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1 Million Adult Vapers in England Have Never Regularly Smoked

The AHA! Team — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 06:20:34 +0000

Priyanjana Pramanik, MSc. via News-Medical – This rapid increase between 2021 and 2024 was particularly among younger age groups. In a recent study published in The Lancet Public Health, researchers estimate trends in vaping among adults in the United Kingdom who have not smoked regularly. The health implications of vaping In the past, vaping or the use of e-cigarettes in England was primarily reported among current or former smokers trying to reduce or quit smoking. If vaping were only adopted by those who would otherwise smoke, the overall rate of smoking or vaping would remain constant or show signs of declining rather than increasing. The rising rate of vaping could be attributed to the widespread availability of disposable e-cigarettes in recent years, which has led to a rapid increase in vaping among regular and non-regular smokers. Although e-cigarettes may be less harmful than smoking, these devices contain toxic chemicals that the user consumes. In fact, several studies indicate that vapers are exposed to higher levels of toxicants than non-users. About the study Researchers collected data using a monthly cross-sectional survey across England, Wales, and Scotland to ensure a nationally representative sample. Approximately 2,450 individuals participated in the survey each month between 2016 and early 2024. The vaping status of adults who reported never regularly smoking was evaluated using questions about their current e-cigarette use, daily or non-daily e-cigarette use, as well as as the type of device and strength of nicotine used. Study participants also provided sociodemographic data such as gender, age, and social class, as well as lifestyle information such as alcohol consumption. Statistical models were used to calculate trends in the prevalence of smoking after adjusting for alcohol consumption and sociodemographic characteristics. These trends were then assessed according to age, with the prevalence of vaping compared before and after the increased availability of disposable e-cigarettes. Study findings The analysis included 94,107 unique never-regular smokers, as well as younger individuals who had never smoked. Vaping among never-regular smokers was stable at approximately 0.5% until 2021. From 2021 onwards, vaping increased rapidly to 3.5% in April 2024. This increased prevalence of vaping was primarily attributed to younger adults under the age of 24, 14.4% of whom vaped, as compared to those over the age of 48, less than 1% of whom vaped. Although age differences were significant, trends were similar across social class and gender. Alcohol consumption was positively correlated with vaping prevalence, with heavy drinkers more likely to vape at a rate of 22.1%. Comparatively, only 3% of low-risk drinkers and 1.3% of non-drinkers vaped. Throughout the analysis period, non-daily vaping was less common than daily vaping, but the prevalence of daily vaping was four times greater than that of non-daily vaping. Researchers also found clear indications that disposable e-cigarettes are implicated in these trends. In the post-disposable period, users were more likely to report longer vaping durations, with a reduced prevalence of short-term use. Since disposable devices have become more common, vapers are increasingly younger, heavier drinkers, and more likely to be female. There is also a pronounced shift towards disposable e-cigarettes and devices with higher nicotine strengths. More purchases were also reported from convenience stores or supermarkets, and fewer from vape shops. Conclusions The study findings demonstrate the significant rise in vaping rates in England over the past three years, specifically among those who are not regular smokers, as well as younger adults and heavier drinkers. In 2021, one in 200 never-regular smokers reported vaping. By April 2024, this rate increased to one in 28. Disposable e-cigarettes, which appear to appeal to younger adults and women, may encourage the use of higher nicotine strengths. The health impacts of these behavioral shifts may be significant, particularly among individuals who would not typically engage in vaping, which increases their exposure to toxins they would have otherwise avoided. Addressing these issues is associated with various challenges as policymakers seek to reduce vaping among non-smokers while ensuring that e-cigarettes are available and remain attractive to smokers who would like to quit. Stricter regulations on the appearance, pricing, and marketing of these products may support these public health efforts to reduce the appeal of vaping. Journal reference: Jackson, S.E., Shahab, L., Tattan-Birch, H., & Brown, J. (2024). Vaping among adults in England who have never regularly smoked: a population-based study, 2016–24. The Lancet Public Health. doi:10.1016/S2468-2667(24)00183-X To read the original article click here.

