Sunday 31 October 2010

Can I Ask My Boyfriend's Pals to Stop Smoking? - FrumForum

Writing in the Globe and Mail, David Eddie hears from a reader who’s trying not just to get her boyfriend to stop smoking, but all of his friends too.  The reader writes:

I have been dating someone for seven months, and I enjoy spending time with his friends and family.

But the whole group smokes, including my boyfriend when he’s with them, and I don’t. It’s gotten to a point where I’m left alone inside while they go outside to smoke in a little group, or if I go outside, I have to stand off to the side.

They also smoke in the car, albeit with the windows open, but we usually take road trips together. I don’t have an allergy or asthma, and I grew up with a family that smoked, so I don’t feel like saying anything that could prompt a “smug non-smoker” reaction. But if I don’t, I fear it’s going to have a serious effect on my relationship with my boyfriend because I’m going to want to go out with them less. He has agreed to not smoke when we are all together, but I don’t know if I have the right to ask them to change their habits. What should I do?

Eddie responds:

I think your way is clear with your boyfriend’s smoking fiends – oops, I mean, friends. First of all, you’re well within your rights to ask them to refrain from filling the vehicle with their fumes on road trips. Res ipsa loquitur: the thing speaks for itself. Or, to use more contemporary terminology: Duh! Even with the windows open, it’s a pretty closed environment, and their right to smoke ends where the tips of your pristine pink lungs begin.

I don’t know how they’ll wind up servicing their habit on the road – pull over, go down in the ditch, smoke and jump back in, maybe – but that’s their problem. …

Click here to read the rest.


View the original article here

Patriots to promote Lung Cancer and Stop Smoking Awareness Sunday - Patriots.com

As part of the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation's season-long 'Kick Cancer' initiative and in partnership with Brigham and Woman's Hospital, the Patriots will promote lung cancer awareness and stop smoking awareness at the October 31 game versus the Vikings. Fans will receive fun flags, information about lung cancer awareness and hear special messages from LB Rob Ninkovich about lung cancer prevention during the game.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (October 29, 2010) - As part of the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation's season-long "Kick Cancer" initiative, and in partnership with Brigham and Women's Hospital, the Patriots will promote lung cancer awareness at the October 31 game at Gillette Stadium versus the Minnesota Vikings.

"Through the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation, we have teamed up with our local hospitals to help raise awareness about the importance of cancer screening and prevention," said Patriots Chairman & CEO Robert Kraft. "While one of our primary goals is to draw attention to women's cancers that are difficult to detect and screen, our hope throughout the season is to raise awareness for all cancers and to stress the importance of regular screenings to all of our fans. For Sunday's game, we are focusing on a cancer that is almost entirely preventable, yet is a disease that kills more Americans than breast, colon and prostate cancer combined. We are proud to partner with Brigham and Women's Hospital this weekend to promote the lung cancer prevention."

New England Patriots Charitable Foundation "Kick Cancer" partner Brigham and Women's Hospital will be at Gillette Stadium Sunday distributing 40,000 fun flags promoting smoke-free living and featuring information about lung cancer. Brigham and Women's Hospital will also host locations throughout the stadium where Patriots fans can receive literature about lung cancer and stopping smoking.

During the game, Patriots linebacker Rob Ninkovich will appear in a public service announcement on the stadium's video screens encouraging Patriots fans to quit smoking. He joins fellow linebacker Gary Guyton, kicker Stephen Gostkowski and punter Zoltan Mesko as Patriots players who have filmed public service announcements asking Patriots fans to help "Kick Cancer."

Ninkovich was glad to be Sunday's "Kick Cancer" representative. "My grandmother had lung cancer and she never even smoked," he said. "She got it from second hand smoke and being around it her whole life. She got through it and she beat it, but it's something that is really hard to go through and it's hard to beat. I would say if you have a history of any type of cancer in your family, you should go get checked out."

The Patriots' "Kick Cancer" initiative will continue throughout the season as the Patriots aim to raise awareness about cancer through messages to fans and the distribution of educational material at home games in partnership with Brigham and Women's Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital - the founding hospitals of Partners HealthCare - and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

For more information about the "Kick Cancer" initiative, including resources and information about cancer prevention and screening, visit www.patriots.com/community.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS CHARITABLE FOUNDATION "KICK CANCER" GAME SCHEDULE:
October 31 ........................... Minnesota Vikings......................... Lung Cancer and Stop Smoking Awareness
November 21 ....................... Indianapolis Colts ........................ Childhood Cancer Awareness
December 6 ......................... New York Jets.............................. Colon Cancer Awareness
December 19 ....................... Green Bay Packers....................... Prostate Cancer Awareness
January 2 ............................. Miami Dolphins............................. Kick Cancer Celebration with Survivors and Caregivers


View the original article here

NYC Sees The Benefits When People Stop Smoking - News Aura

New York City Smoking

New York City has seen a decline in the number of smoke related deaths, as numbers of smokers in the city have dropped. Cardiovascular disease is down 27%, cancer is down 9%, and respiratory disease is down 12%.

Health Department Commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley says “Smoking still kills more than 7,000 New Yorkers each year, and thousands more will suffer smoking-induced strokes, heart attacks, debilitating lung diseases and cancers. It’s never too late to quit smoking. We want to help smokers to do just that.”

Did you know that there are benefits when you decide to give up smoking? For starters, there are a lot of hazardous factors that may cause death and can’t be prevented such as alcohol abuse, drug abuse, accidents, and diseases that are not 100% treatable, apart from all of this factors, cause of death will be prevented when you stop smoking. Once you quit smoking. More years will be added to your life. Most people know about all of the harmful effects of smoking but sometimes especially when you have been doing the habit almost half of your life, the compulsion to smoke is really very, very irresistible. Even if we know all the benefits that we would get once we stop smoking, quitting is really not that easy. It’s always easier said than done.

The good thing is even if you’re having a hard time quitting the smoking habit; it will be a good start to acknowledge the fact that smoking is bad for your health. This acknowledgement may lead to the possibilities of taking steps to gradually stop smoking. Even if you haven’t officially committed yourself at least you’re open to the idea of quitting to smoke.

There are a lot of ways to stop smoking. All you need is a lot of determination and self-discipline. Finding out about all the health problem’s and diseases that smoking can cause you might be a helpful step for stopping. Smoking may cause cervical cancer in women, for pregnant moms this can cause premature birth, low birth weight, and also miscarriages. It may be the cause of impotence for smoking men, other health problems include strokes, heart diseases, lung cancer, pulmonary diseases and osteoporosis, brittleness of the bones which results to higher susceptibility to fractures. Your taste, sense of smell and breathing will also be affected by smoking.

Physiological and physical dependence to smoking is caused by the nicotine in tobacco or cigarettes. You might be determined to stop but the desire to smoke will always be stronger making it very hard to resist. It is explained to be a complex form of smoking addiction. Unpleasant withdrawal effects are experienced when smoking is stopped and sometimes it becomes the reason for continuing the habit all over again. Breathing secondhand smoke may also cause potential health risks. Non-smokers who are living with people who smoke will increase their risk of having lung cancer and heart diseases by 25%.

Think of all the benefits you will gain when you stop smoking for good. First of all, it will be granted the pleasure of living a longer life and improve the quality of your health. You’ll have more money to save and because smoking is the cause of damage and wrinkled skin, you will start to look better too.

Support and encouragement from family and friends will make it much easier for you to stop smoking especially smokers who seek professional help. They will have much higher chances of successfully quitting to smoke than smokers with willpower to depend alone.

