MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'cessation'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 01:58:01 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5130662&cid=t_236331_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F08%2F15%2Fimpact-of-smokefree-legislation-evidence-review-march-2011%2F Scan or click to download Impact of smokefree legislation: evidence review, March 2011 Title: Impact of smokefree legislation: evidence review, March 2011 The Skinny: Report summarising the evidence both national and international that assesses the impact of smokefree legislation in terms of exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS); changes in health and behaviour; and impact on the hospitality industry. Publisher: DH Size: 23p. Published: 09/02/11 Filed under: Ooops Missed Category! Tagged: Building interior spaces, Cigarettes, Cigars, Grey Literature, Health Outcomes, Outcomes, Passive Smoking, Public Health, Smoke free legislation, Smoking, Smoking Cessation, Smoking control, Tobacco consumption, Tobacco products (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5130662 Mon, 15 Aug 2011 08:24:27 +0100 5130662 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5107523&cid=t_236331_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fthe-best-thing-a-patient-can-do-following-a-heart-attack%2F2011.08.07 I’ve been telling my smoking patients for years that nothing I do for them is going to make an ounce of difference until they quit smoking for good.  And the Italians are out to prove me right.  The American Journal of Cardiology reported July 11th, 2011 on the Effect of Smoking Relapse On Outcome After Acute Coronary Syndrome. In a study of just under 1,300 patients,  Reuters reports that just over 1/2 the patients started smoking within 20 days of hospital discharge, despite in-hospital smoking cessation consultation for all patients.   Researchers also found that resuming smoking increased  death 3-fold compared with those that did not relapse and quitting smoking had a similar lifesaving effect as taking cholesterol and blood pressure medications.  And I’m sure these ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5107523 Sun, 07 Aug 2011 16:00:00 +0100 5107523 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5036528&cid=t_236331_140_f&fid=34844&url=http%3A%2F%2Ftheicarusproject.net%2Falternative-treatments%2Fharm-reduction-guide-to-coming-off-meds-greek-translation The Harm Reduction Guide to Coming Off Psychiatric Drugs, published by The Icarus Project and Freedom Center, is now available in Greek - thanks to the dedicated volunteer translation work of Marianna Kefallinou.You can download the Greek version here.Οδηγός Μείωσης της Βλάβης για τη Διακοπή των Ψυχιατρικών Φαρμάκων (Source: The Icarus Project - Navigating the Space Between Brilliance and Madness) The Icarus Project - Navigating the Space Between Brilliance and Madness blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5036528 Fri, 15 Jul 2011 21:25:03 +0100 5036528 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5008196&cid=t_236331_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fare-the-benefits-of-smoking-cessation-eclipsed-by-obesity%2F2011.07.07 Obesity is filling in for smoking as a cause of death in working class women, concluded researchers after reviewing mortality rates from a nearly 30-year study in Scotland. In Europe, wealthier people either aren’t starting to smoke or are finding it easier to quit, which accounts for up to 85% of the observed differences in mortality between population groups, researchers noted. Their analysis showed higher rates of being overweight or obese among those who’d never smoked in all occupational classes, with the highest rates in women from lower occupational classes. Almost 70% of the women in the lower occupational classes who had never smoked were overweight or obese, and severe obesity was seven times more prevalent than among smokers in higher social positions. Among women wh... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5008196 Thu, 07 Jul 2011 19:00:00 +0100 5008196 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4893454&cid=t_236331_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fscary-images-on-cigarette-packages-do-make-people-think-about-quitting%2F2011.06.02 The World Health Organization (WHO) says graphic health warnings on tobacco packages are a powerful “best buy” in decreasing tobacco use and its many health consequences. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention outlined the research in the MMWR. The World Health Organization (WHO) created a treaty for tobacco product labels that many countries have ratified. Among other requirements, these warnings are expected to appear on at least 30%, and ideally 50% or more, of the package’s principal display areas, and preferably use pictures. To assess how cigarette package labels impact quitting smoking, researchers used data from the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) in 14 countries from 2008 to 2010 that had ratified WHO’s tobacco control treaty. Current smokers of ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4893454 Thu, 02 Jun 2011 19:00:00 +0100 4893454 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4872096&cid=t_236331_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fchantix-lawsuits-the-next-greatest-get-rich-quick-scheme-for-smokers%2F2011.05.26 Chantix lawsuits here we come.  I’ve been prescribing Chantix and helping fill out forms for free Chantix for my patients for several years now.  Chantix is one medicine used to help get patients to quit smoking right now.  In fact, I even had a case presentation of a woman I warned to quit smoking for good or face a lifetime of being cross eyed. Does Chantix help to quit smoking? Yes it does.  It helps to take the cravings away in folks who use it.  If you smoke, you should want to quit, based on my discussions with a tobacco farming insider.  If nothing has helped, Chantix might be your last hope.  As a hospitalist, I always offer Chantix therapy as part of my smoking lecture (that I bill out as smoking cessation CPT 99406 or 99407) With the average cost of cigarettes... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4872096 Thu, 26 May 2011 16:00:00 +0100 4872096 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4841989&cid=t_236331_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FTUOHhGEtWzc%2F Adverse event data from the third quarter of 2010 show the risks of serious psychiatric side effects of Chantix, the smoking-cessation drug, were previously underestimated because Pfizer apparently failed to correctly submit hundreds of these episodes to the FDA, according to an analysis by the Institute for Safe Medicine Practices, a non-profit that regulary reviews the FDA adverse event database. Notably, the ISMP found 150 cases of completed suicides, some of which dated back to 2007, that were not reported promptly as suicides within 15 days as required. Instead, the drugmaker apparently coded the suicides as “expected adverse events” among 26,000 such events, and added these to a quarterly periodic report, which is how less important, non-serious side effects are sent to t... