. "If you smoke across a life course, you're at much higher risk than if you just smoked around the college years," he told Reuters Health. "The positive message is, it's never too late to stop."

Mayo Clinic study confirms smoke-free workplaces reduce heart attacks

Mayo Clinic researchers have amassed additional evidence that secondhand smoke kills and smoke-free workplace laws save lives. Their research shows that the incidence of heart attacks and sudden cardiac deaths was cut in half among Olmsted County, Minn., residents after a smoke-free ordinance took effect. Adult smoking dropped 23 percent during the same time frame, as the rates of other risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and obesity remained stable or increased.

Soviet-era pill from Bulgaria helps smokers quit; its low price holds hope for poor countries

A pill developed in Bulgaria during the Soviet era shows promise for helping millions of smokers cheaply and safely kick the habit, the first big study of it shows. It could become a new weapon to combat smoking in poor countries, but it is unclear whether it will ever reach the market in the U.S. or Western Europe. The drug, cytisine, is now used just in Eastern Europe, where smokers usually take the pill for three or four weeks. Generic versions cost as little as $5 to $17 a month, compared with about $100 for an eight-week supply of nicotine patches or about $300 for a 12-week supply of Pfizer Inc.'s Chantix pill - common treatments in rich countries to help smokers quit. Cytisine "is so cheap that even in developing countries, if you can afford to smoke, you can afford to stop," said Dr. Robert West of University College London. He led the study, published in Thursday's New England Journal of Medicine

Smoking in Canada hits all-time low in 2010

According to new statistics the smoking rate in Canada has dropped to 17% in 2010. This is the lowest level ever recorded, according to annual results of the 2010 Canadian Tobacco Use Monitoring Survey. "The numbers announced today are encouraging, as they show more Canadians are making the healthy choice when it comes to smoking," said the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health. "I am particularly encouraged by the numbers when it comes to youth." According to the 2010 survey, smoking rates have significantly declined for key age groups. For example, in 2010 smoking among teens aged 15 to 17 fell to 9% - the lowest recorded rate in an age group often seen as key in the fight against smoking. CTUMS, a national survey conducted by Statistics Canada on behalf of Health Canada since 1999, provides essential input to the development of sound and effective tobacco control policies and programs, as well as their evaluation

US cigarette makers sue over graphic warning labels

Five tobacco companies have sued the US Food and Drug Administration over a new law that would force them to place graphic health warnings on their cigarette packets. The firms argue the plan violates their constitutional right to free speech, as it requires firms to promote the government's anti-smoking message. The FDA has not commented on the lawsuit. The new warnings will be required on cigarette packs from September 2012 - BBC

Smoking increases heart risk more in women than men

Women who start smoking increase their risk of a heart attack by more than men who take up the habit, according to a review of more than 30 years of research. A study of 2.4 million people, published in the Lancet, showed a 25% difference in increased risk. The reasons are unclear, say researchers. The British Heart Foundation said the findings were "alarming" especially as women tended to smoke fewer cigarettes. The World Health Organization lists heart disease as the world's biggest killer, affecting more than seven million people each year

Smoking kills 500,000 Americans annually

A new study published in the journal, Epidemiology, has found 291,000 smoking-attributable deaths among men and 229,000 such deaths among women annually in the United States from 2002 through 2006. Slightly more men seem to suffer from tobacco-related deaths each year than women, though rates for women were higher than expected, according to researchers. Dr. Brian Rostron of the University of California, Berkeley, used data from a national health survey to obtain these results. Among all current and former smokers, the greatest increase in risk of a tobacco-related death occurred between the ages of 65 and 74. After accounting for other factors such as weight and alcohol consumption, people in that age group were three times as likely to die from any cause if they currently smoked between one and two packs of cigarettes a day, compared to those who had never smoked. Though America has seen great progress in smoking cessation, much still remains to be done.