Short URL: http://www.newsaura.com/?p=1091


View the original article here

Smart Herbs and Teas Announces Smoking Cessation Herbal Tea Blend to Help ... - RedOrbit

Posted on: Saturday, 30 October 2010, 00:00 CDT

Jeanie and Malva Cadle of Smart Herbs and Teas have developed a popular all-natural herbal tea blend that eases the cravings of cigarette addiction, while cleansing the body of nicotine that cost just 30 cents per cup. Smokers can call (866) 331-9404 for consultations. Purchases can be shipped for a small fee.

Oakland, CA (Vocus) October 29, 2010

Smart Herbs and Teas’ Smokers Herbal Tea Blend reduces cravings for nicotine, helps clear congestion, and stimulates the immune system Unlike nicotine supplements, like gums and patches, which prolong nicotine addiction, Smart Herbs and Teas medicinal tea blend for smoking cessation helps the body cleanse itself of nicotine and other toxins.

“Nicotine substitution methods do not work and are a waste of time and money,” said Jeanie Cadle. “Our all natural, organic, medical tea blend helps the body get rid of nicotine, while reducing cravings and helping the body heal itself.”

Marva and Jeanie’s blend contains sage, mullein, red clover, and marsh mallow. Sage is an antibiotic that helps fight infection and contains antioxidants that keep free radicals from damaging tissue and cells. Mullein is a calming, anti-inflammatory herb that helps the respiratory tract and lungs. Mullein is often used for cold, cough, asthma, and bronchitis. Red clover also helps relieve cough, colds, and bronchitis. Marsh mallow strengthens the immune systems, relieves inflammation, and helps protect the mucus membranes of the lungs and intestines. It also helps slow the aging process

“You can brew our Smoker’s tea blend or smoke it,” said Marva Cadle. “People use it as a substitute for tobacco, sometimes blending it with tobacco to wean themselves off.”

The smoking cessation medical tea blend costs $4.50 per ounce plus shipping fees. An ounce of the tea blend yields about 12-15 cups of tea.

For more information about Smart Herbs and Teas’ products and services or to subscribe to their newsletter, contact Jeanie or Marva Cadle toll-free at (866) 331-9404, visit their shop located at 3639 Grand Avenue, Oakland, CA 94610, or view their website: http://www.smartherbsandteas.com.

About Smart Herbs and Teas
Smart Herbs and Teas is a family owned and operated business that specializes in herbal tea blends for health and enjoyment. They create custom medicinal tea blends from over 150 high quality, organic herbs and teas they house in their Oakland, California shop.

For the original version on PRWeb visit: http://www.prweb.com/releases/prwebstop-smoking/tea/prweb4716984.htm

Source: prweb

More News in this Category


View the original article here

Friday 29 October 2010

Do you want another reason to stop smoking? - About - News & Issues

Smoking cigarettes has long been known to have detrimental effects on the body, contributing to problems such as heart disease and lung cancer. Do you need yet another reason to kick the cigarette habit? How about the health of your bones...

Research has also shown that smoking cigarettes has significant effects on the bones that make up your skeleton. This is important for all of us, but will become even more important if you should ever have a fracture of your bone. Then, you could be in trouble...

Related: How To Stop Smoking | How To Speed Bone Healing


Photo ? Yvan Dub?


View the original article here

Want to stop smoking? Become an early bird - msnbc.com

New York — Night owls may be more likely than early birds to smoke, and less likely to kick the habit over time, a new study suggests.

Researchers found that among more than 23,000 twin pairs followed for up to 30 years, those who described themselves as "evening types" -- usually alert at night and bleary-eyed in the morning -- were more likely to be current smokers and less likely to quit over time compared with morning people.

In line with that lower quit rate, night owls who smoked were also more likely to fit the diagnostic criteria for nicotine dependence than their early-bird counterparts.

The findings, reported in the journal Addiction, do not necessarily mean that there is something about being a night person that raises smoking risk.

What you should eat (and avoid) to beat breast cancer When it comes to reducing breast cancer risk, you can’t change your family history. But you can change your nutritional habits, and that could go a long way in decreasing your risk.

When vital drugs run out, patients pay the price Why sitting all day is slowly killing you What really happened? Guys often clueless in bed Chemicals in flooring and wallpaper raise worries

One possibility is that nicotine, which is a stimulant, tends to keep smokers up at night, according to lead researcher Dr. Ulla Broms of the University of Helsinki in Finland.

However, she told Reuters Health in an email, "We primarily believe that it is more likely that evening persons are more prone to initiate smoking and have greater difficulty quitting smoking."

Whether that is in fact the case, and the underlying reasons for it, are not yet known, Broms said.

One potential explanation, she noted, is that evening types are more likely to stay out late at bars and restaurants, where smoking is common (or was during the study period). Such surroundings can reinforce current smoking and thwart quit efforts.

In addition, Broms and her colleagues write in their report, evening types could be more prone to addiction and pleasure-seeking behavior than morning people. Aspects of the brain's dopamine and opioid systems, which are involved in reward-seeking and addiction, might be related to both a person's tendency to be a night owl and to smoke.

Updated 85 minutes ago 10/29/2010 5:35:37 AM +00:00 Halliburton admits skipping test on Gulf well cement Ark. school official resigning over anti-gay screed Jury convicts Anna Nicole's boyfriend, psychiatrist Rampant drug violence puts Mexico 'in peril' After miscarriage, Mariah is expecting Tsunami devastation

The findings are based on data from a long-running study of Finnish twins born before 1958. In 1975, 1981 and 1990, participants were asked about their current smoking habits; during the 1981 survey, they were also asked about their tendency to be evening or morning types.

Overall, 30 percent said they were "clearly" morning types -- being "morning bright and evening sleepy." Ten percent said they were clearly evening types ("morning sleepy and evening bright").

The rest of study participants said they were to "some extent" either a morning or evening person.

Broms' team found that evening types had the highest rates of smoking at all three surveys. In the 1975 survey, 43 percent were current smokers, versus 27 percent of morning types. In 1991, those figures were 35 percent and 21 percent, respectively.

Smoking rates among "somewhat" morning types were slightly higher than those of full-fledged morning types, but lower than those of "somewhat" evening types.

When the researchers accounted for several other factors -- including age, self-reported drinking habits and participants' scores on a measure of depression symptoms -- evening types showed a three-fold greater chance of being a current smoker at any point compared with morning types.

In addition, among participants who were smokers in 1981, evening types were 27 percent less likely than morning types to have quit by 1990.

Night owls also showed higher rates of nicotine dependence, as measured by a standard questionnaire given to a sub-group of heavy smokers between 2001 and 2005: 73 percent of current evening-type smokers were nicotine-dependent, versus 48 percent of morning-type smokers.

One of the limitations of the study is that people's tendency to be evening or morning types was measured only once. Broms said that future studies should look at whether changes in those patterns over time are related to smoking habits and quit rates.

If the tendency toward night owlish-ness does in fact have some effect on quitting, there could be practical implications, according to Broms. Evening types who are aiming to stop smoking could try changing their sleep-wake habits to see if that aids their quit attempt.

Copyright 2010 Thomson Reuters. Click for restrictions.


View the original article here

Local group Nappy Roots works with Metro Health to help teens stop smoking - WHAS 11.com (subscription)

(WHAS11)  The Metro Health Department has launched a new campaign using text messages as a way to get teens to stop smoking; and they’ve recruited members of the group Nappy Roots to help spread the word.

Nappy Roots group members B-Stille and Clutch stopped by the WHAS11 studios on Thursday to give us more information about this campaign.


