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.
Tag: Smoking
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.
Smokers – you’re at risk for this disease
According to the Surgeon General, 14% of Americans smoke and 16 million suffer from smoking-related diseases. Pulmonary fibrosis, a debilitating disease often caused by tobacco usage, is little-known among smokers. The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation shares insights on critical risk factors.
Scientists Discover Link Between Nicotine and Breast Cancer Metastasis
Scientists at Wake Forest School of Medicine have found that nicotine promotes the spread of breast cancer cells into the lungs.
Youth Using E-cigarettes Three Times as Likely to Become Daily Cigarette Smokers
University of California San Diego Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Sciences researchers report that starting tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, before the age of 18 is a major risk factor for people becoming daily cigarette smokers.
Emotional dependency on smoking-vaping combo differs from just smoking
Researchers have known that emotions play a critical, but complex role in shaping dependency on smoking and vaping. Now, a team of researchers report that emotions that trigger dependency for people who both smoke and vape may be different from people who just smoke, a finding that may one day help scientists create more personalized programs to help people quit tobacco smoking and vaping.
E-cigarette Users at Greater Risk of Poor Immune Response to Viruses
In a controlled study, scientists found that smokers and e-cigarette users exhibited significantly altered immune responses to a model of influenza virus infection, suggesting increased susceptibility to disease, including COVID-19
Protect Your Bladder: Quit Smoking
Your bladder probably isn’t your favorite topic of conversation, but knowing when to talk to your doctor about it is crucial to your health. If you experience frequent and/or painful urination, or you notice blood in your urine, telling your primary care provider is the first step to diagnosing a problem and finding the right care. More often than not, these symptoms are caused by non-life-threatening conditions like urinary tract infection, overactive bladder or, in men, an enlarged prostate. But they also could be symptoms of bladder cancer, the sixth most common form of cancer in the United States.
Study reveals how smoking worsens COVID-19 infection in the airways
UCLA researchers using a model of airway tissue created from human stem cells have pinpointed how smoking cigarettes causes more severe infection by SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in the airways of the lungs.
‘Heat-not-burn’ Alternative to E-cigarettes May Harm Heart
A new review suggests “heat-not-burn” tobacco devices may threaten cardiovascular health. The review is published ahead of print in the American Journal of Physiology-Heart and Circulatory Physiology.
Huge Study Links Risky Drinking with Low Social Support and Area of Residence
People who report having low social support are substantially more likely to experience heavy drinking and binge drinking than those who feel more supported, a large European study suggests. The researchers also found strong evidence that risky drinking is associated with areas of residence. Although alcohol use is known to be linked to social, economic, and demographic factors, the research is incomplete; it is not clear to what extent some of these factors, especially environmental conditions, predict dangerous drinking. Investigators in Spain designed a study that was unusual in exploring both heavy drinking and binge drinking and both individual and contextual (environmental) factors. The study, in Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research, confirmed individual risk factors and highlighted certain environmental conditions that may help target interventions for those at risk.
American College of Surgeons panels warn vaping and marijuana use before an operation can be harmful
At panel discussions during the virtual ACS Clinical Congress 2020, experts underscored the importance of helping patients stop tobacco, vaping and marijuana use before having an operation.
One-size-fits-all is no fit for heart health
From Weight Watchers to wearable tech – wherever we look, there are messages encouraging us to stay fit and healthy. But diets and training methods aside, when it comes to heart health, research from the University of South Australia shows that a far more personalised approach is needed…and it all starts with your genes.
Heavier smoking linked to skyrocketing health risks
Each cigarette smoked a day by heavier smokers increases the risk of contracting some diseases by more than 30 per cent, according to a new international study published today.
Early Life Exposure to Nicotine: Postnatal Neurobehavioral and Metabolic Outcomes and the Development of Childhood Cancers
Animal studies suggest that nicotine may be a key chemical responsible for long-term effects associated with maternal cigarette smoking and increased risk of adverse health consequences in the offspring. However, postnatal outcomes of nicotine exposure from maternal use of e-cigarettes…
Smokers good at math are more likely to want to quit
For smokers who are better at math, the decision to quit just adds up, a new study suggests. Researchers found that smokers who scored higher on a test of math ability were more likely than others to say they intended to quit smoking.