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4841989 Wed, 18 May 2011 16:02:13 +0100 4841989 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4631444&cid=t_236331_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F03%2F24%2Fjournal-of-public-health-2011-vol-33-no-1%2F Fade Fave: Social inequalities in quitting smoking: what factors mediate the relationship between socioeconomic position and smoking cessation? Fade Skinny: Thid article looks at whether smokers from lower socio-economic groups are less likely to be successful in a quit attempt than more affluent smokers, even while accessing smoking cessation services. (Print subscription held at Fade Library – contact the library if you would like a copy) Filed under: Current Awareness Tagged: Inequalities, Medication Compliance, Smoking Cessation, Socioeconomic Status, UK (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4631444 Thu, 24 Mar 2011 12:50:42 +0100 4631444 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4626829&cid=t_236331_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fwhy-you-must-quit-smoking-before-surgery%2F2011.03.23 Physicians and surgeons all agree on the link between smoking and postoperative complications.  We don’t agree (or know) how much time is required between cessation of smoking and surgery for optimal risk reduction. Dr.Thomas Fiala wrote a nice blog post, Smoking Cessation and surgical complications, recently  discussing the 3rd reference article below. Smokers that quit smoking before surgery had 41% fewer complications. The researchers found that each week of cessation increases the effect by 19%. Trials of at least 4 weeks’ smoking cessation had a significantly larger treatment effect than shorter trials (P = .04). Smokers that quit had lower rates of total complications, fewer wound healing complications, and fewer pulmonary complications. (more…) *This blog ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4626829 Wed, 23 Mar 2011 21:00:00 +0100 4626829 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4419456&cid=t_236331_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fmy-name-is-nicotine%2F Hello my name is NicotineYou might know me well, I’m more thanI seem. I’ll be your best friend throughstresses and doubts, then I’ll neverleave your side, even when I’m put out.I’ll make you cough and smelly too, I’mgood at that, it’s what I do.And once we’ve met, in my smoke you’lldelight. But try to give me up and youmay get a fright.For I am much stronger than heroinor pills. Because many more people, Imanage to kill.Not only that, the earth I destroy, this ismy destiny, it’s what I enjoy.I need lots of your cash if you wantme around, but you won’t care, youraddiction is sound.So come and join me in my campaign todestroy your wellbeing through illnessand painSo your health and your money, Ican slowly drain.And if you give me up, I hope we meetagain.By Fiona Related... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4419456 Sun, 30 Jan 2011 15:40:00 +0100 4419456 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4183347&cid=t_236331_109_f&fid=34859&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.davemsw.com%2Farchives%2F2010%2F11%2Ftodays_great_american_smokeout_and_what_we_learn_a.php I quit smoking 28 years ago. The final effort started the previous year on "Great American Smokeout", 29 years ago. I'm very glad I succeeded. I used to joke that quitting smoking was easy, I'd done it 100s of times. Unfortunately it was all too true. I struggled with attempts to quite smoking over most of my adult years. It's a major bad habit, with the further complication of addiction to Nicotine. At one time I smoked three packs a day. I was thoroughly hooked.In my experience, I've found that major bad habits of all kinds are very difficult to break. Many a New Years' resolution has gone unfulfilled due to this problem. Despite our best intent and efforts, somehow all the logic in our arsenal cannot overcome an well established habit. That is because it has been "hard wired" into the b... Ψ Dare To Dream... blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4183347 Fri, 19 Nov 2010 00:56:46 +0100 4183347 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4003436&cid=t_236331_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FebX3i3LnNno%2F Suicide has become a big issue in drug development in recent years. Consider the controversy over links to various antidepressants, notably in youngsters, and then the spate of reports involving meds for epilepsy, obesity, acne and smoking cessation (see here, here, here and here). The FDA, however, is concerned the signals largely stemmed from retrospective meta-analyses and spontaneous adverse event reports. And so the agency is considering a more deliberate approach toward clinical study and has issued a guidance with this explanation: “Given the wide range of drugs involved, it is reasonable to consider whether prospective assessments for suicidality should be included in clinical trials involving at least selected drugs for non-psychiatric indications.” “There are tw... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4003436 Mon, 27 Sep 2010 13:02:45 +0100 4003436 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3942790&cid=t_236331_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fstop-smoking-treatment-dont-stop-it-too-soon%2F2010.09.07 Doctors may want their patients to stick with a smoking cessation regimen even if it’s not initially working, report researchers who found that “delayed quitters” accounted for a third of former smokers who went a year without cigarettes. Quit rates may be significantly increased by just continuing in motivated but initially unsuccessful patients during the first eight weeks of treatment, according to research published online in the journal Addiction. There’s actually two types of successful quitters: Those who quit immediately and those who are “delayed” but eventually successful. (more…) *This blog post was originally published at ACP Internist* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3942790 Tue, 07 Sep 2010 18:00:00 +0100 3942790 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3808668&cid=t_236331_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Feating-meat-and-gaining-weight%2F2010.08.01 A new study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition is reporting an association with eating meat and weight gain. This is a fairly robust epidemiological study, but at the same time is a good example of how such information is poorly reported in the media, leading to public confusion. The data is taken from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition–Physical Activity, Nutrition, Alcohol, Cessation of Smoking, Eating Out of Home and Obesity (EPIC-PANACEA) project. This is a long-term epidemiological study involving hundreds of thousands of individuals, and is therefore a great source of data. We are likely to see many publications from from it. This one looked at the association of meat eating –- poultry, red meat, and processed meat -– with tota... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3808668 Sun, 01 Aug 2010 12:00:44 +0100 3808668 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3784228&cid=t_236331_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fbecoming-an-ex-quitting-smoking-isnt-always-healthy%2F photo: Thinkstock This is the second post by Drew Grant, Associate Editor of our sister site, Crushable, about her efforts to quit smoking using the Become An Ex cessation program. I’ll admit, I had high expectations for quitting smoking cold turkey with the Become An EX program. After all, most of the bad habits mentioned in the pamphlet didn’t apply to me. For example: I don’t smoke when stressed, or have a bad day at work, nor do I feel the need to take a drag after sex or before or after eating. These things are called “triggers” in the EX language, and much like any other 12-step program, you need to identify them before you can start your treatment. However, going down the checklist during my first week, I did identify several “trigger” sc... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3784228 Fri, 23 Jul 2010 17:23:35 +0100 3784228 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3736998&cid=t_236331_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F07%2F08%2Fpostgraduate-medical-journal-2010-vol-85-no-1011%2F Contents page Fade Fave: Smoking cessation: the potential role of risk assessment tools as motivational triggers Fade Skinny: Utilising tests of lung function and/or genetic susceptibility personalises the risk and have been reported to achieve 1 year quit rates of 25%. This is comparable to quit rates achieved among healthy motivated smokers using smoking cessation drug therapy. This paper reviews existing evidence and proposes that identifying those smokers at increased risk of an adverse smoking related disease may be a useful motivational tool, and enhance existing public health strategies directed at smoking cessation. (NHS Athens is required to access this article online) Filed under: Athens Password, Current Awareness, E-Journals, Ooops Missed Category! Tagged: Athens Password, Cur... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3736998 Thu, 08 Jul 2010 13:57:31 +0100 3736998 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3721719&cid=t_236331_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F07%2F02%2Ftackling-inequalities-in-life-expectancy-in-areas-with-the-worst-health-and-deprivation%2F Title: Tackling inequalities in life expectancy in areas with the worst health and deprivation (Executive Summary) Skinny: National Audit Office report that identifies the best, cost-effective interventions in Tackling inequalities in life expectancy in areas with the worst health and deprivation. The report suggests these be employed on a larger scale in order to have a greater impact and improve value for money. The Department of Health should target its efforts on the most deprived areas of the country and develop costed proposals to maintain or increase investment in preventative interventions to tackle the conditions which lead to health inequalities. Three cost effective interventions are identified increase the prescribing of drugs to control blood pressure increase the prescribing... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3721719 Fri, 02 Jul 2010 10:33:29 +0100 3721719 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3706612&cid=t_236331_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F06%2F28%2Ftobacco-control-2010-vol-19-no-3%2F content page Fade Fave: Exposure to smoking in movies among British adolescents 2001–2006 Fade Skinny: Because there is a dose-response relation between the amount of on-screen exposure to smoking and the likelihood that adolescents will begin smoking, the fact that there is substantially higher exposure to smoking in youth-rated films in the UK than in the USA suggests that the fraction of all youth smoking because of films in the UK is probably larger than in the USA. (NHS Athens is required to access this article online) Filed under: Ooops Missed Category! Tagged: adolescents, Athens Password, Current Awareness, E-Journals, Smoking, Smoking Cessation, Young Adults (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3706612 Mon, 28 Jun 2010 11:28:26 +0100 3706612 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3706613&cid=t_236331_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F06%2F28%2Ftobacco-control-2010-vol-19-no-2%2F content page Fade Fave: Quit attempts in response to smoke-free legislation in England Fade Skinny: England’s smoke-free legislation was associated with a significant temporary increase in the percentage of smokers attempting to stop, equivalent to over 300 000 additional smokers trying to quit. As a prompt to quitting the ban appears to have been equally effective across all social grades. (NHS Athens is required to access this article online) Filed under: Athens Password, Current Awareness, E-Journals, Journals Tagged: Athens Password, Current Awareness, E-Journals, Legislation, Smoking, Smoking Cessation (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3706613 Mon, 28 Jun 2010 11:17:22 +0100 3706613 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3644711&cid=t_236331_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F06%2F09%2Fa-high-performing-nhs-a-review-of-progress-1997-2010%2F Title: A high-performing NHS?: A review of progress 1997-2010 The Skinny: King’s Fund report assesses how much progress the NHS has made in the following eight areas: access safety health promotion and management of long-term conditions clinical effectiveness patient experience equity efficiency accountability. It identifies important achievements, including major reductions in waiting times and rates of health care associated infections and progress in reducing smoking rates. There has been a concerted effort to implement national standards of care for major diseases across the NHS which has contributed to the continued falls in deaths from cancer and cardiovascular disease. There are less obvious changes too, including improvements in data collection and reporting, at a national and ... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3644711 Wed, 09 Jun 2010 06:56:24 +0100 3644711 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3522694&cid=t_236331_111_f&fid=39123&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fnursingcomments%2Ftdtc%2F%7E3%2Fa9Ooujq93yw%2F           The Greek word “apnea” literally means “without breath.”  There are three types of apnea: obstructive, central, and mixed; of the three, obstructive is the most common.  Despite the difference in the root cause of each type, in all three, people with untreated sleep apnea stop breathing repeatedly during their sleep, sometimes hundreds of times during the night and often for a minute or longer.  You should know that the condition is very common.  In fact, it is as common as adult diabetes and affects more than twelve million Americans, according to the National Institutes of Health.  More than half of the people who have the disorder are overweight.  Sleep apnea is more common in men.  One out of 25 middle-aged men and 1 out of 50 middle-aged women has sle... Nursing Comments blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3522694 Sat, 01 May 2010 14:40:45 +0100 3522694 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3499024&cid=t_236331_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F04%2Fsmoke-screen-how-conflict-of-interest.html As a physician, not being a big fan of cigarette smoking, I would have found little to criticize had anyone showed me the Smoke-Free Initiative at the University of Michigan, as promoted by the University President, Mary Sue Coleman.  A Conflict of Interest: University President and Johnson & Johnson Board MemberIt turns out, though, that this initative has provoked debate on that campus, not so much about its possible benefits and harms, but about whether the Ms Coleman's promotion of it had to do with a conflict of interest.  The debate broke out with an op-ed in the Michigan Daily:It’s clear, then, that University President Mary Sue Coleman is the architect of the Smoke-Free Initiative, which will take effect in July of 2011. The initiative will prohibit smoking on all o... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3499024 Thu, 22 Apr 2010 21:26:00 +0100 3499024 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3322580&cid=t_236331_135_f&fid=35247&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmyjourneywithaids.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F03%2F01%2Fon-smoking-mr-president-dont-ask-for-a-cigarette-dont-tell-anyone-that-you-want-one%2F An Open Letter to American President Barack Obama Dear Mr. President: I know how difficult it is to quit smoking.  I would suggest that the mere fact that you can count on one hand the number of cigarettes you have each day is a great starting point. Quitting is a process, at least it has been for most [...] (Source: My journey with AIDS) My journey with AIDS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3322580 Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:54:49 +0100 3322580 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3100738&cid=t_236331_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F12%2F18%2Ftobacco-control-2009-vol-18-no-6%2F content page Fade Fave: Smoke-free homes in England: prevalence, trends and validation by cotinine in children Fade Skinny: With the advent of increasing restrictions on smoking in public places, concerns about the health effects of second-hand smoke exposure have shifted to the home, and in particular to children. Public smoking bans in themselves do little to affect children’s exposure to tobacco smoke, which is largely determined by parental smoking. (NHS Athens is required to access this article online) Posted in Athens Password, Current Awareness, E-Journals, Journals Tagged: Athens Password, Current Awareness, E-Journals, Passive Smoking, Smoking, Smoking Cessation (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3100738 Fri, 18 Dec 2009 09:09:35 +0100 3100738 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3089226&cid=t_236331_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F12%2F14%2Fnhs-stop-smoking-services-service-and-monitoring-guidance-201011%2F Title: NHS Stop Smoking Services: service and monitoring guidance 2010/11 Skinny: Provides best practice guidance relevant to the provision of all NHS stop smoking interventions and sets out fundamental quality principles for the delivery of services which can be used to inform the development of local commissioning arrangements. It also includes full details of the data reporting requirements for NHS Stop Smoking Services Publisher: DH Size of Publication: 112p. Published: 04/12/2009 Posted in Commissioning, Grey Literature, NHS, Primary Care, Smoking, Smoking Cessation Tagged: Best Practice, Commissioning, Grey Literature, Primary Care, Quality, Smoking Cessation, Standards (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3089226 Mon, 14 Dec 2009 18:30:06 +0100 3089226 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3052208&cid=t_236331_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FU4gDcTnQprM%2F The earlier you light up your cigarettes, the higher the levels of cotinine, a by-product of nicotine you’ll have in your blood, regardless of how many cigarettes you have throughout the day, say the results of a study recently published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention. Researchers looked at 252 healthy people daily cigarette smokers, with an emphasis on their urges to smoke and when they lit up their first cigarette of the day. The researchers then measured the cotinine levels in the smokers’ blood. what they found was that that the range was extremely variable – from between 16 ng/mL (mostly among smokers who waited at least a half hour before the first cigarette) to 1180 ng/mL (mostly among smokers who lit up not long after waking). It&#... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3052208 Thu, 03 Dec 2009 12:45:23 +0100 3052208 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2930914&cid=t_236331_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F10%2F27%2Ftobacco-control-2009-vol-18-no-5%2F This study has shown an increase in the proportion of children reporting a complete ban on smoking in their household after the introduction of smoke-free legislation and supports growing evidence of the wider impact smoke-free legislation can have on smoker behaviour. (NHS Athens is required to access this article online) Posted in Athens Password, Current Awareness, E-Journals Tagged: Athens Password, Children, Current Awareness, E-Journals, Passive Smoking, Smoking, Smoking Cessation (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2930914 Tue, 27 Oct 2009 11:00:16 +0100 2930914 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2785872&cid=t_236331_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F09%2F11%2Fjournal-of-the-american-medical-association-2009-vol-302-no-9%2F Journal of the American Medical Association Vol.302(9) Contents Page Fade Fave: FDA: Electronic cigarettes may be risky Fade Skinny: Results of a US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) analysis of 2 widely marketed electronic cigarette products suggest these devices may contain some of the same toxic or carcinogenic compounds as traditional cigarettes. An NHS Athens password is required to access the online copy of this article Posted in Current Awareness, Journals Tagged: Carcinogens, Electronic Cigarettes, Smoking, Smoking Cessation, Toxins (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2785872 Fri, 11 Sep 2009 09:34:54 +0100 2785872 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2715894&cid=t_236331_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F08%2F19%2Fnhs-health-and-well-being-review-interim-report%2F Title: NHS Health and Well-being Review: Interim Report The Skinny: Interim report from the Boorman review of Health and Wesslbing in the NHS which identifies the following key components required of NHS organisations: board commitment, top management leadership and staff engagement embedding staff health and well-being in the core business of the organisation as part of what it means to be a good employer proper resourcing for staff health and wellbeing services, with a clear understanding that this represents investment that will deliver both long-term savings and improved patient care agreed and consistent measures of the effectiveness of staff health and well-being programmes, which can be used for board and national reporting. Key priorities are identified as: contributing to gett... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2715894 Wed, 19 Aug 2009 13:03:54 +0100 2715894 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2591544&cid=t_236331_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FbTojp8tbdXY%2F All medications, including nicotine patches, carry warnings to help you avoid overdoses and complications. One of the warnings on the nicotine replacement patch is that it shouldn’t be used if you’re still smoking for fear of nicotine overdose. However, doctors have found that if you start using the nicotine patch before your quit date, you may have a better chance of being successful when you do quit. A quit date is the target date you choose, which is when you’ll stop smoking. Part of the success of the nicotine as a “pre-quitting” strategy involves using the patch regularly, providing a steady dose of nicotine. Because of that steady dose, the smoker begins to cut back on cigarettes because the craving or need for nicotine isn’t as strong. So, the res... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2591544 Fri, 10 Jul 2009 21:55:25 +0100 2591544 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2576524&cid=t_236331_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDisruptiveWomenInHealthCare%2F%7E3%2FCUMEh6hQNJg%2F Should managed care sue patients? We arrive at the dawn of yet-another health reform effort with laws and regulations already in place to protect patients. These arose in past decades when the healer-patient relationship was eroding, presumably at the hands of uncaring clinicians and for-profit medical enterprises.    The list of those rights was extensive and today’s debates are adding to the mix – guaranteed coverage despite pre-existing conditions comes to mind. The discussion of patient rights has always been politically attractive and I won’t denigrate any one of them. I’m not just writing from a policy perspective, but a personal one as well. I’m a patient, too. The discussions of patients’ rights, however, has neglected the flip side of rights—responsibilities on the... Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2576524 Mon, 06 Jul 2009 19:43:58 +0100 2576524 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2571003&cid=t_236331_131_f&fid=35743&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthegenesherpa.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F07%2Fsmoke-or-ht-gets-in-your-eye.html This study interested me for several reasons, the first of these was that it involved a hotly debated environmental detoxification gene which has been tested for by numerous nutrigenetics companies for years now. The second reason it interested me is because it dealt with a population who knows that there family can get cancer when exposed to smoking. I have always wondered for years why there are these families out there who have multiple members with lung cancer, yet everyone in the family seems to keep on puffing. Are these families full of ignorant people who can't put 2 and 2 together despite years of public health campaigns? Are the genetically or environmentally predisposed to smoking? Does the family have some weird death wish set of genes?I have always wondered why they do what th... Gene Sherpas: Personalized Medicine and You blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2571003 Fri, 03 Jul 2009 12:46:00 +0100 2571003 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2570655&cid=t_236331_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FUURyUDKZbuE%2F The stop-smoking market is huge, from the do-it-yourself treatments to alternative medicine to pharmaceutical medicines. Over the past few years, medications like Chantix (varenicline) and Zyban and Wellbutrin (buproprion) have been used by many people, some successfully, some not. One problem with these medications is that they seem to have an adverse effect on some people who take them and these can be quite serious. According to a press release issued by the FDA: These symptoms include changes in behavior, hostility, agitation, depressed mood, suicidal thoughts and behavior, and attempted suicide. Now, the FDA has told the manufacturers that they must add new warnings, called Box Warning and develop patient medication guides that outline these risks. Here is more from the release: Healt... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2570655 Thu, 02 Jul 2009 01:10:26 +0100 2570655 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2477502&cid=t_236331_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F06%2F15%2Farchives-of-internal-medicine-2009-volume-169-number-11%2F Archives of internal Medicine 2009 (Volume 169 Number 11) Contents Page Fade Fave: Nicotine Gum Treatment Before Smoking Cessation: A Randomized Trial Fade Skinny: Tests whether starting nicotine polacrilex gum treatment 4 weeks before the quit date improved smoking abstinence rates compared with starting treatment on the quit date. The article finds it is no more effective than starting treatment on the quit date. (NHS Athens is required to access this article online) Posted in Current Awareness Tagged: Smoking Cessation (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2477502 Mon, 15 Jun 2009 11:30:12 +0100 2477502 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2390123&cid=t_236331_125_f&fid=34820&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dentalblogs.com%2Farchives%2Fadministrator%2Fsleep-apnea-dentistry%2F Obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA, occurs when a person stops breathing for 10 seconds or longer, repeatedly during a sleep session. This form of sleep apnea is often accompanied by snoring because the obstructing tissues tend to vibrate as air enters the body. Research and media attention have made some of the effects of sleep apnea commonly known. They include but are not limited to: • Anxiety • Attention problems • Daytime fatigue • Depression • Diabetes • Falling asleep at inappropriate times • Fibromyalgia • Gastric reflux • Heart attach • Hypertension • Impotence • Increased risk for heart attack • Irritability • Memory, concentration problems • Muscle pain/fatigue • Snoring • Stroke • Weight gain New research from Emory University tells us that an e... dental blog for dentists about dentistry blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2390123 Tue, 05 May 2009 14:37:26 +0100 2390123 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2121505&cid=t_236331_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F01%2F20%2Fthe-health-bill%2F Bill 18 08-09 (HL Bill 18 EN 08-09) aims to make provision about The NHS Constitution; to make provision about health care (including provision about the National Health Service and health bodies); to make provision for the control of the promotion and sale of tobacco products; to make provision about the investigation of complaints about privately arranged or funded adult social care; and for connected purposes. Posted in Legislation, Local Authorities, NHS, Public Sector, Quality, Social Services   Tagged: Complaints Procedures, Grey Literature, Legislation, NHS Constitution, Quality, Residential Care, Smoking, Smoking Cessation, Social Care, Social Services    (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2121505 Tue, 20 Jan 2009 10:07:38 +0100 2121505 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2026831&cid=t_236331_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F12%2F09%2Fconsultation-on-the-future-of-tobacco-control-consultation-report%2F The  Consultation on the future of tobacco control: consultation report summarises the responses to the consultation paper entitled Consultation on the future of tobacco control in order to develop a new national tobacco control strategy,  it covers four main areas: Reducing smoking rates and health inequalities caused by smoking; Protecting children and young people from smoking; Supporting smokers to quit; and Helping those who cannot quit The consultation report has been provided to Ministers to support their decision-making on future tobacco control policy. Posted in Grey Literature, Smoking, Smoking Cessation   Tagged: Grey Literature, Public Health, Smoking, Smoking Cessation    (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2026831 Tue, 09 Dec 2008 17:03:58 +0100 2026831 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1901316&cid=t_236331_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F10%2F24%2Fpopulation-tobacco-control-interventions-and-their-effects-on-social-inequalities-in-smoking%2F from the Centre for Reviews and Dissemination finds: Tentative evidence that the effect of increasing the unit price of tobacco may vary between ethnic and socio-economic groups and between men and women. No strong evidence that restrictions in workplaces and public places are more effective in reducing smoking in more advantaged groups. Smoking restrictions in schools are more effective in girls and in younger school children, but no evidence with respect to other social gradients.  