View the original article here

Pharmac says stop-smoking drug will be closely monitored - Radio New Zealand

Updated at 1:29pm on 28 October 2010

Drug-buying agency Pharmac is to fund another treatment to help people quit smoking.

The smoking cessation treatment known as Champix will become available next week on prescription for adults.

The move is part of a multi-product agreement between Pharmac and the drug firm Pfizer.

Pharmac medical director Peter Moodie says Champix will be part of Medsafe's Intensive Medicines Monitoring programme, because of safety concerns.

Dr Moodie says anyone wanting to go on Champix should have first tried other simpler treatments, such as nicotine replacement therapy, Zyban, and nortriptyline.

Copyright © 2010, Radio New Zealand

hide window

Audio is categorised based on the frequency of the programme it was heard in. Click on the headings below to access the programmes. If you are unsure where to look, try the audio search or the latest audio page.

Streams are in Windows Media format. Mac and Linux users see our help section.

If you use Windows Vista and streaming has stopped working see our help section.

Downloads and Podcasts are available on selected programmes. Our podcast page has a complete list of feeds.


View the original article here

Thursday 28 October 2010

Smokers blow £2M NHS cash - Hartlepool Today

THE cost of treating patients for smoking-related illnesses in Hartlepool topped £2m in just 12 months, new figures have revealed.NHS Hartlepool last year footed a bill totalling £2,228,219 for hospital admissions of adults aged over 35 for conditions linked to smoking.

But Hartlepool, where an estimated one in three adults smoke, leads the way nationally for helping people quit.

Last year Hartlepool's Stop Smoking Services persuaded 1,934 people to give up cigarettes by holding clinics in community centres, pubs, and children's centres across the town.

Carole Johnson, health improvement lead for NHS Hartlepool, said: "Smoking rates and deaths from respiratory disease in Hartlepool are higher than the national average and the town has a high incidence of lung cancer, particularly among women.

"Hartlepool has an extremely successful Stop Smoking Service. Once again for 2009-2010 Hartlepool achieved the highest four-week quit rates in the country.

"Overall in Hartlepool there has been a steady decline in smoking prevalence."

The PCT added it was doing a number of things to tackle smoking in the town, including helping pregnant smokers to quit and a training programme for staff who work with children and families on the dangers of second-hand smoke.

Dr Katie Elmer, consultant chest physician at the University Hospital of Hartlepool, said smoking is a major cause of early death in the town and warned admissions for chest conditions are expected to rise during winter.

She said: "The biggest thing anyone can do to improve their health is to give up smoking."

Figures for smoking-related hospital admissions were released by the Association of Public Health Authorities Observatories (APHO), a public health intelligence organisation.

The cost for neighbouring North Tees primary care trust, which covers Billingham, was £4,017,653, while County Durham PCT, which covers Peterlee and east Durham, reached £11,493,469.

The figures come as the APHO publishes tobacco profiles for the North-East detailing levels of illness and avoidable death caused by smoking.


View the original article here

Anxiety Disorders Make It Harder to Stop Smoking - Medscape

In order to use Medscape, your browser must be set to accept cookies delivered by the Medscape site. To find out how to adjust your browser settings to accept cookies, please click here.

Medscape uses cookies to customize the site based on the information we collect at registration. The cookies contain no personally identifiable information and have no effect once you leave the Medscape site. You can read more about our use of cookies in our privacy policy.


View the original article here

Wednesday 27 October 2010

Tenants must stop smoking or leave apartment complex - Mid Columbia Tri City Herald

Residents at Keewaydin Plaza and Sunnyslope Homes in Kennewick have until Sept. 1, 2011, to crush their smoking habit or vacate their apartments and duplexes under rules adopted Tuesday by the Kennewick Housing Authority board.

The new smoke-free rule takes effect Feb. 1, requiring current residents to sign new leases agreeing to the rule by March 1.

But current residents will be allowed to take advantage of a grace period until Sept. 1 if they sign an exemption that will allow them to smoke in their rooms until then. After that, though, they will have to quit the habit or move.

Housing board members also agreed to establish designated smoking areas at Keewaydin Plaza, Sunnyslope Homes and Mitchell Manor -- the authority's three properties in Kennewick which provide about 150 public housing units.

Tuesday's decision came after the five-member board weighed the desire to have a smoke-free policy with concerns of residents who protested being forced to quit smoking.

"This is going to be hard for a lot of our elderly people," said Debbie Hathaway, who lives in the 66-unit high-rise Keewaydin Plaza at Washington Street and 6th Avenue.

"We are being isolated and mistreated simply because we are handicapped," added Caroline Aldridge, a former resident of Keewaydin Plaza who said as a former smoker she sympathizes with those who still have the habit.

Board member Laurie Tufford said she had heard the concerns and wanted to make the smoke-free rule as easy on the residents as possible.

"This has really caused some havoc at Keewaydin. They are very passionate about this," Tufford said.

Jack Robinson, a Keewaydin Plaza resident, suggested the board declare all units smoke-free except those occupied by smokers.

Then when the smokers leave on their own it could declare those units smoke-free.

"It might take a year or two or five, but eventually you'd have everything smoke-free," he said.

Christopher Webb, who sits on the board as a resident of Sunnyslope Homes, said he would support a smoke-free rule if the board would help residents by designating smoking areas or helping them find other housing.

Board president Amy Ward, who is executive director for Tobacco Free Benton-Franklin Counties, supported having designated smoking areas.

"(Without it) we would be encouraging people to break the rule," she said.

Ward said public housing agencies in Walla Walla, Franklin and Umatilla counties already have smoke-free policies.

"We are the doughnut hole," she said.

But Ward did not support the motion to establish the smoke-free policy with designated smoking areas and the six-month grace period. She abstained, while the four remaining board members voted for it.

Board member Tom Moak proposed the grace period, saying it wasn't right to force elderly and disabled residents to go outside in the middle of winter for a smoke.

Home smoking ban in works

Residents of Keewaydin Plaza and Sunnyslope Homes in Kennewick would be banned from smoking in their homes if the Kennewick Housing Authority decides today to proceed with new rules.

The authority board is to meet at 1:30 p.m. in the community center at Sunnyslope Homes, 1915 W. Fourth Place, in Kennewick to consider adding the smoke-free policy to its lease agreements, effective Feb. 1.

About half the tenants in the 66-unit Keewaydin Plaza signed a petition protesting the smoking ban. Tenants who refuse to sign the new lease would be required to move out within 30 days.

Kennewick housing residents may face ultimatum: Kick the habit or get kicked out

KENNEWICK — More than two dozen residents at Keewaydin Plaza on Sixth Avenue in Kennewick are protesting a proposed ban on smoking at the 65-unit public housing facility, saying it would force evictions for those who can't give up the habit.

"I think it sucks. I'm a smoker. This is not fair at all," said Sheila Wolf, who has lived in the Kennewick Housing Authority's high-rise apartments for four years.

Wolf, who uses a wheelchair to get around, is one of 30 people who signed petitions objecting to the proposed change in the lease agreements that would take effect Feb. 1.

Spain says 'Adios' to smoking in bars, cafes

Spain, famed for its smoke-filled bars, corner cafes and restaurants, set the stage Wednesday for a tough new anti-smoking law that will rid the country of its dubious status as one of Western Europe's easiest places to light up.

The bill passed by parliamentary commission calls for transforming all bars and restaurants into no-smoking zones, bringing Spain in line with the European Union's strictest anti-smoking nations and many U.S. states that bar smoking in enclosed public places. It's expected to pass the Senate and become law on Jan. 2.