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Some E-Cigarette Chemicals Mimic Nicotine, Possibly Bypassing Regulation

The AHA! Team — Fri, 11 Oct 2024 08:21:24 +0000

Duke Health – In what appears to be an effort to bypass public health regulations covering vaping products, some tobacco companies have begun replacing nicotine in e-cigarettes with related chemicals that have similar properties but unknown health effects, Duke Health researchers report. In a research letter appearing Aug. 7 in JAMA, study authors at Duke and Yale University also found that the quantity of these chemicals, known as nicotine analogs, are not accurately disclosed on the packaging. “Vaping products containing nicotine are subject to federal laws that prohibit sales to people under the age of 21,” said study co-author Sairam V. Jabba, D.V.M., Ph.D., a senior research scientist at Duke University School of Medicine. Nicotine analogs are currently not subject to the FDA process “Nicotine analogs are currently not subject to the FDA process and have not been studied for their health effects,” Jabba said. “Our analysis of some of these analog-containing vaping products sold in the U.S. found significant and concerning inaccuracies in the ingredients these products claim to contain and what they actually contain. Further, it’s possible manufacturers are attempting to avoid FDA tobacco regulation.” One chemical, known as 6-methyl nicotine, has been shown in rodent experiments to be far more potent than nicotine in targeting the brain’s nicotine receptors and more toxic than nicotine. Another, called nicotinamide, is marketed as targeting the same brain receptors as nicotine, despite evidence it does not bind to these receptors. The nicotine analogs were included in flavored e-cigarettes, which prior research has indicated are preferred by youths and those who vape for the first time. Jabba and colleagues, including co-senior author Sven Eric Jordt, Ph.D., analyzed an e-cigarette product sold under the brand name Spree Bar, which comes in at least nine flavors and is listed as containing 5 percent 6-methyl nicotine. Study results showed the actual amount of the chemical was about 88% less than labeled. The e-cigarettes also included an artificial sweetener that is up to 13,000 times sweeter than table sugar, and an artificial coolant that mimics menthol’s effects. A second brand of e-cigarettes — marketed as Nixotine, Nixodine, Nixamide and Nic-Safe – contained a nicotine analog called nicotinamide, also at levels lower than the labels indicated, and combined with undisclosed amounts of 6-methyl nicotine. This brand did not include sweeteners or coolants. These products appear to be designed to circumvent the laws and regulations “These products appear to be designed to circumvent the laws and regulations in place to protect people — especially children — from the harmful effects of smoking and tobacco use,” Jordt said. “We do not know what these chemicals do when they are heated and inhaled. These are questions that should be answered before we allow products on the market.” In addition to Jordt and Jabba, study authors include Hanno C. Erythropel, Peter Silinski, Paul T. Anastas, Suchitra Krishnan-Sarin and Julie B. Zimmerman. Yale’s Tobacco Center of Regulatory Science received funding support for the study from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, which is part of the National Institutes of Health (U54DA036151), and the Center for Tobacco Products of the FDA. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH or the FDA. To read the original article click here.

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Prevalence of Nicotine Pouch Use Found to be Low Among U.S. Adults