This is echoed in evidence on the restriction of sales. The effects of health warnings do not  appear to be subject to a social gradient, but their effects have not been examined with respect to income, occupation, or ethnicity, and the evidence with respect to other gradients is not convincing.  The impa... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1901316 Fri, 24 Oct 2008 11:08:39 +0100 1901316 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1855967&cid=t_236331_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F10%2F07%2Fbeyond-smoking-kills%2F Smoking Kills, the first UK White Paper on tobacco control, was  published in 1998, Beyond Smoking Kills from Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) reviews progress made since then and sets out an agenda for a comprehensive tobacco control strategy. Posted in Deprivation, Equity, Grey Literature, Health Economics, Poverty, Smoking, Smoking Cessation   Tagged: Children, Deprivation, Equity, Grey Literature, Health Economics, Legislation, Marketing, Mortality, Poverty, Public Health, Regulations, Smoking, Smoking Cessation, Statistical Data, Strategic Planning, Young People    (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1855967 Tue, 07 Oct 2008 08:55:11 +0100 1855967 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1563801&cid=t_236331_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F07%2F02%2Fsmokefree-england-one-year-on%2F Smokefree England - One Year on examines the impact of the smokefree law, one year on since it was introduced in England on 1 July 2007. Research amongst businesses and consumers clearly suggests that the nation has quickly adapted to, is benefiting from, and is showing growing support for the smokefree law in England. Of course the mass media has its say over on Another 15 Minutes. Smoke-free bars 07 is a collaborative report from University of Aberdeen, the Institute of Occupational Medicine, and Liverpool John Moore’s University to the Department of Health on preliminary findings relating to air quality in English bars before and after implementation of smokefree legislation. It examines changes in bar workers’ and customers’ exposure to second-hand smoke, health and attitudes. (S... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1563801 Wed, 02 Jul 2008 12:09:12 +0100 1563801 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1500093&cid=t_236331_151_f&fid=35823&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FAddictionInbox%2F%7E3%2F306214014%2Fsmoking-rates-fall-18-in-indiana.html What's their secret?Addiction is a tough disease, and smoking grabs hold of the addiction-prone with a speed and ferocity that remains impressive even in a world of crack cocaine and ice amphetamine. Zyban may help, and there is the ever-controversial Chantix, as well as a plethora of nicotine replacement products. They are valuable and frequently effective additions to the arsenal of medical approaches to nicotine addiction.Yet there remains one universally effective--if equally controversial--method of lowering smoking rates in a given population. You can increase the price.Last year, Indiana boosted state taxes on cigarettes by a whopping 44 cents per pack. The result? Cigarette sales fell in Indiana by almost 18 per cent in the nine months since the new tax was put into effect, accordi... Addiction Inbox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1500093 Fri, 06 Jun 2008 16:32:00 +0100 1500093 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1466023&cid=t_236331_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthbolt.net%2F2008%2F05%2F23%2Fquitting-smoking-is-where-the-partys-at-a-new-study%2F In a study set to be published in the New England Journal of Medicine on Thursday, researchers have found that quitting smoking is more often a group decision, rather than individual. What kind of group, you ask? A social group. That’s right, according to the study, smokers tend to quit more in groups, or clusters, rather than on their own. From 1971 to 2003, Dr. Nicholas Christakis of Harvard Medical School and James Fowler from the University of California, San Diego, followed thousands of smokers and nonsmokers, concentrating on studying participants as part of a “network” of relatives, co-workers, neighbors, friends and friends of friends. During this time, adult smokers in the US fell from 45 percent to 21 percent, and that drop was due largely to the ripple effect ... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1466023 Sat, 24 May 2008 04:04:11 +0100 1466023 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1445884&cid=t_236331_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F05%2F16%2Fexcellence-in-tobacco-control-10-high-impact-changes%2F aims to achieve a sustainable and integrated approach to tobacco control at a local level. It clearly sets out the required actions for those charged with delivering tobacco control locally, and clearly identifies to senior stakeholders the need for high-level strategic support to achieve this. (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1445884 Fri, 16 May 2008 10:50:11 +0100 1445884 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1440400&cid=t_236331_122_f&fid=36506&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FBrainSciencePodcastBlog%2F%7E3%2F289445051%2F The May 10th episode of All in the Mind is an excellent discussion of the latest research about nicotine addiction. It includes a very balanced look at the controversy over the new smoking cessation drug, varenicline, which is sold in the US as Chantix. Nicotine has a unique effect on certain neurotransmitter receptors in the brain. Varenicline works as a partial agonist, which means it mimics some of the effects of nicotine, but it also blocks the receptor so that when a person smokes the experience is not rewarding. However, since the receptors involved also have other functions (they aren’t there to respond to the nicotine in cigarettes just like the opiate receptors are not there to respond to man-made narcotics), using the drug can lead to a wide variety of side effects. Balanci... the Brain Science Podcast and Blog with Dr. Ginger Campbell blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1440400 Tue, 13 May 2008 22:06:07 +0100 1440400 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2770232&cid=t_236331_140_f&fid=34844&url=http%3A%2F%2Ftheicarusproject.net%2Falternative-treatments%2Fharm-reduction-guide-to-coming-off-psychiatric-drugs The Icarus Project and Freedom Center's 40-page guide gathers the best information we've come across and the most valuable lessons we've learned about reducing and coming off psychiatric medication. Includes info on mood stabilizers, anti-psychotics, anti-depressants, anti-anxiety drugs, risks, benefits, wellness tools, withdrawal, detailed Resource section, information for people staying on their medications, and much more. A 'harm reduction' approach means not being pro- or anti-medication, but supporting people to make their own decisions balancing the risks and benefits involved. Written by Will Hall, with a 14-member health professional Advisory board providing research assistance and 24 other collaborators involved in developing and editing. The guide has photographs and art througho... The Icarus Project - Navigating the Space Between Brilliance and Madness blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2770232 Thu, 24 Apr 2008 01:54:24 +0100 2770232 