Data from nearly 5 million births show that the longer the duration of smoking, the higher the risk, say Rutgers researchers.
Tag: Smoking
Smoking increases chances of mid-life memory loss, confusion
Middle-aged smokers are far more likely to report having memory loss and confusion than nonsmokers, and the likelihood of cognitive decline is lower for those who have quit, even recently, a new study has found.
GW Researchers Find That Most Dual Smokers and Vapers Likely to Continue Smoking
A new study by researchers at The George Washington University found that adults who both vape and smoke are likely to continue smoking in the long run. The findings run counter to the industry’s message that vaping can help current smokers quit.
Solutions to Tackling Smoking Rates
Much work needs to be done to change the United States smoking rate, Rutgers experts say on the occasion of the Great American Smokeout Nov. 17
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Leads Collaborative Effort to End Lung Cancer Related Stigmas
Stigma can have profound and lasting effects, and studies have shown that people living with lung cancer may encounter challenges in receiving the support they need from their social network and healthcare providers. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) is committed to helping eliminate the stigmas associated with a lung cancer diagnosis and is working to raise awareness in collaboration with other national organizations.
Reduced nicotine cigarettes result in less smoking in anxious, depressed smokers
Lowering the amount of nicotine in cigarettes to non-addictive levels may reduce smoking without worsening mental health in smokers with mood or anxiety disorders, according to College of Medicine researchers.
Dr. Taghrid Asfar, a Known Expert on Reducing Tobacco Use & Related Deaths, Available to Media
Taghrid Asfar, M.D., M.S.P.H., Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of the University of Miami Health System Associate Professor, Division of Epidemiology and Population Health Sciences, Department of Public Health Sciences Dr. Asfar is an internationally known expert on reducing tobacco…
Cigarette Smoking More Prevalent – and Harder to Quit – Among Rural vs. Urban Americans
Cigarette smoking is more prevalent among Americans residing in rural areas and they also have a more difficult time quitting smoking than urban residents, according to a study involving Rutgers researchers.
People Who Use Therapeutic Cannabis Are More Likely to Use Nicotine, Too
People who use therapeutic cannabis are more likely to also use nicotine products than the general population, according to a Rutgers study.
Which Teens Are More Likely to Vape? Research Shows Surprising Patterns Across Race and Sexuality Groups.
This study compares the different vaping rates among U.S. high school students with different sexual orientation, racial, and ethnic backgrounds, to see how these intersecting identities impact rates of e-cigarette use.
E-cigarette use to reduce cigarette smoking may not increase nicotine dependence
A Penn State College of Medicine study suggests that electronic cigarettes may help people decrease their dependence on combustible cigarettes without increasing their overall nicotine dependence.
Peptide Treatment May Improve High White Blood Cell Count Associated with Smoking
Article title: Recombinant human β-defensin 2 delivery improves smoking-associated lung neutrophilia and bacterial exacerbation Authors: Nadia Milad, Marie Pineault, Gabrielle Bouffard, Michaël Maranda-Robitaille, Ariane Lechasseur, Marie-Josée Beaulieu, Sophie Aubin, Benjamin A. H. Jensen, Mathieu C. Morissette From the authors: This…
Study Shows Older Age and Smoking Most Important Risk Factors for Developing Any Cancer
A new large study led by researchers at the American Cancer Society shows older age and smoking are the two most important risk factors associated with a relative and absolute five-year risk of developing any cancer. The findings also demonstrate that in addition to age and smoking history, clinicians should consider excess body fatness, family history of any cancer, and several other factors that may help patients determine if they may benefit from enhanced cancer screening or prevention interventions. The data was published today in the journal Cancer.
Study Shows Fewer People Tried to Quit Smoking During COVID-19 Pandemic
A new study led by researchers at the American Cancer Society shows serious smoking cessation activity declined among adults in the United States immediately after the onset of COVID-19 and persisted for over a year. Declines in attempts to quit smoking were largest among persons experiencing disproportionately negative outcomes during COVID-19, including Black people, people with comorbidities, middle-aged people, and lower educated people. The data was published today in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Network Open.
Scientists discover genes that affect the risk of developing pre-leukaemia
The discovery of 14 inherited genetic changes which significantly increase the risk of a person developing a symptomless blood disorder associated with the onset of some types of cancer and heart disease is published today in Nature Genetics. The finding, made in one of the largest studies of its kind through genetic data analysis on 421,738 people, could pave the way for potential new approaches for the prevention and early detection of cancers including leukaemia.
Public Health Experts Comment on FDA Decision to Ban Juul E-cigarettes
WASHINGTON (June 23, 2022)—The Food and Drug Administration said today it will ban the sale of Juul e-cigarettes, saying that Juul played an outside role in the increase in youth vaping. Critics say that Juul used aggressive marketing tactics to…
Leading addiction expert: proposed FDA nicotine rule likely to help more people quit smoking
A proposed FDA rule meant to reduce nicotine levels in cigarettes sold in the United States would be a boon for improved health and could result in more people giving up smoking in favor of less dangerous forms of nicotine…
Studies Point to Role of Lifestyle Factors in Alzheimer’s Risk and Disparities
Two new studies offer insights into the factors that may contribute to the disproportionate burden of dementia in non-White and low-income U.S. populations.
Smoke Break: UNLV Study Strengthens Link Between Smoking and Increased Fracture Risk in Men
It’s no secret that puffing cigarettes is the culprit behind a host of ailments, including respiratory diseases and throat cancer. But a new UNLV study reveals that male smokers — who, demographically, are more likely than women to light up — are also placing themselves at a significantly increased risk of osteoporosis, bone fractures, and early death.
Long-Term Study Finds Cigarette Smoking Doubled Risk of Developing Heart Failure
The study found that participants who had stopped smoking retained a significantly increased risk of heart failure for decades after they’d stopped smoking.