The law also will make Spain a tougher place to smoke than many other European countries where bars and restaurants are still allowed to have smoking sections, and will prohibit smoking in outdoor places such as playgrounds and the grounds of schools and hospitals.

Library staff call former boss 'bully'

Danielle Krol's exit from the Mid-Columbia Libraries was welcomed by some of her current and former staff.

"She was a visionary and I give her credit for bringing the library out of the Dark Ages, but she was a textbook bully," said Ann Reeves, who worked for 21/2 years under Krol in staff training.

"She had the board convinced she had everything going well, but it was all about control. Staff was forbidden to speak to any board member," Reeves said.

Social service agencies seeing increased demand

People working in social services in the Tri-Cities are seeing a rising demand despite the relatively stable local economy.

They also are seeing government funding cuts for welfare programs and reductions in charitable giving, leaving more and more people falling through the cracks even as the Tri-Cities remains one of the only places in the country seeing consistent job growth.

Directors of three local agencies told the Columbia Basin Badger Club on Friday the statistics are disheartening, especially when they're seeing less money invested in prevention programs that could save society costs in the long-term.


View the original article here

One-in-four women smoking while pregnant - ChronicleLive

Oct 27 2010 by Helen Rae, Evening Chronicle

NEW figures show almost one-in-four women in the North East smoke while pregnant. Health Reporter Helen Rae reports.

Doctors say mums-to-be who smoke are risking the health of their babies and are urging them to kick the habit

A SHOCK report reveals pregnant women in the region are much more likely to smoke than those in the South.

Illustrating the link between smoking-related diseases and Englands poorest communities, a survey by the Association of Public Health Observatories found that 23% of women in the North East smoked while they were pregnant in 2008/09, compared with 4% in Richmond, Surrey.

The worst affected areas in the region included South Tyneside, County Durham and Sunderland.

Martyn Willmore, performance improvement delivery manager at Fresh North East, said: The statistics do not surprise me as this is an issue that must be addressed.

It reflects the higher smoking rates among women compared to men up to 23% of women in the North East smoke and 17% of men.

Midwives play an important role in helping drive down smoking rates in pregnancy and we need to ensure theyre educating women about the dangers smoking poses to their unborn child and that they are pushing the stop smoking message. We also need to ensure pregnant women are given the appropriate help and support through our stop smoking services.

Overall, nearly 15% of women who gave birth across England in the same period said they smoked.

Smoking during pregnancy has been linked to a variety of health problems including premature birth, low birth weight, cot death, childhood asthma, miscarriage and breathing problems in the first six months of life.

Kerry Lynch, public health specialist at NHS North of Tyne, said: Work is ongoing with our partners in maternity services and stop smoking services to help pregnant women quit smoking and we have free specialist support from our stop smoking pregnancy specialists.

When a pregnant woman smokes, the baby is subjected to the same effects and the same harmful chemicals.

Breathing in other peoples smoke can also have implications.


View the original article here

Trend of smoking among students stable- Survey - Ghana News Agency

Trend of smoking among students stable- Survey     

Accra, Oct. 26, GNA - Smoking among Junior High School students has not increased over the years, though more needs to be done to reduce the trend among young smokers, a study by Ghana Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS), said on Tuesday.

The survey therefore recommended the use of the media to uncover, expose and inhibit tobacco consumption and its harmful effect and the tobacco industry.

Disseminating the findings of the 2009 survey at the Lekma Cluster of Schools in Accra, Mrs Edith Wellington, Focal Person on Tobacco Control of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) said the GYTS is a school-based tobacco specific survey, which focuses on adolescents between 13-15 years.

Ghana first participated in the multi-country initiative in 2000, repeated it in 2006 and in 2009.

She said the survey was aimed at documenting and monitoring the prevalence of tobacco-use.

It assessed learners' knowledge, beliefs and attitudes related to tobacco-using behaviour, as well as smoking cessation and environmental tobacco smoke.

On prevalence students who ever smoked was 8.9 per cent as compared to 11.5 per cent in 2006 and 14.6 per cent in 2000.

The survey noted that 38.8 per cent boys and 28.8 per cent girls in 2009, and 40.8 per cent boys and 29.1 per cent girls in 2006 were of the view that people who smoke have more friends while 12.8 per cent boys and 11.6  per cent girls in 2009 taught that those who smoke looked more attractive compared to 15.2 per cent boys and 13.1 per cent girls in 2006 and 17.9 per cent for boys and 16 per cent for girls in 2000.  

On access to and availability of cigarettes, Mrs Wellington said in 2009, 35.5 per cent of current smokers indicated they usually smoked at home and that it was significantly lower than the 40.8 per cent of current smokers in 2006 and  24.4 per cent in 2000.

There was however a significant difference across the three surveys in terms of the availability of cigarettes. 

In 2009, 26.9 per cent of current smokers usually bought their cigarettes in a store, while in 2006 34.3 per cent had their cigarettes from stores and in 2000 49.3 per cent purchased their cigarettes in a store.

In 2009, close to nine out of 10 pupils who currently smoked cigarettes, and eight out of the 10 in 2006, reported that they wanted to stop smoking at the time of the survey. However, in 2000 92.5 per cent wanted to stop smoking.

Majority of pupils in the three surveys had tried to stop smoking during the past year. Similarly, a higher percentage of current smokers at the time of the survey reported that they had ever received help to quit the habit.

Ms Sophia Twum- Barimah, Communications Officer of the World Health Organisation (WHO) who spoke on the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), the first international health treaty spearheaded by the organisation said it was adopted by the World Health Assembly in May 2003.

The adoption of the treaty followed a process of two years of negotiations with governments, non-governmental organisations and interested persons and provided governments with a supportive environment so that tobacco control interventions could be implemented at national levels.

The aim of the FCTC she said was to reduce smoking and other forms of tobacco use, which is responsible for innumerable illnesses and deaths.

She said the treaty requires governments to "develop, implement, periodically update and review comprehensive multi-sectoral national tobacco control strategies, plans and programmes", relating to price and tax measures to reduce the demand for tobacco, protection from exposure to tobacco smoke and regulation of the contents of tobacco products.

According to Ms Twun Barimah, Ghana has signed and ratified the WHO FCTC but was yet to enact legislation, even though a Tobacco Control Bill has been drafted and been reviewed many times.

This notwithstanding, she said  Ghana has been involved in tobacco control having recognised that the spread of the tobacco epidemic is a global problem with serious consequences for public health.

Tobacco use is rising steadily especially among the youth and there is also evidence of a rise in the incidence of non-communicable diseases like cancers and strokes as well as hypertension have all been linked to its use, she said and called for concerted efforts to stem the tide.

GNA


View the original article here

Health Buzz: Heavy Smoking Doubles Alzheimer's Risk - U.S. News & World Report

Heavy Smoking Linked to Alzheimer's, Dementia Risk

Looking to lower your odds of developing Alzheimer's disease and dementia? Stop smoking if you light up. New research finds that heavy smoking during middle age more than doubles a person's risk of these brain disorders later in life. People who smoke two packs of cigarettes a day increase their risk of Alzheimer's by 157 percent, according to a study published Monday in the Archives of Internal Medicine. And they have a 172 percent higher risk of developing vascular dementia, the second-most-common form of dementia after Alzheimer's. Researchers analyzed the medical records of more than 20,000 people who were followed for 23 years starting in their 50s and 60s to see who would develop these conditions as they hit their twilight years The heightened risk may be due to smoking causing tissue inflammation, which plays a role in Alzheimer's, the study authors say. "We've known for some time that smoking is bad for your respective health," research scientist Rachel Whitmer told Reuters. "This really adds to our understanding that the brain is also susceptible."