Study finds evidence that loneliness makes it harder to quit smoking
In a study published today (15 June 2020) in Addiction, University of Bristol researchers have found evidence for a causal link between prolonged experience of loneliness and smoking.
Rutgers Experts Available to Discuss Smoking and Vaping Effects on COVID-19 Patients
Smoking and vaping-related lung injuries create an underlying medical condition that can make people more susceptible to respiratory infections like the flu and COVID-19, according to experts at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School’s department of emergency medicine. “Both COVID-19 and…
Continued nicotine use promotes brain tumors in lung cancer patients, Wake Forest study suggests
Researchers at Wake Forest School of Medicine have discovered that nicotine promotes the spread of lung cancer cells into the brain, where they can form deadly metastatic tumors. The study, which will be published June 4 in the Journal of Experimental Medicine (JEM), suggests that nicotine replacement therapies may not be suitable strategies for lung cancer patients attempting to quit smoking. In addition, the researchers show that the naturally occurring drug parthenolide blocks nicotine-induced brain metastasis in mice, suggesting a potential therapeutic option in humans.
Forensic Chemist’s Laser Technology Can Detect Crime Scene Smokers
Igor Lednev’s innovative laser-light technology is adding another use to its forensics toolbox – being able to determine if a smoker was at the crime scene based on biological evidence.
UniSA research uncovers treatment combo that sees smokers six times more likely to stop smoking and stay smoke-free
New research led by the University of South Australia has found that smokers who receive the medication varenicline tartrate combined with Quitline counselling following a period of hospitalisation due to a tobacco-related illness are six times more likely to quit smoking than those who attempt to stop without support.
Can Vaping Scar Your Lungs? New Insights and a Possible Remedy
Researchers report evidence that the compounds in e-cigarette liquid could potentially cause the body’s tissue repair process to go haywire and lead to scarring inside the lungs.
Say No to Vaping: Blood Pressure, Heart Rate Rises in Healthy, Young Nonsmokers
New research finds that nicotine-filled e-cigarettes cause increases in heart rate and blood pressure in young people, health issues that remain even after a vaping session.
Smoking Increases Risk for COVID-19 Complications—So It’s a Great Time to Quit
It is well known that smoking results in worse outcomes in people with pneumonia or influenza, and we are learning that smoking can pose significant risks in those with COVID-19.
Does smoking increase your risk for dementia and cognitive decline?
Scientists from the Uniformed Services University (USU), Emory University and the University of Vermont have found that cigarette smoking is linked to increased lesions in the brain’s white matter, called white matter hyperintensities. White matter hyperintensities, detected by MRI scan, are associated with cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease. These findings may help explain the link between smoking and increased rates of dementia and other forms of cognitive decline.
Childhood physical abuse linked to heavy cigarette use among teens who smoke
A new study in kids at risk for maltreatment shows that physical abuse, especially when they’re toddlers or teens, dramatically increases the odds that their adolescent experimentation with cigarettes will lead to a heavy smoking habit.
For Weight-Loss Surgery Patients Who Quit Smoking, Relapse is Common
Although 1 in 7 adults smoke cigarettes the year prior to undergoing weight-loss surgery, nearly all successfully quit at least a month before their operation. However, smoking prevalence steadily climbs to pre-surgery levels within seven years, according to new research.
Nicotine Boosts Production of Inflammation-causing Hormones, Worsens Kidney Disease
Article title: COX-2 derived prostaglandins as mediators of the deleterious effects of nicotine in chronic kidney disease Authors: Sunil Rangarajan, Gabriel Rezonzew, Phillip Chumley, Huma Fatima, Mikhail Golovko, Wenguang Feng, Ping Hua, Edgar A. Jaimes From the authors: “In these studies,…
Most Young People Do Not Vape, and Even Fewer Vape Regularly
While youth vaping rates have increased in recent years, most middle and high school students don’t vape or smoke and very few vape or smoke daily, finds a study led by researchers at NYU School of Global Public Health.