The AHA! Team — Tue, 20 Aug 2024 04:45:40 +0000

Keck School of Medicine of USC via News-Medical – A new study found that the prevalence of nicotine pouch use was low in U.S. adults despite a 641% increase in sales of the products between 2019 and 2022. Researchers say the findings raise questions about who is using the millions of nicotine pouches sold in the U.S. and why. Nicotine pouches, a new commercial tobacco product, contain a crystalline powder with nicotine, flavorings (including fruit, mint or candy) and other additives. They do not cause respiratory harm and are perceived by some as an alternative to help adults who smoke tobacco quit. Nicotine pouches have recently gained attention over concerns that their flavors and trendy social media marketing campaigns are attracting youth users. However, limited data on usage among adults has been collected since the new products entered the market. Now, a study from the Keck School of Medicine of USC and the University of Nebraska Medical Center analyzed nicotine pouch use in a nationally representative sample of 39,557 U.S. adults. The study found that 2.9% of adults had ever used nicotine pouches, with 0.4% reporting current use. The majority of adults currently using pouches also currently smoke cigarettes. Additionally, 5.2% of those who attempted to quit smoking in the past year and had relapsed back to smoking reported using pouches to help with their cessation efforts. The study, funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), was just published in JAMA. “The low prevalence of nicotine pouch use in adults surprised us, given the rapid increase in sales. But it’s also possible that the sales are being diverted to adolescents, who were not represented in this survey.” – Adam Matthew Leventhal, PhD, study coauthor, professor in the department of population and public health sciences at the Keck School of Medicine and executive director of the USC Institute for Addiction Science Patterns of pouch use Data for the study were collected through the Current Population Survey (CPS) Tobacco Use Supplement in September 2022. The CPS is a monthly survey of U.S. adults that uses rigorous research methods to ensure its participants represent an accurate cross-section of the country’s population, making the results reliable enough to influence important policy decisions. The Tobacco Use Supplement includes straightforward questions about cigarette smoking, attempts to quit smoking and-;for the first time in September 2022-;the use of nicotine pouches. Of 39,558 survey respondents, 2.9% had ever used nicotine pouches, and 0.4% were currently using them. Adults who currently smoked (10.8%) or formerly smoked (6.7%) were more likely to report ever using nicotine pouches compared to people who had never smoked (1.1%). Current use of nicotine pouches was also higher among adults who currently smoked (1%) and formerly smoked (0.7%) compared to those who had never smoked (0.2%). Pouch use, both past and present, was lower in adults under 65, but higher in males and non-Hispanic whites. Among those who currently smoked who tried to quit in the past year, more reported trying to switch to e-cigarettes (21.6%) than nicotine pouches (5.2%) to help them quit. One question raised by the findings is whether adults who use nicotine pouches may be using them to “top off” nicotine in situations where they cannot smoke or use other tobacco products, Leventhal said, rather than as a way to quit smoking. Instead of reducing the health risks of cigarette smoking, that use pattern could actually make nicotine dependence more severe. Based on the study results, Leventhal estimates that of all U.S. adults who currently used nicotine pouches in 2022, about 35% had previously smoked cigarettes and 25% were currently smoking cigarettes. The remaining 40% of adult pouch consumers had never regularly smoked cigarettes and could be at risk for developing nicotine dependence. “In summary, we didn’t see a large population of adults using nicotine pouches, and fewer appear to be using them in a fashion that would potentially reduce their harm from smoking cigarettes,” Leventhal said. Regulating nicotine pouches New nicotine products typically go straight to market before the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reviews marketing applications and decides whether to authorize or ban each product. That decision involves weighing potential public health benefits, such as whether a product provides a safer alternative for adults who smoke, against risks, such as whether it may increase nicotine dependence among youth. Applications from major manufacturers of nicotine pouches are currently under review by the FDA. “Regulators can take our data and put it into that equation,” Leventhal said. “What our study suggests is that there’s not a large population of adults who smoke who are using these products to quit.” This study is part of the USC Tobacco Center of Regulatory Science, one of seven national centers supported by the NIH and FDA to collect evidence that can inform tobacco product regulation. In collaboration with the University of Michigan and other institutions, USC researchers are also conducting a parallel study to investigate adolescent use of nicotine pouches. They are looking at how pouch use relates to shifting teen usage patterns of other nicotine products, including e-cigarettes. About this research In addition to Leventhal, the study’s other author is Hongying Daisy Dai from the College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha. This work was supported by the National Cancer Institute [U54CA180905] and the National Institute on Drug Abuse [R21DA058328]. Source: Keck School of Medicine of USC Journal reference: Dai, H. D., et al. (2024). Prevalence of Nicotine Pouch Use Among US Adults. JAMA. doi.org/10.1001/jama.2024.10686. To read the original article click here.

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Marijuana and Schizophrenia?