Fat tax: Arizona's Medicaid program looks at charging smokers, diabetics, obese $50 a year (USA)

Arizona's cash-strapped Medicaid program is considering charging patients $50 a year if they smoke, have diabetes or are overweight. A spokeswoman for the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System said that the fee is intended to rein in health care costs by pushing patients to keep themselves healthy. "It engages the consumer to start having a greater awareness of how they fit into the bigger health care puzzle," said Monica Coury, spokeswoman for AHCCCS. "We want to be able to provide health care to people. And we want to stretch our dollars as far as we can. Part of that is engaging people to take better care of themselves." Some private employers and state governments have instituted higher insurance premiums for workers who are overweight or smoke, but Arizona's plan would mark the first time a state-federal health care program for low-income residents has charged people for unhealthy lifestyles. The fee would apply only to certain childless adults. One part of the proposal affects people with diabetes. Coury says diabetics who fail to follow their doctor's orders to lose weight would be subjected to the $50 charge. Democratic state Sen. Kyrsten Sinema said that isn't fair to diabetics

Nicotine raises blood sugar levels in lab

Smoking is damaging to everyone's health, but the nicotine in cigarettes may be even more deadly for people who have diabetes. In lab experiments, researchers discovered that nicotine raised blood sugar levels, and the more nicotine that was present, the higher the blood sugar levels were. Higher blood sugar levels are linked to an increased risk of complications from diabetes, such as eye and kidney disease. "Smoking is really harmful for diabetics. It's even more harmful to them than to a non-diabetic," said study author Xiao-Chuan Liu, an associate professor in the department of chemistry at California State Polytechnic University in Pomona. "This study should encourage diabetics to quit smoking completely, and to realize that it's the nicotine that's raising blood sugar levels." For that reason, it's also important to limit the use of nicotine replacement products, such as nicotine patches, Liu said. "If you're using them for a short period of time to quit smoking, that's OK. But, if you still have this addiction to nicotine and are using this product long-term, it will do harm. Don't use electronic cigarettes or nicotine gum for a long time. You need to stop nicotine intake," he advised

British Columbia urged to help smokers quit (Canada)

"Anti-smoking groups want British Columbia to join two other Canadian provinces in subsidizing smokers trying to kick the habit. Quebec and Saskatchewan now provide assistance with paying for anti-tobacco medication and counseling, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. reported. Diego Marchese, chief executive of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of British Columbia, said Friday many smokers need subsidies because the Canadian health system and most private plans do not cover them. Barbara Kaminsky of the Canadian Cancer Society of British Columbia and the Yukon said smoking should be considered a chronic condition. "Not supporting people who want to quit sends a mixed message to smokers and to those most at risk to begin smoking -- young people," said Kaminsky. "If we know smoking is an addiction, why won't we help pay for treatment for the estimated 70 percent of smokers who wish to quit?" A survey by the Lung Association of British Columbia and the Heart and Stroke Foundation found there are 55,000 smokers in the province, with two-thirds saying they would like to give up cigarettes"

Smoking 'causes damage in minutes', US experts claim

Smoking damages the body in minutes rather than years, according to research in the US. The report, published in Chemical Research in Toxicology, shows that chemicals which cause cancer form rapidly after smoking. Scientists involved in the small-scale study described the results as a stark warning to people considering smoking. Anti-smoking charity Ash described the research as "chilling" and as a warning that it is never too early to quit. The long term impact of smoking, from heart disease to a range of cancers, is well known. This study suggests the damage begins just moments after the first cigarette is smoked

Evidence suggests role for chemicals in diabetes

"Evidence strongly suggests that some chemicals, especially chemicals in cigarette smoke, might cause some cases of diabetes and obesity, U.S. government researchers said. A committee appointed by the National Toxicology Program went through studies looking at links between diabetes and obesity and chemicals such as arsenic, chemicals found in plastic, pesticides and cigarette smoke. "Some of these associations are pretty strong," said Michael Gallo of the University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey, who led a two-day workshop in North Carolina that ended on Thursday. Especially strong was the link between smoking while pregnant and a child's later risk of becoming obese and developing type-2 diabetes. "It is consistent with our understanding of how diabetes and obesity develop," Gallo told reporters. When a pregnant woman smokes, the baby is often underweight at birth. This can set up a chain of mechanisms that lead to obesity later, which in turn can cause type-2 diabetes. Gallo and others stressed that at least 70 percent of cases of obesity and diabetes are caused directly by eating poorly and exercising too little. But some cases of diabetes, especially in fit, lean people, are harder to explain"

Smoking around your kindergartner could raise their blood pressure

If you smoke around your children, they could have high blood pressure or be headed in an unhealthy direction before learning their ABC's, according to research reported in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association. The study is the first to show that breathing tobacco smoke increases the blood pressure of children as young as 4 or 5 years old. "The prevention of adult diseases like stroke or heart attack begins during childhood," said Giacomo D. Simonetti, M.D., first author of the study at the University of Heidelberg in Germany and currently assistant professor of pediatrics at the Children's Hospital of the University of Berne in Switzerland. "Parental smoking is not only negative for children’s lung function, but poses a risk for their future cardiovascular health." In an extension of a standard school health exam, 4,236 kindergarten boys and girls (average age 5.7) in the German district that includes Heidelberg had their blood pressure measured. Of parents reporting they smoked, 28.5 percent were fathers, 20.7 percent mothers and 11.9 percent were both parents