Study Suggests Menthol Cigarettes Increase Youth Smoking, Nicotine Addiction
Menthol cigarettes increase youth smoking and nicotine addiction report researchers at the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science at University of California San Diego.

Graphic Warnings on Cigarette Labels Led Smokers to Hide Packs
Graphic warning labels led smokers to hide their packs but not change other smoking behaviors according to report by University of California San Diego Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science researchers.
1 million Youth Became Daily Tobacco Users, Most Used JUUL E-cigarettes
More than 1 million United States youth became new daily tobacco users within two years, most were vaping e-cigarettes daily, report UC San Diego Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science researchers.
Global study assesses teen vaping
In a study published in Addiction that analyzed 2015–2018 information from 47 countries, approximately 1 in 12, or 8.6%, of adolescents reported vaping in the past 30 days. Countries with higher tobacco taxes tended to have higher adolescent vaping.
Smokers who switch to e-cigarettes may adopt other healthy routines
A University of Washington study of adult smokers finds that those who switch to vaping some or all of the time may adopt other healthy behaviors.
FDA Action to Remove Menthol-Flavored Cigarettes Improves Health Equity, Says American Thoracic Society
Today, the FDA announced its decision to “prohibit menthol as a characterizing flavor in cigarettes and all characterizing flavors in cigars.”
Smokers Less Likely to Survive a Heart Attack
Smokers have a lower chance of surviving a heart attack than non-smokers, according to new data compiled by researchers at Jordan University of Science and Technology in Irbid.
New online tool helps keep college campuses smoke and tobacco free
New study results show compliance with smoke- and tobacco-free policies on college campuses could be more effective with the rollout of a Tobacco Tracker that can also influence behavior and attitudes.
IU study illustrates the need to treat smoking and mental health problems together
IU study illustrates the need to treat mental health problems and smoking together.
Telehealth May Help Smokers in Rural Prisons Quit Tobacco Smoking
Telehealth smoking cessation treatment programs can reduce tobacco-related disparities among incarcerated smokers, according to a Rutgers study.
Combined Cigarette and Alcohol Cues Intensify Motivation to Continue Substance Use
Researchers at the University at Buffalo, The State University of New York have explored the motivational impact of cigarette and alcohol “cues”, with important implications for understanding and treating addiction and relapse.
Sin Taxes Could Unintentionally Make Others Pay
When an excise tax hike was levied on cigarettes, New York City taxi drivers who smoked were one and a half times more likely to cheat their customers by overcharging the fare than those who didn’t smoke. That finding comes from forthcoming research in Accounting, Organizations, and Society.
Graphic Warning Labels on Cigarette Packaging Changes Perceptions
A Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science at University of California San Diego clinical trial showed that graphic warning labels on cigarette packaging changes perceptions of smokers to recognize the negative consequences of tobacco and consider quitting.
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Smokers are at a Higher Risk for Smoking Menthol Cigarettes
Compared with heterosexual smokers, menthol cigarette smoking is higher among lesbian, gay and bisexual cigarette smokers, according to a Rutgers-led study, especially among bisexual and lesbian/gay female cigarette smokers.
An Educational Intervention Can Help Vapers Use Their E-Cigarettes to Quit Smoking, Moffitt Study Finds
In a new article published in The Lancet Public Health, they report results from a first-of-its kind nationwide study evaluating a targeted intervention aimed at transforming dual users’ e-cigarettes from a product that might maintain smoking into a tool that can be used to aid smoking cessation.
Smokers needed angioplasty and stenting a decade before non-smokers
Smokers needed their blocked arteries fixed nearly a decade earlier than non-smokers, and patients with obesity underwent these procedures four years earlier than non-obese patients, according to a new study from across Michigan.
Cigarette Smoke Reduces Aorta’s Ability to Store Elastic Energy, Impairs Blood Vessel Function in Mice
Article title: Structural and functional remodeling of the female Apoe−/− mouse aorta due to chronic cigarette smoke exposure Authors: Yasmeen M. Farra, Jacqueline Matz, Bhama Ramkhelawon, Jessica M. Oakes, Chiara Bellini From the authors: “Our data indicated that exposure to…
Thirdhand smoke impacts gut bacteria for infants, study finds
Infants exposed to thirdhand smoke while hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) show a difference in the composition of their gut microbiome, according to a new study by researchers with The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth).
FDA to ban menthol cigarettes: U-M experts available
The FDA has announced that it will ban menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars within the next year, a move the tobacco industry has pushed against for the last decade. University of Michigan experts can comment. David Mendez and Thuy Le…