The AHA! Team — Fri, 31 May 2024 05:31:56 +0000

Michael Greger M.D. FACLM via Nutrition Facts – The evidence linking cannabis use to psychotic disorders is considered strong enough to warrant a public health warning. “Even as proponents of [cannabis] legalization contend that smoked marijuana is a harmless natural substance that improves the quality of life, a growing body of evidence links it in a small but significant number of users to…the induction or aggravation of psychosis.” “Psychotic disorders are arguably the most serious of mental illnesses, the best known being schizophrenia.” “Schizophrenia, an illness that is characterized by delusions, hallucinations, and odd behavior, is among the top 10 leading causes of disability in the United States. It affects approximately 1% of the general population.” Can cannabis cause it? Schizophrenia… affects approximately 1% of the general population As I discuss in my video Does Marijuana Cause Schizophrenia?, over the last half-century, “nearly 2,000 studies have been published on this topic…and the pro-psychotic effects of cannabis have dominated media reporting about this drug. But how clear is the link?” Population studies have “consistently demonstrated a strong, positive, and dose-dependent association between cannabis use and the risk of psychotic disorders.” Indeed, studies have shown that the more cannabis people use, the more likely they are to be psychotic, as seen in a chart below and at 1:10 in my video. However, that doesn’t mean cannabis is the cause. It could just be a correlation or even a consequence of the disease. “The link between cannabis and psychosis is well established,” but it may be the case that patients with mental health problems self-medicate and “use cannabis to relieve their distress.” The link between cannabis and psychosis is well established… As you can see below and at 1:38 in my video, there isn’t only a link between cannabis and psychosis in snapshot-in-time cross-sectional studies, but in cohort studies as well, where people are followed over time. Research has shown that cannabis use often precedes psychosis, not the other way around. Now, it goes without saying that “the vast majority of people who use cannabis do not develop psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia, and many people diagnosed with such disorders have never used cannabis.” But, overall, these studies are considered to be “strong enough evidence to warrant a public health message that cannabis use can increase the risk of psychotic disorders.” There is another potential explanation: Even though cannabis use precedes schizophrenia, could it be that whichever genes drive schizophrenia also make it more likely you start smoking pot? The biggest strike against the cannabis-schizophrenia link is country-by-country ecological studies that don’t seem to show more disease in areas where there’s more use. And, overall, schizophrenia rates seem to have remained stable or even gone down worldwide since the 1960s, even though there’s been a big bump in cannabis use since then. If about 10 percent of schizophrenia cases are attributable to marijuana use and there’s been a fourfold increase in use, why hasn’t there been a 40 percent increase in the prevalence of schizophrenia? The problem with that argument is “there is little reliable evidence on the temporal [true] trends in the incidence of schizophrenia, so it is difficult to know whether this statement is true or not.” Perhaps it’s more of an issue with potency rather than just cannabis in general. Indeed, “the incidence of schizophrenia is higher in countries…where high-potency cannabis has taken over the market compared with countries…where more traditional forms of cannabis are smoked.” The bottom line is you don’t know until you put it to the test. You can’t just randomize kids to cannabis, but, in a way, Nature set up a natural experiment for us. There are genes that kids randomly get that can increase their likelihood of smoking pot. Do those kids then go on to have a higher risk of schizophrenia? Yes, research “findings strongly support” all of those population studies that suggest “cannabis plays a causal [cause-and-effect] role in the development of schizophrenia.” Okay, but by how much? Let’s break it down. Even if cannabis use doubles the risk, that would mean only going from a 7-in-1,000 chance of developing a psychosis to 14 in 1,000. So, going from a 1 in 140 chance to a 1 in 70 chance. It would be different if schizophrenia runs in your family, where a doubling of risk could mean going from a one-in-ten chance to one in five, but, on a population scale, it could take thousands of cannabis users quitting to prevent a single case of schizophrenia. So, from a public health standpoint, “addiction is a far more common problem.” Researchers “estimate that people who try cannabis are ninefold more likely to become addicted to it”—even though that itself is relatively rare—“than to develop psychosis in their lifetime.” I have an entire series of videos on cannabis, which I originally released in a webinar and downloadable digital DVD. Key Takeaways Although some proponents of cannabis legalization argue that marijuana is a “harmless natural substance that improves the quality of life,” it has been linked “in a small but significant number of users to…the induction or aggravation of psychosis.” Schizophrenia, a psychotic disorder characterized by hallucinations, odd behavior, and delusions, affects about 1 percent of the general population. Studies have found that the more cannabis people use, the more likely they are to be psychotic, but that could just be a correlation or even a consequence of the disease. Individuals with mental health problems may self-medicate and use cannabis to relieve distress, for example. Research has found that cannabis use often precedes psychosis, not the other way around. Overall, there appears to be “strong enough evidence to warrant a public health message that cannabis use can increase the risk of psychotic disorders.” There does not seem to be more disease in regions with greater cannabis use. Overall, schizophrenia rates appear to have remained stable or even declined worldwide since the 1960s, despite a large jump in cannabis use since then. Potency may be a bigger issue. In countries with higher potency cannabis, the incidence of schizophrenia is higher than in countries with “more traditional forms.” Some genes can increase our likelihood of using cannabis, and kids who randomly get them have been found to have a higher risk of schizophrenia. Research suggests that cannabis may have a cause-and-effect role in the development of that psychosis. Even if cannabis use doubles the risk, however, that would just mean a 1-in-70 chance of developing a psychosis without a family history of schizophrenia. From a public health standard, the far more common problem is addiction. To read the original article click here.

