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 'cigarettes'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 01:52:28 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5130662&cid=t_103525_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=5130663&cid=t_103525_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F08%2F15%2Fhealthy-lives-healthy-people-a-tobacco-control-plan-for-england%2F Scan or click to download 'Healthy lives, healthy people: a tobacco control plan for England' Title: Healthy lives, healthy people: a tobacco control plan for England The Skinny: Sets out how tobacco control will be delivered in the context of the new public health system, focusing in particular on the action that the Government will take nationally over the next five years to drive down the prevalence of smoking and to support comprehensive tobacco control in local areas. It includes commitments to: implement legislation to end tobacco displays in shops; look at whether the plain packaging of tobacco products could be an effective way to reduce the number of young people who take up smoking and to support adult smokers who want to quit, and consult on options by the end of the ... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5130663 Mon, 15 Aug 2011 08:21:03 +0100 5130663 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5008196&cid=t_103525_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=4975944&cid=t_103525_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F27%2Fmarsha-linehan-acknowledges-her-own-struggle-with-borderline-personality-disorder%2F Dr. Marsha Linehan, long best known for her ground-breaking work with a new form of psychotherapy called dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), has let out her own personal secret — she has suffered from borderline personality disorder. In order to help reduce the prejudice surrounding this particular disorder — people labeled as borderline often are seen as attention-getting and always in crisis — Dr. Linehan told her story in public for the first time last week before an audience of friends, family and doctors at the Institute of Living, the Hartford clinic where she was first treated for extreme social withdrawal at age 17, according to The New York Times. At 17 in 1961, Linehan detailed how when she came to the clinic, she attacked herself habitually, cut her arms legs a... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4975944 Mon, 27 Jun 2011 12:12:20 +0100 4975944 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4893579&cid=t_103525_109_f&fid=36089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthesituationist.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F06%2F01%2Fthe-regulatory-situation-of-smoking%2F From The Independent: More than half a century after scientists uncovered the link between smoking and cancer – triggering a war between health campaigners and the cigarette industry – big tobacco is thriving. Despite the known catastrophic effects on health of smoking, profits from tobacco continue to soar and sales of cigarettes have increased: they have risen from 5,000 billion sticks a year in the 1990s to 5,900 billion a year in 2009. They now kill more people annually than alcohol, Aids, car accidents, illegal drugs, murders and suicides combined. * * * The West now consumes fewer and fewer of the world’s cigarettes: richer countries have changed – from smoking 38 per cent of the world total in 1990, they cut down to 24 per cent in 2009. Meanwhile, the developing world&#8... The Situationist blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4893579 Wed, 01 Jun 2011 04:09:40 +0100 4893579 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4821166&cid=t_103525_151_f&fid=35823&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FAddictionInbox%2F%7E3%2FHDlq2c0RNDo%2Fdoes-menthol-really-matter.html Nicotine experts say menthol makes addiction more likely--but differ over what to do about it. Back in the 1920s, Lloyd “Spud” Hughes of Mingo Junction, Ohio, was working as a restaurant cashier when, legend has it, he smoked some cigarettes that had been casually stored in a tin that contained menthol crystals. Menthol, a compound found in mint plants and also manufactured synthetically, is used medicinally, and as a food flavoring. Back in Spud’s day, menthol was mostly derived by extracting crystals from the Japanese Mint plant. What we know for certain is that the mentholated cigarettes tasted so good to Spud that he patented the mixture. In 1925, the Spud Cigarette Corporation of Wheeling, West Virginia, was born, and Spud Cigarettes quickly became the 5th best selling cigarette... Addiction Inbox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4821166 Fri, 13 May 2011 17:21:19 +0100 4821166 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4753759&cid=t_103525_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F04%2F25%2Funderstanding-research-an-interview-with-mark-young%2F Mark Young specializes in helping individuals learn to understand scientific research.  