WashU Expert: FDA menthol ban would benefit Black, younger Americans
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s proposed ban on menthol-flavored cigarettes and all flavored cigars could be particularly beneficial for Black and young people, says an expert on tobacco control at Washington University in St. Louis.“Around 80% of adult Black smokers and more than half of people age 18-34 use menthol brands,” said Todd Combs, research assistant professor at the Brown School who works on the Advancing Science & Practice in the Retail Environment (ASPiRE) project, which uses agent-based modeling to test the potential impact of retail tobacco policies.
Menthol Cigarettes Banned: FDA Takes Bold Action to Save Lives
(April 29, 2021) NY, NY – In a historic move, the Biden Administration announced today its decision to ban menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars. The decision comes after a protracted battle in the courts in which the tobacco industry’s aggressive marketing of menthol cigarettes was challenged by medical and public health organizations, including the American Thoracic Society.
Is raising the sales age of tobacco reducing youth smoking?
A new study, conducted by three UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center researchers, studies young adult smoking trends three years after the start of California’s law raising the sales age of tobacco to 21.

Starting Smoking Cessation in Hospitalized Patients Would Reduce Many Premature Deaths
Each year in the U.S., about 30 million hospitalizations occur in individuals 18 and older. Of these, more than 7 million are current cigarette smokers whose average hospital stay is several days. Researchers say that starting smoking cessation therapy during hospitalization and maintaining high adherence post-discharge can markedly improve permanent quit rates in these patients with minimal to no side effects. Cessation therapy also should include long-term counseling and at least 90 days of a prescription drug, specifically, varenicline.

Quit the Hookah! Lung Damage, Inflammation Is Reversible with Smoking Cessation
New research finds that quitting smoking is an effective way to resolve impaired lung function and airway inflammation associated with waterpipe smoking. The study is published ahead of print in the American Journal of Physiology-Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology.
Vaping marijuana associated with more symptoms of lung damage than vaping or smoking nicotine
Adolescents who vape cannabis are at greater risk for respiratory symptoms indicative of lung injury than teens who smoke cigarettes or marijuana, or vape nicotine, a new University of Michigan study suggests.
Nicotine Damages Kidney Filters in Smokers with Diabetes
Article title: Nicotine, smoking, podocytes and diabetic nephropathy Authors: Edgar A. Jaimes, Ming-Sheng Zhou, Mohammed Siddiqui, Gabriel Rezonzew, Runxia Tian, Surya V. Seshan, Alecia N Muwonge, Nicholas J. Wong, Evren U. Azeloglu, Alessia Fornoni, Sandra Merscher, Leopoldo Raij From the authors:…
Marijuana May Increase Risk of Heart Disease in Healthy Adults
Article title: Habitual cannabis use is associated with altered cardiac mechanics and arterial stiffness, but not endothelial function in young healthy smokers Authors: Christian P. Cheung, Alexandra Michelle Coates, Philip J. Millar, Jamie F. Burr From the authors: “Our cross-sectional data…
Alcohol Plus Cadmium (via Smoking) Can Amplify Blood Pressure and Cardiovascular Risk
Heavy drinking combined with cadmium exposure — most commonly via smoking — escalates the risk of hypertension, according to a new study. Hypertension (high blood pressure) affects 26 percent of the global population and is the leading cause of cardiovascular disease and mortality. Alcohol consumption and cadmium exposure are known risk factors for hypertension. Exposure to cadmium, a metal that accumulates in body organs, occurs mainly through smoking, which often accompanies heavy drinking. Other cadmium sources include certain foods, air pollution, and wine and beer. Alcohol increases the absorption of cadmium in the body, and evidence suggests that the two substances contribute to hypertension via shared physiological pathways. The new study, in Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research, is the first known epidemiological investigation of the combined effects of alcohol and cadmium on blood pressure.
Menthol cigarettes linked to 10 million extra smokers, hundreds of thousands of premature deaths
Menthol cigarettes contributed to 378,000 premature deaths in the United States between 1980 to 2018, according to a new University of Michigan study.
Nicotine Worsens Renal Disease in Smokers with Diabetes, Damages Kidney Filters
New research suggests the toxic effects of nicotine on the kidneys’ filtering function are partly responsible for the progression of diabetes-related kidney disease in people who smoke. The study is published ahead of print in the American Journal of Physiology-Renal Physiology.