Teens Lie About Drug Use, (And So Do Parents)

Teenagers' confidential reports about illicit drug use are used by doctors and public health experts to measure the extent of the problem, and to help teens in trouble. But it turns out that teens fib big time in those anonymous surveys—and their parents do, too, writes U.S. News correspondent Nancy Shute.

Researchers asked 432 African-American teenagers and their parents to participate in an anonymous survey about their use of cocaine, opiates, and marijuana, and said they would also be drug-tested. Of the 211 teenagers whose hair was tested for cocaine, 2 said they used it—while 69, or 34 percent, tested positive, according to a new study in Pediatrics. Of the 244 parents tested, 15 said they had used cocaine, while 69, or 28 percent, tested positive.

The parents surveyed were pretty bad at guessing if their child was using alcohol or drugs. For instance, 9.6 percent of the parents said their teenager drank alcohol, while 25 percent of the teenagers said they did. With marijuana, 9.5 percent of parents said their teenager smoked dope, while 17 percent of the teens said they did. [Read more: Teens Lie About Drug Use, (And So Do Parents).]

Obesity Drug Failure Leaves Fewer Options for Diabetics

When it comes to dealing with the rapidly inflating diabetes epidemic, U.S. public health experts face a long, tough road ahead, writes U.S. News's Deborah Kotz. Diabetes rates are expected to soar: As many as 1 in 3 adults will develop the chronic, life-threatening disease by 2050 compared to 1 in 10 with type 1 or type 2 diabetes today, according to estimates released Friday by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And drugs to treat obesity, a major cause of type 2 diabetes, are in the dumpster: While the obesity drug Meridia (sibutramine) was withdrawn from the market earlier this month due to its link to heart attacks and strokes (not that it was particular effective), lorcaserin, an experimental weight-loss pill, will probably never be sold. It was rejected a few days ago by the Food and Drug Administration due to still-unanswered questions about its effects on diabetics and concerns over an animal study showing high rates of cancer in rats that were given the drug.

While Arena Pharmaceuticals, maker of lorcaserin, vows to continue pursuing approval, Jack Lief, its chief executive, acknowledged in a Monday conference call with reporters that obesity drugs don't work very well in diabetics. The FDA is currently reviewing applications for two other experimental obesity drugs, but if the past is any indication, they, too, may only produce modest weight loss along with health risks that may not be known until the drugs are prescribed to many folks for years. (Meridia was on the market for 13 years before the full extent of its heart risks became known.) [Read more: Obesity Drug Failure Leaves Fewer Options for Diabetics.]

Popular Health Articles from USNews.com

Need Care? Scan the Rankings: Best Nursing Homes, Best Health Plans, and Best Hospitals


View the original article here

Tuesday 26 October 2010

Smoking boosts risk for Alzheimer's - CNN (blog)

Smoking boosts risk for Alzheimer's – The Chart - CNN.com Blogs /* */.hide-if-no-js {display: none;}.recentcomments a{display:inline !important;padding: 0 !important;margin: 0 !important;}table.recentcommentsavatar img.avatar {border: 0px; margin:0;}table.recentcommentsavatar a {border: 0px !important;background-color: transparent !important}td.recentcommentsavatartop {padding:0px 0px 1px 0px;margin:0px; }td.recentcommentsavatarend {padding:0px 0px 1px 0px;margin:0px; }td.recentcommentstexttop { border: none !important;padding:0px 0px 0px 10px;}td.recentcommentstextend { border: none !important;padding:0px 0px 2px 10px;}.cnnShareThisTitle a { float:right; padding-left:0; }.cnnShareThisItem a { padding-left:20px; }#cnnBlogContentArea .cnnPostWrap { overflow:visible; }#hdr-banner h1 { font-size:100%; }CNNCNN HealthEDITION:  U.S.INTERNATIONALMÉXICOSign upLog in//Event.observe(window, 'load', function() {//$('hdr-search-box').focus();//});#hdr-editions a { text-decoration:none; }#cnn_hdr-editionS { text-align:left;clear:both; }#cnn_hdr-editionS a { text-decoration:none;font-size:10px;top:7px;line-height:12px;font-weight:bold; }#hdr-prompt-text b { display:inline-block;margin:0 0 0 20px; }#hdr-editions li { padding:0 10px; }#hdr-editions ul li.no-pad-left span { font-size:12px; }.hdr-arrow-intl, .hdr-arrow-us, .hdr-arrow-us2 { left:148px; }.hdr-arrow-us2 { left:180px; }HomeVideoNewsPulseU.S.WorldPoliticsJusticeEntertainmentTechHealthLivingTravelOpinioniReportMoneySportshome RSSOctober 25th, 201004:52 PM ETShare this on:Twitterdel.icio.usShare
Comments (56 comments)Permalink #custom-tweet-button { padding: 20px 0 0 10px; } Smoking boosts risk for Alzheimer's

Here's yet another reason to stop smoking: It elevates the risk of Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia, according to a new study.

An analysis of more than 20,000 men and women found a 157 percent heightened risk of Alzheimer's disease in people who had smoked more than two packs of cigarettes a day. For vascular dementia, the second most common form of dementia, these smokers had a 172 percent increased risk.

"Dementia is a disease that crops up in late life, and that becomes clinically apparent, but I think people really need to think about risk factors for it over the life course," said Rachel Whitmer, study co-author and research scientist with Kaiser Permanente Division of Research in Oakland, California.

The study, sponsored by Kaiser Permanente, is published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

Researchers say the association between smoking and various forms of dementia is strong, but they do not know exactly why. It has been shown before that people who smoke are more likely to have hypertension and cerebral vascular disease, as well as inflammation, Whitmer said. Smoking may contribute to the damage of brain blood vessels in addition to brain cells, she said.

The data came from Kaiser Permanente Northern California members surveyed between 1978 and 1985. At that time, they were between ages 50 and 60. Diagnoses of various forms of dementia among these people were made from 1994 to 2008, and researchers took that information from electronic health records. The participants in this study were all alive and still members of the health plan in 1994.

Researchers found that associations with the development of the disease are more modest among smokers who use up fewer than two packs a day, but still significant. Those who smoked a half-pack to one pack a day had an overall 37 percent elevated risk of dementia, and those who smoked between one and two packs had a 44 percent heightened risk, compared to non-smokers.

But this could be an underestimation, because some smokers who would have developed dementia died before diagnosis, said Kenneth Hepburn, associate dean for research at the Emory University School of Nursing, who was not involved in the study.

The reported risk of dementia among heavy smokers is also likely an underestimation because many of those people will die before they're old enough to develop dementia, he said.

While the elevated risk for various forms of dementia was shown for those smoking two packs a day in midlife, smoking less than half a pack of cigarettes a day, or having smoked in the past, did not appear to raise the risk compared with nonsmokers.

Hepburn found the study compelling, and noted that it incorporated an ethnically diverse population of both men and women.

"This gives great confidence in saying this kind of heavy smoking has some kind of association – and it looks like a fairly strong association – with the development of the disease," he said.

One limitation of the study is that researchers collected data only about smoking habits among middle-aged people; it did not look at what happened among those who had quit after the initial survey, Whitmer said.

The research speaks to what the Alzheimer's Association Maintain Your Brain campaign is promoting: that brain health has a lot to do with overall health, Hepburn said.

"The brain is part of the body, it’s part of the whole and if you assault parts, it’s going to have an impact on the whole," he said.