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Feeling Groggy in the Morning? Wake up Alert and Refreshed by Following THIS Common Sense Advice

AHA Publisher — Fri, 16 Dec 2022 08:00:07 +0000

Stephanie Woods via NaturalHealth365 – There are morning people, and then there are night people. Why is it that some people are able to wake up at the crack of dawn, alert and perky, as soon as their feet hit the floor? And why are there others who don’t wake up till sometime after 8 or 9 am, and you can’t talk to them until they’ve had at least one cup of coffee? Scientists have pondered this for years, and while many simply chalk it up to genetics, the science shows something quite different. In fact, genetics only plays a very small part in how alert a person is in the morning. A new study has uncovered some keys to improving your morning alertness and minimizing grogginess upon waking. Study Finds That Your Morning Alertness Is Linked to What You Eat Plus Much More Researchers at the University of California followed 833 participants to analyze the relationship between the foods they ate and morning grogginess. Over a two-week period, participants were given premade meals, along with muffins that had specific nutrients. Not everyone received the same amount of nutrients; some participants got more and some less. They each received a standardized breakfast that included either complex carbs and fats in fairly moderate amounts or high protein and high simple sugars. The purpose was to observe the way each participant responded to the different diets when they woke in the morning. And, although it’s clear this study only used unhealthy food choices for its “carbs,” “fats” and other “nutrients” … the results are still worth observing. Throughout the study, the participants wore glucose monitors continuously to keep track of their blood glucose levels. The participants that consumed breakfast containing high amounts of sugar had difficulty waking up and staying alert. On the other hand, the participants who consumed a greater percentage of complex carbohydrates, which reduced simple sugars and added more protein or fat, did not have as much difficulty waking up in the morning. They were alert very quickly after waking, and that alertness was ongoing. But that was only part of the puzzle. Sleep played a significant role in morning alertness as well. Participants who slept longer (between 7 and 9 hours a night) than usual, woke up better and were alert faster. The last piece of the puzzle is maintaining a controlled, healthy blood glucose response after consuming breakfast is the key to better, more effective alertness in the morning. This is common sense: the quality of your diet has everything to do with maintaining a “healthy blood glucose response.” It should be noted that many integrative healthcare providers and health coaches see great improvements in morning energy by simply advising their clients to try “intermittent fasting.” How to Wake Up Alert and Refreshed If you want to wake up alert and refreshed, try this three-step approach suggested in the study and common sense: Eat a breakfast higher in complex carbohydrates coupled with some quality protein or fat, plus avoid simple sugars. You may find that skipping breakfast works even better for you – as suggested here. Just be sure to drink 8-10 ounces of pure, clean water as soon as you can in the morning. You can even add a healthy superfoods powder to your morning glass of water filled with dried medicinal mushrooms, sea vegetables and/or greens. (i.e. “Pure Synergy” from The Synergy Company) Get 7 to 9 hours of sleep. The most restorative hours to be asleep are from 10 pm to 2 am. And, to help you with sleep, stay away from artificial (white) light from cell phones, computers and other electronic devices, for about 1-2 hours before bedtime. Keep your blood glucose levels stable. Some helpful tips include: eating a healthy (organic) diet, chewing your food much more, regular exercise, drinking lots of clean water, learning to manage your stress, spend more time in nature, getting enough sleep in a dark bedroom with minimal to no light, and avoiding smoking and alcohol will help you stay healthy and maintain a healthy blood glucose level throughout the day. Making your health a top priority is one of the kindest things you can do for yourself and others. After all, if you don’t feel well … how can you help others? Sources for this article include: Sciencedaily.com News.berkeley.edu Nature.com To read the original article click here.

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Stop Smoking With These Natural Nutrients and Techniques