Quitting smoking linked to lower levels of 'bad' cholesterol

"Smokers who successfully quit may enjoy yet another health benefit: improved cholesterol profiles. A boost in "good" cholesterol comes with quitting despite weight gain after putting out the last cigarette, hints a new study. If confirmed in future research, the finding could shed light on the strong, yet somewhat mysterious relationship between smoking and heart health. Up to 20% of heart disease deaths are currently blamed on smoking, but researchers haven't yet had a clear understanding of what lies behind the effect. Smoking likely affects the cardiovascular system in a variety of ways, including lowered oxygen levels and wear and tear on the heart itself. Some small studies have also shown that smoking lowers good cholesterol (HDL) and raises bad cholesterol (LDL), lead researcher Dr. Adam Gepner of the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, in Madison, told Reuters Health

Smokers to get free nicotine patches (UK)

"Free nicotine patches are to be offered on the NHS as part of a major drive to help smokers quit their habit in the New Year. Coupons giving smokers a week's free trial of the patches will be added to "Quit Kits" for the first time, the Department of Health announced. The kits, which also contain items such as calming audio downloads and "health and wealth" wheels showing the benefits of giving up, will be available at participating pharmacies across the country. The Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) patches work by gradually releasing nicotine into the bloodstream without the cancer-causing substances found in cigarettes. Smokers can double their chances of giving up successfully by using them, and research shows that two-thirds of smokers want to stop. Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said: "Smoking costs the NHS billions every year and can cost a 20-a-day smoker around £2,000 a year, so giving smokers help to quit not only improves their health, but saves them and the NHS money." From January 1, the kits will be at Co-operative and Whitworth pharmacies and later at Sainsbury's, Tesco and Manichem pharmacies, followed by Superdrug and a range of independent pharmacies in February and March"

Smokers and fat patients thrown off NHS waiting lists (UK)

"Smokers and overweight patients in need of major operations could be thrown off hospital waiting lists under "desperate" cost-cutting plans. Patients' groups described the tactics as an "appalling scam" to enable NHS bosses to claim waiting times are far shorter than they are, simply by denying a place in the queue to many of those referred for surgery. Under the plans drawn up by NHS bureaucrats in Kent, any smoker referred for "non-urgent" operations – such as hip replacements or cataract surgery – will not be allowed to join the queue until they have either given up smoking, or completed a 12-week course to help them ditch the habit. Those who are seriously overweight will also be denied a range of operations until they have completed a three-month NHS diet programme. Although every patient has a legal right to be treated in 18 weeks of being referred for treatment by their GP, the protocols agreed mean different rules could be applied for anyone with a body mass index of more than 30, or those who smoke. Patients groups said delays getting a place on 12-week "smoking cessation" and "weight loss" programmes could leave many patients waiting even longer than 30 weeks implied by proposals drawn up by NHS West Kent Primary Care Trust" - Telegraph

Passive smoking 'kills 600,000' worldwide

The first global study into the effects of passive smoking has found it causes 600,000 deaths every year. One-third of those killed are children, often exposed to smoke at home, the World Health Organization (WHO) found. The study, in 192 countries, found that passive smoking is particularly dangerous for children, said to be at higher risk of sudden infant death syndrome, pneumonia and asthma. Passive smoking causes heart disease, respiratory illness and lung cancer. "This helps us understand the real toll of tobacco," said Armando Peruga, of the WHO's Tobacco-Free Initiative, who led the study.

Early anti-smoking advocate: King James I of England?

"According to an article in the British Medical Journal, King James I of England was an early anti-smoking advocate. Published anonymously in 1604, but then credited to the king, his Counterblaste to Tobacco stated that smoking was a:

...custome lothsome to the eye, hatefull to the Nose, harmefull to the braine, daungerous to the Lungs, and in the blacke stinking fume thereof, neerest resembling the horrible Stigian smoke of the pit that is bottomlesse.

Comparing smoking to the smoky fires of hell is pretty strong stuff, but, as the BMJ's Wendy Moore points out, his advice would go unheeded for centuries"