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1386771&cid=t_236331_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F04%2F20%2Fnew-statistics-from-the-nhs-information-centre%2F Expenditure on health NHS stop smoking statistics Hospital outpatient statistics Diagnostic waiting times (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1386771 Sun, 20 Apr 2008 20:28:33 +0100 1386771 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1297683&cid=t_236331_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F03%2F12%2Ftop-tips-for-health-in-local-authorities%2F commissioned by ChaMPs (Cheshire and Merseyside Public Health Network) and from the Liverpool Public Health Observatory offers practical tips on joint working between the NHS and Local Authorities in the areas of: Reducing health inequalities Tackling obesity: Creating opportunities for healthy eating Tackling obesity: Creating opportunities for physical activity Improving mental health and well-being Promoting sexual health Encourage the sensible drinking of alcohol Creating a smokefree environment (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1297683 Wed, 12 Mar 2008 11:44:24 +0100 1297683 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1216458&cid=t_236331_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F02%2F08%2Ffresh-and-alive-mpower-who-report-on-the-global-tobacco-epidemic-2008%2F finds that no country has carried out all of the anti-smoking measures necessary to forestall illness. Only 5 per cent of the world’s population reside in countries fully protecting residents with any one of the crucial measures to reduce smoking rates. The report noted that governments collect 500 times more money in tobacco taxes annually than they spend on anti-tobacco initiatives. The report suggests a 6 policies that should be adopted to avert tens of millions of premature deaths in the coming decades. Monitor tobacco use and prevention policies. Protect people from tobacco smoke. Offer help to quit tobacco use. Warn about the dangers of tobacco. Enforce bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship. Raise taxes on tobacco. (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1216458 Fri, 08 Feb 2008 08:17:50 +0100 1216458 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1152855&cid=t_236331_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F217116770%2F Yesterday, we wrote how Pfizer may have made an end run around FDA regs with a pair of TV ads this past Sunday night. The first one was a quick flash of the Chantix logo during an NFL update, which was also sponsored by Pfizer. After the segment on football scores ended, a regular ad appeared for a Pfizer site devoted to quitting smoking, which links you to the official Chantix site. The issue: the first ad smelled like a reminder ad. After all, a logo is there to remind you of something, yes? And the second ad, while not suggesting anyone visit a doc, was about as close as one get to running a so-called ‘help seeking’ ad without actually doing so. By themselves, neither require any product risk info. But taken together, it would appear risk info is required and the ads, there... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1152855 Tue, 15 Jan 2008 16:23:59 +0100 1152855 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1030406&cid=t_236331_107_f&fid=36585&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FHighlightHealth%2F%7E3%2F185318040%2F This article was published on Highlight HEALTH. (Source: Highlight HEALTH) Highlight HEALTH blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1030406 Thu, 15 Nov 2007 17:32:55 +0100 1030406 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=975027&cid=t_236331_107_f&fid=36585&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FHighlightHealth%2F%7E3%2F174153061%2F This article was published on Highlight HEALTH. (Source: Highlight HEALTH) Highlight HEALTH blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=975027 Wed, 24 Oct 2007 05:23:26 +0100 975027 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2349693&cid=t_236331_140_f&fid=34844&url=http%3A%2F%2Ftheicarusproject.net%2Falternative-treatments%2Fharm-reduction-guide-to-coming-off-psychiatric-drugs The Icarus Project and Freedom Center's 40-page guide gathers the best information we've come across and the most valuable lessons we've learned about reducing and coming off psychiatric medication. Includes info on mood stabilizers, anti-psychotics, anti-depressants, anti-anxiety drugs, risks, benefits, wellness tools, withdrawal, detailed Resource section, information for people staying on their medications, and much more. A 'harm reduction' approach means not being pro- or anti-medication, but supporting people to make their own decisions balancing the risks and benefits involved. Written by Will Hall, with a 14-member health professional Advisory board providing research assistance and 24 other collaborators involved in developing and editing. The guide has photographs and art througho... The Icarus Project - Navigating the Space Between Brilliance and Madness blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2349693 Sun, 30 Sep 2007 01:54:24 +0100 2349693 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=907051&cid=t_236331_150_f&fid=34889&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmamkting.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F09%2Fpill-plan-profit-chantix.html Slow and steady wins the race. That is the message of the new Chantix TV DTC (direct to consumer) ads that feature a race between a tortoise and a hare.The Chantix tortoise is not related to the Comcastic "Slowsky's" shown in this YouTube video (one of my favorite TV commercials!):BTW, the hare on the Chantix TV ad is a scrawny, reddish -- devilish, may one say? -- hare; not a cute cuddly rabbit like the Everyready bunny!Yet, strange to say, this devilish-looking hare does NOT make it to the Chantix Web site, which features a much more ordinary and benign-looking RABBIT (see image on left, click to enlarge).All this imagery serves a purpose -- the Chantix marketers are telling us that quitting smoking is long process requiring a steady, tortoise-like approach.According to the Web site:"Qui... Pharma Marketing Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=907051 Thu, 27 Sep 2007 11:16:00 +0100 907051 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=791513&cid=t_236331_131_f&fid=35743&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthegenesherpa.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F08%2Fpersonalized-medicinewhat-about.html A recent study published and talked about everywhere around the web indicates that our lifestyle matters. If we would just follow these five things, we would save thousands of lives.......How will we carry out personalized medicine if we cannot follow simple preventative measures.Here's what the Partnership for Prevention Suggests:The biggest impact would be saving 45,000 lives by encouraging more adults to take a daily low dose of aspirin to prevent heart disease, said the report which was sponsored by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the WellPoint Foundation.......Other measures that would save tens of thousands more American lives every year include more adults getting flu shots 45,000 lives saved from more adults taking a daily l... Gene Sherpas: Personalized Medicine and You blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=791513 Fri, 10 Aug 2007 01:20:00 +0100 791513 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=774147&cid=t_236331_87_f&fid=34865&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecancerblog.com%2F2007%2F08%2F02%2Fhow-about-a-hospital-stay-to-jump-start-quitting-smoking%2F Filed under: All Cancers, SmokingMore ideas on quitting smoking from the researchers on the Cochrane team. How about a hospital stay?Since hospitals are smoke-free, any smoker has to stop smoking while in the hospital, whether for a tobacco-related disease or not. The researchers found that smokers in the hospital are particularly open to information about quitting smoking. However, only intensive interventions with at least 30 minutes a day of counselling and at least one month of supportive care after the stay show any benefit. They found that adding nicotine replacement therapy or bupropion to the plans had some additional effect, although it was not statistically significant.Maybe we should try to offer some sort of inpatient stays to smokers who want to quit, even if they are not sick... The Cancer Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=774147 Thu, 02 Aug 2007 04:00:00 +0100 774147 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=764736&cid=t_236331_87_f&fid=34865&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecancerblog.com%2F2007%2F07%2F29%2Fis-reducing-the-number-of-cigarettes-beneficial%2F Filed under: SmokingThe main goal of programs aimed at smokers has been to help them stop smoking completely. There has been little attention to helping them reduce their use. However, some people are willing to try to reduce the number of cigarettes they smoke while they are unwilling to quit completely.A team of Cochrane Researchers analyzed the current studies available to see if there were any effective methods that could reduce use.The team found that between 6% and 9% of people using nicotine replacement products managed to reduce their use of cigarettes, which was certainly better than the control groups where only 1-3% reduced their use. The team also found no evidence that the treatments that aimed to reduce use diverted people from stopping completely.However, the researchers poi... The Cancer Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=764736 Sun, 29 Jul 2007 04:00:00 +0100 764736 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=763189&cid=t_236331_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F137981719%2F So here’s a strange twist: Glaxo, which sells nicotine patches, lozenges and gum, signed a deal worth up to $1.5 billion with Targacept to develop and market compounds targeting post-operative pain, obesity, addiction and Parkinson’s. There’s also one for smoking cessation, and Targacept was spun off by RJ Reynolds, the cigarette maker, seven years ago. In return for an exclusive license, Glaxo will make an initial payment to Targacept of $35 million - $15 million of which will go towards the purchase of Targacept stock. If Targacept were to hit all its milestones, total payments under the deal would be around $1.5 billion, plus royalties from future sales. See Glaxo statement here. Targacept ceo Don deBethizy says, of course, the deal validates the importance of the &#82... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=763189 Fri, 27 Jul 2007 15:00:28 +0100 763189 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=698229&cid=t_236331_131_f&fid=35743&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthegenesherpa.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F06%2Fconfusing-thing-about-association.html This study called the Million Women Study is a large cohort of British women. 948,576 postmenopausal women were assessed for ovarian cancer incidence. Users were 20% more likely to develop Ovarian Cancer. 1 in 5, that seems small, but in a million women (well......just 52k shy) that's alot of cancer!!! Especially such a nasty killer. But here's the kicker....Oral Contraceptive hormones Reduce Colorectal Cancer risk! Wait a second.....Aren't these female hormones too? This study shows an almost 40% reduced incidence of colon cancer in these women from the Women's Health Study. Perhaps this has to do with dosage? But Who Knows....It's an association study!!!Smoking Cuts Risk of Parkinson's Disease So that is what the media says about this study. Ok so now you have got me flipping out. No mec... Gene Sherpas: Personalized Medicine and You blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=698229 Tue, 26 Jun 2007 22:58:00 +0100 698229 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=488436&cid=t_236331_117_f&fid=34444&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.webmd.com%2Fallergies-and-asthma%2F2007%2F03%2Ftorch-towards-revolution-in-copd-health.html Last month, the long-awaited results of the TORCH study of Advair (aka Seretide outside the U.S.)(TM) for patients with moderate to severe COPD were published, but were no doubt disappointing to patients with COPD and investors who own GSK stock. Optimists spun the results as "positive" with a 17% relative reduction in death rates for those taking the combination inhaler for 3 years when compared to those taking the placebo inhaler. However, the absolute difference in deaths during the 3 years from any and all causes was only 2.6% (12.6% vs 15.2%) and this small difference was not statistically significant.An Advair Diskus 500/50mcg (the high dose used by the TORCH study) costs about $270 per month. The drug was associated with a lower hospitalization rate for COPD exacerbations, but 32 pa... Allergies and Asthma blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=488436 Tue, 20 Mar 2007 04:00:00 +0100 488436 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=469315&cid=t_236331_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F02%2Fguidelines-in-whose-interest-smoking.html Physicians are frequently exhorted to follow clinical practice guidelines. Guidelines are now being given "teeth" by the currently fashionable "Pay for Performance" (P4P) movement. Yet, as we have discussed, guidelines may be written by people with financial ties to organizations that have vested interests in products or services that the guidelines might recommend.The latest example of this comes from an article in the Wall Street Journal. The Journal reported that US government sponsored guidelines about smoking cessation (helping people quit cigarettes) were written by people with financial ties to companies that make drugs intended to aid smoking cessation, and that the guidelines recommended these drugs as first line therapy.Michael Fiore is in charge of revising federal guidelines on... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=469315 Fri, 09 Feb 2007 16:40:00 +0100 469315 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=438149&cid=t_236331_117_f&fid=34444&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.webmd.com%2Fallergies-and-asthma%2F2006%2F06%2Fsmokers-with-asthma-just-quit.html This report should prompt smokers with asthma to decide to quit. They will need less asthma medication to achieve better control of their asthma. Some smokers can quit "cold turkey" but others need help from counseling, nicotine replacement therapy, or bupropion (Zyban). This summer, Chantix (varenicline pills) will become available in the United States. Chantix eliminates nicotine cravings, helping about half of smokers to quit successfully. See my recent blog about Chantix.Related Topics: FDA OKs New Quit-Smoking Drug, Quitting Smoking to Help Your AsthmaTechnorati Tags: asthma, smoking, smoking cessation (Source: Allergies and Asthma) Allergies and Asthma blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=438149 Fri, 30 Jun 2006 04:00:00 +0100 438149