AHA Publisher — Wed, 14 Dec 2022 08:00:35 +0000

Lori Alton via NaturalHealth365 – According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cigarette smoking kills 480,000 people in the United States annually. Yet – despite the danger, the increasing social stigma, and the financial burden of a nicotine habit – 38 million Americans continue to smoke. Why? The frustrating truth is that cigarettes are highly addictive, and most smokers find quitting very difficult. Don’t beat yourself up if you haven’t quit – or if you’ve tried and failed. But do resolve to try again. Many ex-smokers report that they didn’t stop smoking on their first try – or even their second or third. While there is no magic potion to stop smoking, research shows that certain herbs, such as green tea, contain compounds that may help boost your odds of success by “taking the edge off” troublesome withdrawal symptoms. Let’s look at four surprising natural interventions that may reduce nicotine cravings and help you stop smoking. Use Green Tea as an Ally in Your Battle to Stop Smoking Smoking is, first and foremost, a ritual, and you’ll want to create alternate ceremonies to replace it. Successful ex-smokers report that the ritual of preparing, lifting, and sipping a steaming cup of coffee or tea can be surprisingly helpful in taming the “nic fits.” Green tea is a particularly great choice. In one encouraging study, researchers reported that theanine, an amino acid in green tea, helped about half the participants cut down on cigarettes – while a third of them were able to stop smoking entirely. Another “plus” for green tea is that it can help alleviate lung damage caused by smoking, with peer-reviewed research showing that regular green tea consumption can reduce the risk of both COPD and lung cancer in cigarette smokers. So when the urge to smoke feels overwhelming, brewing a cup of green tea is a wise move. Sprinkle on the Black Pepper If you’re battling an urge to smoke, it’s not a bad idea to use a liberal hand with the black pepper. Piperine, the active ingredient in black pepper, has mild mood-lifting effects that may help ease irritability and anxiety. In addition, piperine’s antioxidant and anti-inflammatory qualities allow it to go to work scavenging harmful free radicals created by smoking. You can also try aromatherapy with black pepper essential oil, which has shown promise in inhibiting nicotine cravings. Natural health experts advise putting a drop or two of black pepper oil on a tissue and sniffing it when cravings strike. In one study, sniffing black pepper oil was shown to reduce nicotine withdrawal symptoms and promote a calmer mood. Check with your integrative doctor before trying aromatherapy with black pepper oil. Let Acupuncture Point You Toward Quitting Acupuncture is used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to address the imbalance of energy (or “chi”) that is believed to trigger illness. Multiple studies have supported the ability of acupuncture to help people stop smoking, especially when used along with counseling and education. Using tiny needles or low-level lasers, practitioners can stimulate acupuncture points, thereby helping to ease the physical and psychological symptoms of nicotine withdrawal. In a peer-reviewed analysis published in The American Journal of Medicine, the researchers reported that acupuncture helped nicotine withdrawal by decreasing adrenocorticotropic hormone – a hormone associated with stress – and promoting the release of mood-lifting endorphins. A trained acupuncturist can even help you find and activate acupuncture points so that you can help quench cravings at home. If you’re looking to free yourself from the deadly habit of smoking, acupuncture is certainly worth a try. GABA: This Calming Amino Acid May Help You Stop Smoking The amino acid known as GABA, or gamma-aminobutyric acid, functions as a neurotransmitter, inhibiting certain brain signals and decreasing the nervous system’s activity. When GABA attaches to receptors in the brain, it can create a calming and anxiety-reducing effect. An intriguing review published in Neuropharmacology suggested that GABA could make cigarettes less appealing to smokers. The scientists credited GABA with inhibiting the pleasurable effects of nicotine and blocking nicotine-seeking behavior, providing strong evidence for its potential effectiveness in nicotine dependence. You can boost your dietary intake of GABA by eating fermented foods such as pickled cabbage (kimchi) and miso. GABA is also available as a supplement, but consult your integrative doctor before trying it. Other useful herbs and supplements to help you stop smoking include lobelia, ginseng, catnip (it’s not just for cats), licorice root, lemon water, vitamin C, and valerian. As always, check with your trusted integrative doctor before adding any supplements to your routine. Finally, don’t forget natural stress-relief techniques, such as yoga, biofeedback, meditation, exercise, hypnotherapy, and deep breathing. These calming practices can be great tools in your campaign to stop smoking. Here’s hoping that these natural techniques help you embark on a new, smoke-free journey. A world of rewards – from cleaner-smelling clothes to lower cancer risk to a fatter wallet – waits at the other end. You can do this, start today! Sources for this article include: CDC.gov EMediHealth.com BetterNutrition.com AcademicOUP.com NIH.gov NIH.gov AJMed.com To read the original article click here.