Post by:
Filed under: Smoking We recommend From around the web Next entry »« Previous entry soundoff (56 Responses) Margo Zargo

Everyone in Europe and Latin America smokes, and they're not all dead and dying like all the smokers in the US, unless you mean Pot and that's just fine and dandy with Americans.

October 25, 2010 at 18:07 | Report abuse | Reply NB

Might be the dumbest thing I've ever read.

October 25, 2010 at 19:14 | Report abuse | Carl

Yep, thats one of the dumbest things ever said. Some one needs to learn science or maybe just logic.

October 25, 2010 at 19:53 | Report abuse | Vanilla Gorilla

Margo you are the classic definition of an idiot. please go back to your dish and sit down and leave the important things to adults.

October 25, 2010 at 21:32 | Report abuse | MedStudent

#1 dumbest comment I've read this week, congrats!

October 25, 2010 at 21:53 | Report abuse | LN

Research shows that US cigarettes have a higher percentage of toxins than European ones... American cigarette companies have to manufacture their product differently in order to export them in the EU. I'm just saying it's a probable deduction... The pot comment doesn't make sense though. I mean, really?

October 26, 2010 at 00:42 | Report abuse | Rethink

Anyone who smokes has dementia already.

October 25, 2010 at 18:09 | Report abuse | Reply Blondegeisha

agreed

October 25, 2010 at 19:44 | Report abuse | Ken

Whatev – not even a year ago, a study came out suggesting that smoking reduces the risk of dementia, which I believe I read about on this same website.

October 25, 2010 at 18:16 | Report abuse | Reply GoRemote

Yep, I remember that as well.......

October 25, 2010 at 18:36 | Report abuse | Lynn

I remember it too. What gives???

October 25, 2010 at 19:13 | Report abuse | Lynn

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1855016?dopt=abstractplus

October 25, 2010 at 19:19 | Report abuse | MedStudent

the other study was done in the netherlands. there could be some other confounding factors in either study.

Smoking is still one of, if not THE worst thing you could do to your body. That being said, one study either way isn't enough to say anything.

However it should be noted the sample size in this study was greater than the first study. They also studied VASCULAR dementia which has different etiologies from Alzheimers. All of the variables need to be analyzed when comparing the two. I think in general larger scale studies need to be conducted, and in different countries to rule out confounding variables.

October 25, 2010 at 21:58 | Report abuse | rothenbj

The study you are referring to (and there has been more recent study on the subject) was about the effects of nicotine on alzheimers, not smoking. There is a big difference between the two. Smoking adds all the additional chemicals that combustion adds to the mix.

The two studies may both be accurate.

October 26, 2010 at 08:45 | Report abuse | aaron

Yep, I remember, too. I'm sending CNN the bill for all those cigarettes I used as prevention.

October 26, 2010 at 09:43 | Report abuse | ledzeper

Still, the majority of dementia sufferers.. never smoked.

October 25, 2010 at 18:16 | Report abuse | Reply Lioness

Agreed. It's not as if dementia suddenly appeared along with "Big Tobacco." I think it's a combination of things, including genetics, prion diseases, other diseases that affect blood flow to the brain, toxins and chemicals, and luck.

October 26, 2010 at 08:32 | Report abuse | David Fisher

Dr Gupta, why does CNN link to tweets from Twitter, but you don't link to a published paper or data here? Claims like this are completely useless without peer reviewed papers behind them.

October 25, 2010 at 18:21 | Report abuse | Reply Truth

Of course, you have to be a little short-witted and weak-willed to smoke in the first place. Nothing sadder than the day you have to take the last cigarette out of grandpa's slavering mouth, so he can be hooked up permanently to an oxygen cannula to live out his last days gasping for breath. Good times, so suave and debonair.

October 25, 2010 at 18:29 | Report abuse | Reply K Van Dijk

"Dementia is a disease that crops up in late life, (...)" said Rachel Whitmer, study co-author and research scientist with Kaiser Permanente Division of Research in Oakland, California.

For the record: Dementia is not a disease but dementia is a syndrome. A syndrome in turn is an association of several clinically recognizable features or symptoms. There are several diseases that cause the dementia syndrome. One of them, and the most prevalent, is Alzheimer's disease (AD). So AD causes dementia.

October 25, 2010 at 18:29 | Report abuse | Reply Mike

I wish these researchers wouldn't overstate their case by coming up with BS statistics like this. 100% increased risk is CERTAINTY that you will get the disease. What exactly are 157% and 172% increase in risk???? That you are more than certain to get the disease???? How exactly does that happen?

October 25, 2010 at 18:47 | Report abuse | Reply Steve

Mike,
What it means is that, if there is a 157% chance, then the likelihood is 1.57, or an increase of one and a half times.

October 25, 2010 at 19:08 | Report abuse | harleyrider1978

Since 1981 there have been 148 reported studies on ETS, involving spouses, children and workplace exposure. 124 of these studies showed no significant causal relationship between second hand smoke and lung cancer. Of the 24 which showed some risk, only two had a Relative Risk Factor over 3.0 and none higher. What does this mean. To put it in perspective, Robert Temple, director of drug evaluation at the Food and Drug Administration said "My basic rule is if the relative risk isn't at least 3 or 4, forget it." The National Cancer Institute states "Relative risks of less than 2 are considered small and are usually difficult to interpret. Such increases may be due to mere chance, statistical bias, or the effect of confounding factors that are sometimes not evident." Dr. Kabat, IAQC epidemiologist states "An association is generally considered weak if the relative risk is under 3.0 and particularly when it is under 2.0, as is the case in the relationship of ETS and lung cancer. Therefore, you can see any concern of second hand smoke causing lung cancer is highly questionable." Note that the Relative Risk (RR) of lung cancer for persons drinking whole milk is 2.14 and all cancers from chlorinated water ranked at 1.25. These are higher risks than the average ETS risk. If we believe second hand smoke to be a danger for lung cancer then we should also never drink milk or chlorinated water.

October 25, 2010 at 21:13 | Report abuse | Mike

BTW, I do know how they hatch the numbers, but it's using statistics for alarmist purposes to present the results this way... I am sure the researchers gave it "110%" while they were working on this study....

October 25, 2010 at 18:51 | Report abuse | Reply rothenbj

Mike, it's relative risk they are talking about. I'm familiar with a study of Swedish snus and pancreatic cancer done in Sweden. They established the risk of a never smoker getting pancreatic cancer at 4 per 100,000 people. They established the risk of Pancreatic cancer among snus users at about 8 per 100,000.

The relative risk is 2.0 or you have twice as much chance of getting pancreatic cancer as a snus user as a never smoker. As you can see, either category is a rather slim chance considering either way 99,992/100k of the populations won't get the disease. Everything you do in life has a relative risk factor and at the end they all lead to the same result.

October 26, 2010 at 09:00 | Report abuse | Samain

My grandmother and uncle both have Alzheimer. Both never smoked or drank a day of their lives, so try again. This is probably just based on statistics, which doesn't prove a thing other than some smokers have Alzheimer too.

October 25, 2010 at 18:51 | Report abuse | Reply SMAN Cometh

Hereditary...?

October 25, 2010 at 20:40 | Report abuse | Samain

Genetic predisposition is what one of the leading researchers has told our family. My uncles Alzheimer has progressed much faster than my grandmothers. In two years time he went from the early symptoms of Alzheimer to being Late Stage and bed ridden. He and his wife had retired a year before this started. Two weeks after retirement she died of cancer, and by the end of that first year his Alzheimer's had progressed to where he was unable to take care of himself. My grandmothers has progressed much slower, it started with her not remembering names and losing household items to where she is today, where she doesn't recognize family, and only has memories of long past. However she does have moments of clarity, where she knows what going on and who people are, her good days... She means a lot to me, and was like a mother to me... Makes me very sad that her, and my uncle are stricken with this terrible disease.