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Smokers with Heart Disease Could Gain Five Healthy Years by Quitting

AHA Publisher — Mon, 11 Apr 2022 07:00:07 +0000

European Society of Cardiology via Newswise – Sophia Antipolis – 7 April 2022: Smoking cessation adds the same number of heart disease-free years to life as three preventive medications combined, according to research presented at ESC Preventive Cardiology 2022, a scientific congress of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC).1 “The benefits of smoking cessation are even greater than we realised,” said study author Dr. Tinka Van Trier of Amsterdam University Medical Centre, the Netherlands. “Our study shows that kicking the habit appears to be as effective as taking three medications for preventing heart attacks and strokes in those with a prior heart attack or procedure to open blocked arteries. Patients could gain nearly five years of healthy life.” “This analysis focused on smokers who had experienced a heart attack and/or undergone stent implantation or bypass surgery,” she added. “This group is at particularly high risk of having another heart attack or a stroke and stopping smoking is potentially the most effective preventive action.” The study used data from 989 patients aged 45 years and older who were still smoking at least six months after having a heart attack and/or undergoing stent implantation or bypass surgery. The average age was 60 years and 23% were women. Patients were generally well treated with standard preventive medications (antiplatelets, statins and blood pressure-lowering drugs). The median time since the heart attack or procedure was 1.2 years. The researchers used the SMART-REACH model (available at u-prevent.com) to estimate the gain in healthy years, i.e. without a heart attack or stroke, if patients quit smoking. They also calculated the gain in healthy years if patients continued smoking but took three additional drugs to prevent cardiovascular disease. The three medications included bempedoic acid and PCSK9 inhibitors, which lower LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, and colchicine, an anti-inflammatory therapy. The researchers found that the estimated benefit of quitting smoking appeared to be comparable to using all three pharmaceutical treatments. Smoking cessation resulted in a gain of 4.81 event-free years while the three medications together provided a gain of 4.83 event-free years. “This indicates that smoking cessation is a very important step towards adding healthy years to one’s lifetime,” said Dr. Van Trier. “It is important to remember that the analysis did not even account for the other advantages of giving up the habit – for example on respiratory illnesses, cancer and longevity.” She continued: “Smoking cessation remains a cornerstone of preventing heart attacks and strokes and improving overall health at any time, including after a heart attack and at any age. We know that cigarette smoking is responsible for 50% of all avoidable deaths in smokers, of which half are due to cardiovascular disease.2 Giving up cigarettes after a heart attack is linked with improved survival compared with persistent smoking.3“ Dr. Van Trier concluded: “If you are considering becoming smokefree, or would like more information about it, please talk to a health professional. Your motivation is key to successfully quitting, but beating an addiction becomes easier with medical and psychological assistance.” To read the original article click here.

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Study Shows Link Between Smoking and Covid-19 Severity, Death

AHA Publisher — Wed, 29 Sep 2021 07:00:43 +0000

BMJ via News-Medical – Smoking is highly likely to worsen the severity of COVID-19 and the risk of dying from the infection, finds a large UK Biobank study published online in the respiratory journal Thorax. It is the first study of its kind to pool observational and genetic data on smoking and COVID-19 to strengthen the evidence base. The evidence on whether smoking is associated with a greater likelihood of more severe COVID-19 infection has been inconsistent, note the researchers. Several studies carried out early on in the pandemic reported a lower prevalence of active smokers among people admitted to hospital with COVID-19 than in the general population. But other population based studies have suggested that smoking is a risk factor for the infection. Most of the research to date, however, has been observational in nature and so unable to establish a causal effect. The researchers therefore combined observational and Mendelian randomization analyses to better understand the relationship. Mendelian randomization is a technique that uses genetic variants as proxies for a particular risk factor –in this case genetic variants that make someone more likely to smoke or to smoke more heavily–to obtain genetic evidence in support of a causal relationship. They drew on linked primary care records, COVID-19 test results, hospital admissions data and death certificates to look for associations between smoking and COVID-19 infection severity from January to August 2020 in 421,469 participants of the UK Biobank, all of whom had had their genetic make-up analyzed when they agreed to take part in 2006-10. During the study period, 13446 (3.2%) people took a COVID-19 swab (PCR) test, 1649 (0.4%) of whom tested positive; 968 (0.2%) required admission to hospital; and 444 (0.1%) died as a result of their infection. Most (59%) participants had never smoked; over a third (37%) were former smokers; and only 4% were current smokers. Among current smokers, most (71%) were light or moderate smokers (1-19 cigarettes/day); only 29% were heavy smokers (20+/day). Compared with those who had never smoked, current smokers were 80% more likely to be admitted to hospital and significantly more likely to die from COVID-19. The researchers used Mendelian randomization to assess whether a genetic predisposition to smoking and heavy smoking might have a role in COVID-19 severity among 281,105 of the original participants living in England. This revealed that a genetic predisposition to smoking was associated with a 45% higher risk of infection and a 60% higher risk of hospital admission for COVID-19. And it showed that a genetic predisposition to smoke more heavily was associated with a more than doubling in the risk of infection; a 5-fold increase in the risk of hospital admission; and a 10-fold increase in the risk of death from the virus. While the researchers acknowledge that they relied only on hospital COVID-19 test data rather than on more representative community data, they nevertheless point to the similarity of the findings in both sets of analyses. “Overall, the congruence of observational analyses indicating associations with recent smoking behaviors and [Mendelian randomization] analyses indicating associations with lifelong predisposition to smoking and smoking heaviness support a causal effect of smoking on COVID-19 severity,” they conclude. “The idea that tobacco smoking may protect against COVID-19 was always an improbable one,” assert Drs Anthony Laverty and Christopher Millet of Imperial College London, in a linked editorial. “A respiratory pandemic should be the ideal moment to focus collective minds on tobacco control,” they add, highlighting a recent report from the Royal College of Physicians. This notes that the UK isn’t on track to meet the government’s stated goal of a smoking prevalence of less than 5% by 2030, and that smoking remains a major cause of health inequality. In a linked podcast, lead researcher Dr Ashley Clift has a clear message for smokers. “Our results strongly suggest that smoking is related to your risk of getting severe COVID, and just as smoking affects your risk of heart disease, different cancers, and all those other conditions we know smoking is linked to, it appears that it’s the same for COVID. So now might be as good a time as any to quit cigarettes and quit smoking.” To read the original article click here.