October 26, 2010 at 03:09 | Report abuse | PenguinMan

Smoking anything cuts oxygen to the brain. Carbon Monoxide hijacks red blood cells, making them incapable of delivering Oxygen. In heavy smokers up to 10% of red blood cells are useless. The brain uses more Oxygen than practically the rest of your body combined, so I thinks there might a correlation there.

October 25, 2010 at 18:51 | Report abuse | Reply S Kyle

Nicotine has been shown to be an effective destabilizer of the proteins involved in the construction of the plaques that form in the brain thus causing Alzheimer's Disease. The many, many other dangerous chemicals found in cigarette smoke may surely cause cancer, heart disease and lead to an increased risk of Alzheimer's, but to use a blanket statement saying cigarettes increase your risk when clearly the nicotine in tobacco reduces your risk is just poor reporting.

October 25, 2010 at 19:03 | Report abuse | Reply Iquit

Interesting. In the 90's, researchers were saying that smoking "decreased" the risk for Alzheimer's.

October 25, 2010 at 19:19 | Report abuse | Reply jimb302

I just read the other day how 90% of all research is wrong or fabricated...just sayin'

October 25, 2010 at 19:40 | Report abuse | Reply mdyer

I read that too.

October 25, 2010 at 23:57 | Report abuse | fajita

it's 2010, who smokes?

October 25, 2010 at 19:50 | Report abuse | Reply AGeek

In NY, at > $10/pack, who can afford to?!

October 25, 2010 at 20:01 | Report abuse | Lynn

Not so from my family experience. My grandma smoked 2 packs a day for 50 yrs and lived to be 97. But grandpa died at 59 from a stroke and smoked Camels. Cigarettes are a disgusting addiction, but not the cause of every disease and death.

October 25, 2010 at 20:35 | Report abuse | Reply SMAN Cometh

well, your N=2...not a very reliable sample size.

October 25, 2010 at 20:45 | Report abuse | Mary

I had a neighbor that smoked salmon. Isn't that interesting? What were we talking about?

October 25, 2010 at 20:44 | Report abuse | Reply Vaishwords

I quit smoking after more than 20yrs and wrote a blog about how I finally willed myself to do it. I am not one of those born again non smokers who preaches but if reading it can help someone who is trying to quit then great, otherwise hopefully it will just be an enjoyable read…http://vaishwords.blogspot.com/2010/03/up-in-smoke.html

October 25, 2010 at 20:44 | Report abuse | Reply MCC

I have said this for YEARS!!! Everyone that I know, and knew, that had Alzheimer's was also a smoker. I KNEW there was a connection!!! Thsi needs to be a headline, not buried towards the bottom of the page. The tobacco lobby is just too powerful.

October 25, 2010 at 20:55 | Report abuse | Reply harleyrider1978

Todays the first day run of this junk study from tobacco control............be ready it will be across the nation and overseas being played up like the gospel of jesus by wednsday...........Dr.gupta shoulda took the SG job when offered,this study he is pushing here is the same JUNK SCIENCE as the EPA report on second hand smoke and the same as the SG REPORT OF 2006.....................JUNK SCIENCE AND PROPAGANDA.Dr Gupta is pushing fraud off as fact..........time he should resign from any more mediciene and take up being a progressive reporter for obama......wait thats what he has been doing all along!!!

October 25, 2010 at 21:18 | Report abuse | Reply harleyrider1978

They have created a fear that is based on nothing’’
World-renowned pulmonologist, president of the prestigious Research Institute Necker for the last decade, Professor Philippe Even, now retired, tells us that he’s convinced of the absence of harm from passive smoking. A shocking interview.

What do the studies on passive smoking tell us?

PHILIPPE EVEN. There are about a hundred studies on the issue. First surprise: 40% of them claim a total absence of harmful effects of passive smoking on health. The remaining 60% estimate that the cancer risk is multiplied by 0.02 for the most optimistic and by 0.15 for the more pessimistic … compared to a risk multiplied by 10 or 20 for active smoking! It is therefore negligible. Clearly, the harm is either nonexistent, or it is extremely low.

It is an indisputable scientific fact. Anti-tobacco associations report 3 000-6 000 deaths per year in France ...

I am curious to know their sources. No study has ever produced such a result.

Many experts argue that passive smoking is also responsible for cardiovascular disease and other asthma attacks. Not you?

They don’t base it on any solid scientific evidence. Take the case of cardiovascular diseases: the four main causes are obesity, high cholesterol, hypertension and diabetes. To determine whether passive smoking is an aggravating factor, there should be a study on people who have none of these four symptoms. But this was never done. Regarding chronic bronchitis, although the role of active smoking is undeniable, that of passive smoking is yet to be proven. For asthma, it is indeed a contributing factor ... but not greater than pollen!

The purpose of the ban on smoking in public places, however, was to protect non-smokers. It was thus based on nothing?

Absolutely nothing! The psychosis began with the publication of a report by the IARC, International Agency for Research on Cancer, which depends on the WHO (Editor's note: World Health Organization). The report released in 2002 says it is now proven that passive smoking carries serious health risks, but without showing the evidence. Where are the data? What was the methodology? It's everything but a scientific approach. It was creating fear that is not based on anything.

Why would anti-tobacco organizations wave a threat that does not exist?

The anti-smoking campaigns and higher cigarette prices having failed, they had to find a new way to lower the number of smokers. By waving the threat of passive smoking, they found a tool that really works: social pressure. In good faith, non-smokers felt in danger and started to stand up against smokers. As a result, passive smoking has become a public health problem, paving the way for the Evin Law and the decree banning smoking in public places. The cause may be good, but I do not think it is good to legislate on a lie. And the worst part is that it does not work: since the entry into force of the decree, cigarette sales are rising again.

Why not speak up earlier?

As a civil servant, dean of the largest medical faculty in France, I was held to confidentiality. If I had deviated from official positions, I would have had to pay the consequences. Today, I am a free man.

Le Parisien

October 25, 2010 at 21:19 | Report abuse | Reply becca

Another reason to drop the smoking habit.

October 25, 2010 at 21:21 | Report abuse | Reply Meepzorp

Cool, I will be demented like our fearless leaders in Washington already are and so I will also not be responsible for any of my stupid actions either. They must all smoke (or smoking something) since they are obviously demented. Now it's all clear to me but I'm sure with my future dementia I will forget I even wrote this. Maybe I'm demented already for pointing out their obvious dementia before I am supposed to be demented. In a nutshell I really don't give a crap and will continue smoking since I will never be as demented as Washington bureaucrats are. That would be quite impossible and besides I am sure they will take care of me when I do become demented (yah right).

October 25, 2010 at 21:22 | Report abuse | Reply Johnny Mnemonic

...and appearance of a firetrack increases the chance of fire in a neighborhood.
According to all studies.

October 25, 2010 at 21:43 | Report abuse | Reply PTcruzer

It seems like these studies are constantly flip flopping, or at least one interesting study comes out like, Smoking lowers risks of Parkinson's. The anti-smoking people can't stand something good coming out of smoking. Before you ask, yes there is a source for the Parkinson's reference, it is http://psychcentral.com/news/2010/03/12/years-smoking-may-reduce-risk-of-parkinsons/12084.html this was only one from a list of several. I am in no way supporting smoking, I am just stating a counterpoint.