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Flavored E-Cigarettes May Affect the Brain Differently Than Non-Flavored

AHA Publisher — Wed, 30 Jun 2021 07:00:21 +0000

Penn State via EurekAlert – Flavoring can change how the brain responds to e-cigarette aerosols that contain nicotine, according to Penn State College of Medicine researchers. Andrea Hobkirk and her team used functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to understand how the brain’s reward areas react to e-cigarette aerosol with and without flavor. “There are nearly 12 million e-cigarette users in the United States,” Hobkirk, an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral health at Penn State College of Medicine, said. “The vast majority use e-cigarettes with menthol, mint, fruity and dessert-type flavors. Although regulations that limit the sale of flavored e-cigarettes may help curb use among youth, they might also stop adults from using e-cigarettes as a smoking reduction or cessation aid. We are trying to understand how flavor influences e-cigarette reward and satisfaction for smokers and the risk of nicotine addiction for non-smokers.” The team first developed a device to deliver e-cigarette aerosols during brain scanning. Next, the research team used this new device to deliver aerosols containing a low dose of nicotine to nine adult female smokers during a single laboratory visit. One aerosol had a strawberry-vanilla flavor, and the other aerosol was flavorless. The team compared the strength of brain activation and reward brain region involvement between flavored and unflavored aerosols. “For our study, we were interested in looking first at, for smokers, how flavor might affect their response to nicotine e-cigarettes,” Hobkirk said. “We recruited smokers who had never used e-cigarettes before or were not regular e-cigarette users. What we were interested in is figuring out whether or not flavor changed how they perceived or how their brain responded to this e-cigarette use.” The researchers found that the strawberry-vanilla aerosol engaged the brain’s taste region. In contrast, the unflavored aerosol engaged the brain’s reward region, similar to observations during cigarette smoking. The researchers published their results in the journal Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology. The researchers also assessed patterns of neural activity between brain regions. Stronger connectivity between two brain regions typically means that these regions are working together. They found that key brain reward regions were strongly connected with flavored aerosol and not unflavored. The findings suggest that, for smokers, unflavored e-cigarettes may mimic the typical smoking experience more than flavored e-cigarettes. “We found that for smokers who had never really used e-cigarettes before, the flavor did not make the experience more rewarding for them, at least in terms of what we saw in the brain,” Hobkirk said. “It did not make the experience of breathing in these aerosols more like a smoking experience. Typically, that’s what smokers are looking for when they’re trying to transition over to a healthier product. They want something that gives all the similar rewarding and sensory-motor effects of their regular combustible cigarette, but without all the harmful effects that come in the toxins of a cigarette. We found that adding flavor doesn’t necessarily do that for these smokers, at least what we saw in their response to them in the brain. This could suggest that, potentially, smokers do not necessarily need these flavors to make the transition from a combustible cigarette to an e-cigarette.” To read the original article click here.

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