October 25, 2010 at 21:50 | Report abuse | Reply Constantine

Not super groundbreaking - i think smoking causes everything

October 25, 2010 at 22:23 | Report abuse | Reply T-bone

Here is what a former tobacco company employee said to me (don't know his position) , but said : First , you go the store , you buy a pack of cigarettes , you loose your money..... You smoke the first one , you cough and think "this is cool " , then you continue smoking all the rest , coughing along the way . You buy the second pack , loose your money , then smoke all those cigarettes , coughing along the way . Then buy your third pack , loose your money , coughing along the way , but less coughing because you're burning out the protective hairs that keep out nasty stuff in your lungs . Now it get's easier , because you are addicted , you HAVE to have the cigarettes . You keep buying the cigarettes.........forever because you cannot stop . Cigarettes are designed that way , to keep you coming back . You have no hope but to keep smoking ....even though you are inhaling toxic , cancer causing garbage , but that doesn't matter , all that matters is do you have enough cig's to get you through the day . Smoking is the one thing you can do to your body that has no positive effects , and a multitude of negative effects . But you will do till the day you die .... defending it . You are the tobacco companies best employee !!!
And you start to beleve you are the "ONE" smoker who will not die of cancer or other complications caused by smoking , by then it's too late. Look at Michael Douglas , too late . Please tell me how smoking is GOOD for you ?

October 25, 2010 at 22:49 | Report abuse | Reply Tony G

I used to date a LPN who worked at a nursing home for dementia and Alzheimer ward.
Less than 5% of the patients in her ward smoked.
My father, had alzheimers before he died. NEVER smoked a day in his life.
My mother, smoked for 50 + years, she had all her wits about her when she went.

October 25, 2010 at 23:07 | Report abuse | Reply DrVonBrain

See my comment below. Dead people don't get dementia. Smokers die young.

October 26, 2010 at 01:18 | Report abuse | Loopy Cootiebrain

Does it include smoking weed from a vaporizer?

October 25, 2010 at 23:44 | Report abuse | Reply Andy

Next time someone smokes near me i'm gonna slap the cig out of their face.

- A

October 26, 2010 at 01:04 | Report abuse | Reply rothenbj

Now that's the kind of attitude we're generating. The propaganda that has been spewed creates neurosis. The don'ts fear the do's and feel threatened by the sub-humans that endanger their lives. To protect themselves they first complain about the actions of the do's, then protest, then act out.

You knock that cigarette out of that smokers mouth. You may even get away with it the first or second time, but what happens when the smoker fights back? However, you feel you're superior or smarter than the smoker so you make sure that you only perform your action on people you know you can overpower. Then comes the knife or gun.

You fill in the rest of the story.

October 26, 2010 at 09:25 | Report abuse | DrVonBrain

An old study came to the conclusion that smoking decreases the risk of dementia...because a lot of people with dementia were non-smokers. The study was eventually discounted as someone came to this astounding revelation: "Smokers die young. Dead people don't get dementia"

October 26, 2010 at 01:16 | Report abuse | Reply Bob Inalong

They banned smoking outside in parks and on beaches in New York a couple of weeks ago because of second hand smoke. Meanwhile, every restaurant and kabob cart in town is belching out clouds of burning meat smoke, which is five times more carcinogenic than cigarette smoke. People really need to get a grip.

October 26, 2010 at 07:27 | Report abuse | Reply NYYFan1

Next Week's Headline – Smoking Linked to Impotency in Men...(LMAO...{:o)

October 26, 2010 at 09:54 | Report abuse | Reply Post a commentName: (required)
 E-mail: (required, but will not be displayed)
CNN welcomes a lively and courteous discussion as long as you follow the Rules of Conduct set forth in our Terms of Service. Comments are not pre-screened before they post. You agree that anything you post may be used, along with your name and profile picture, in accordance with our Privacy Policy and the license you have granted pursuant to our Terms of Service.

Next entry »« Previous entry PreviousNextDr. Sanjay GuptaAvatar iconRT @FrankLautenberg: Senate hearing on toxic chemicals & health. @sanjayguptacnn & @lisapjackson to testify/ I am ready Senator.Updated: 3:16 am UTC, October 26 2010Avatar icon“@brianstelter: RT @sreenet: Happy bday SG - hardest working man on TV; he's heading to Haiti to cover #cholera/ thx Brian & SreeUpdated: 1:11 am UTC, October 25 2010Avatar icon“@coreyleamon: Happy birthday from the college student at your sxsw panel...! Still inspiring me regularly. :)”/thx! Doing ur homework?Updated: 12:50 am UTC, October 25 2010Avatar icon“@toryburch: We’re constantly inspired by the work of @sanjayguptacnn, our latest Cat’s Meow. http://ow.ly/2VUVu”/ Tory, thx my dear friend.Updated: 10:37 pm UTC, October 24 2010Avatar iconA little Bkgrd. http://bit.ly/cw9enwUpdated: 10:36 pm UTC, October 24 2010Twitter |Sanjay Gupta MDPreviousNextElizabeth CohenAvatar iconSpeaking @ Miami JCC book festival tonight and Ft Lauderdale JCC tomorrow night - if you're in the neighborhood come say hi!Updated: 4:17 pm UTC, October 25 2010Avatar iconSpeaking @ JCC miami book festivalUpdated: 4:15 pm UTC, October 25 2010Avatar iconDo girl vampires wear hats? My 6 yr old wants to know for Halloween. Would love your thoughts by the 31st! Thanks!Updated: 9:52 pm UTC, October 23 2010Avatar iconEmpowered Patient: why we search for sexual health info on our cell phones. Thx @SusannahFox @wellmom @rzeiger - http://bit.ly/9Es1ntUpdated: 3:54 pm UTC, October 21 2010Avatar iconFaithfully getting mammograms each year, and still surprised by breast cancer. Here's when a mammo isn't enough: http://bit.ly/92A3LJUpdated: 6:36 pm UTC, October 14 2010Twitter |Empowered PatientAbout this blog

Get a behind-the-scenes look at the latest stories from CNN Chief Medical Correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Senior Medical Correspondent Elizabeth Cohen and the CNN Medical Unit producers. They'll share news and views on health and medical trends - info that will help you take better care of yourself and the people you love.

Recent PostsCan meditation change your brain? Contemplative neuroscientists believe it canIs it normal to have anger issues after going on and off pain meds?Gupta: Chemicals around us – we must know moreWas cholera in Haiti before the earthquake?Smoking boosts risk for Alzheimer'sHow you react to lost sleep may be in your genesMeditation: Focus on nowWhy is my scalp so itchy?Teens (and parents) not always truthful about drug useFirst four months critical for new baby's sleep habitsRecent CommentsTRH on Gupta: Chemicals around us …Deborah on A tiny life lost to whooping c…PeopleOverProfit on Gupta: Chemicals around us …NYYFan1 on Smoking boosts risk for Alzhei…Papa_K on Gupta: Chemicals around us …ArchiveOctober 2010MTWTFSS« Sep   12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031  Weather forecast

Home | Videos | NewsPulse | U.S. | World | Politics | Crime | Entertainment | Tech | Health | Living | Travel | Opinion | iReport | Money | SportsTools & Widgets | Podcasts | Blogs | CNN Mobile | My Profile | E-mail Alerts | CNN Radio | CNN Shop | Site mapCNN en ESPAÑOL | CNN Chile | CNN Expansion | | | | CNN TV | HLN | Transcripts© 2010 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.Terms of service | Privacy guidelines | Advertise with us | About us | Contact us | Help | Advertising Practices

Powered by WordPress.com VIP

View the original article here