He has a degree in kinesiology with a minor in psychology from McMaster University in Canada, and he has conducted graduate research in biomechanics and exercise physiology under the guidance of Dr. Stuart Phillips.  Today, he’s an Ontario-based exercise and nutrition consultant. Here are some of Young’s thoughts about how we can understand research better. Correlation and causation are often confused.  How do we clear up the confusion when informing the lay public of this misunderstanding? Given the large amount of research presented to the lay public through the media I honestly think that everyone should be required to take at least one statistics and research design course in high sch... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4753759 Mon, 25 Apr 2011 19:46:15 +0100 4753759 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4489678&cid=t_103525_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fmedical-aspects-of-the-king%25e2%2580%2599s-speech%2F2011.02.16 Over the weekend I went to see “The King’s Speech.” So far the film, featuring Colin Firth as a soon-to-be-king-of-England with a speech impediment, and Geoffrey Rush as his ill-credentialed but trusted speech therapist, has earned top critics’ awards and 12 Oscar nominations. This is a movie that’s hard not to like for one reason or another, at least most of the way through. It uplifts, it draws on history, it depends on solid acting. What I liked best, though, is the work’s rare depiction of a complex relationship between two imperfect, brave, and dedicated men. At some level, this is a movie about guys who communicate without fixating on cars, football (either kind), or women’s physical features. Great! (Dear Hollywood moguls: Can we have more like this, please?) T... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4489678 Wed, 16 Feb 2011 17:00:11 +0100 4489678 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4464527&cid=t_103525_107_f&fid=36672&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sciencebase.com%2Fscience-blog%2Fan-octet-of-science-news.html Perfect Perfume – a video for Valentine’s Day – A bit of fun for Valentine's Day as the team combinesto make our very own "perfect perfume"! The lingering risk of thirdhand smoke – As Dubowski suggests, the notion of thirdhand smoke putatively being hazardous to health is controversial. Research in the late 2000s alluded to the potential problem of this form of pollution but ongoing public and academic scrutiny has not yet resolved the issue. Dubowski's work does provide a chemical basis for a possible risk but does not prove that the risk is substantial or otherwise. However, what is certain is that firsthand smoke is directly hazardous to the health of the smoker and recent evidence suggests that it could cause genetic damage almost the instant... Sciencebase Science Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4464527 Fri, 11 Feb 2011 12:00:03 +0100 4464527 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4309853&cid=t_103525_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F9rqVTG8Yxrg%2F Talk about strategic blunders. For a company that prides itself on astute marketing and touts the virtues of expanding in Asia, Pfizer somehow managed to entirely misjudge demand for its Chantix pill for quitting smoking when Japan significantly raised cigarette taxes in October. Yet the move had been telegraphed back in late 2009, giving the drugmaker ample time to boost supplies to a rising number of Japanese who saw the new tax as a reason to quit the habit. But the Pfizer team choked. Less than two weeks after the tax increase went into effect, Pfizer had to suspend sales until production could be increased. Three months later, Chantix is still hard to come by, and this happens at a time when US sales are falling due to side effect concerns that regularly generate negative press. (In t... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4309853 Tue, 04 Jan 2011 13:02:20 +0100 4309853 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4162926&cid=t_103525_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fhow-much-pesticide-is-in-that-cigarette%2F2010.11.12 I had a fascinating discussion with an ex-tobacco farming expert. He’s an expert because he used to grow tobacco, but not anymore. If you’re a smoker, or user of any tobacco leaf product, what he said should shock you. I take that back — you’re a smoker: “shocked” is never going to happen to you. What did he say that was so striking? I’m not a farmer, so it became a little difficult to understand all the science behind the conversation. Needless to say, he said they used to farm vegetables and tobacco side by side. He said something about potato farming being timed with tobacco crops, and when the potato market went south he got out of the tobacco farming business for good and went with just vegetables. Now he’s a full-time vegetable fa... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4162926 Fri, 12 Nov 2010 23:00:00 +0100 4162926 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3987045&cid=t_103525_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FcFUXszHEmWA%2F By David BoazNPR reports: Black-market cigarettes are costing many states hundreds of millions of dollars a year in lost tax revenue. And the lucrative, illicit trade is attracting violent criminal gangs that can be lethally ruthless. The rewards, and the risks, of dealing in contraband cigarettes became quite clear recently in northern Virginia, says Capt. Dennis Wilson of the Fairfax County Police Department. Undercover investigators working with his department “had two cases where contacts that we were working with had asked us to murder their competition,” Wilson says. The problem is that exorbitant taxes in New York state and especially New York City can add as much as $60 to the cost of a carton of cigarettes. No wonder criminals including “organized crime groups wi... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3987045 Mon, 20 Sep 2010 11:05:29 +0100 3987045 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3946409&cid=t_103525_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Ffeel%2F198963%2F Fume Fine: China is laying down the law this November, during the Asian Games. If you get caught smoking in a public place, you’ll have to pay a hefty 50 yuan or $7.36. (via Reuters) Post from: BlissTree (Source: Healthbolt) Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3946409 Wed, 08 Sep 2010 17:54:49 +0100 3946409 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3942790&cid=t_103525_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=3913288&cid=t_103525_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fsmoking-and-erectile-dysfunction-3%2F Men who smoke cigarettes run an increased risk of experiencing erectile dysfunction, and the more cigarettes smoked, the greater the risk, according to a study by Tulane University researchers published in the American Journal of Epidemiology. A team of researchers led by Jiang He examined the association between cigarette smoking and erectile dysfunction in a 2000-2001 study in China involving 7,684 men. The researchers used questionnaires to assess the status of cigarette smoking and erectile dysfunction. Those surveyed were men between the ages of 35-74 who did not have vein or artery disease. The team found that there was a significant statistical link between the number of cigarettes that men smoked and the likelihood they would experience erectile dysfunction. The association bet... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3913288 Sat, 28 Aug 2010 15:40:59 +0100 3913288 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3903127&cid=t_103525_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2Fds8ZYN-00ko%2F An interesting battle is taking place between a group of companies and the FDA over E-cigarettes. Never heard of them? These are battery-powered tubes that turn nicotine-laced liquid into a vapor mist. The marketers say their items are safer than cigarettes because there no toxins and some consumers seem to love them as they try to quit smoking. They even have a club (look here or watch the video). The cost is $40 to $120 for a starter kit, and then pay smaller amounts for liquid refills, according to The Wall Street Journal. However, as the paper notes, the FDA is fighting to regulate the products as drug-delivery devices, similar to the way nicotine gums, patches or other nicotine-replacement products are regulated. Of course, this would subject e-cigarettes to lengthy and expensive tria... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3903127 Wed, 25 Aug 2010 23:27:47 +0100 3903127 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3895839&cid=t_103525_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Ffeel%2Fsmoke-signals-even-secondhand-smoke-is-harmful%2F photo: Thinkstock A new study shows that even a small amount of secondhand smoke can be harmful to your health. Low levels of exposure to cigarette smoke create abnormal genetic activity in the cells lining non-smokers’ lungs. Now if only there were some way for non-smokers to ask smokers to not puff around them without seeming like a narc. We’ve found that having obnoxiously loud coughing fits works. via CNN Post from: BlissTree Smoke Signals: Even Secondhand Smoke Is Harmful (Source: Healthbolt) Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3895839 Mon, 23 Aug 2010 16:32:46 +0100 3895839 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3868937&cid=t_103525_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FqbTzwDVHOnc%2F This article is for informational purposes only and is not to be interpreted as medical advice. If seeking medical advice, consult a licensed physician. Don’t forget to follow PTB on Twitter! : Overcoming Addiction and Escapism 5 Reasons Your Life Will Improve Through Writing 10 All Natural Ways To Stop Feeling Depressed A Muscle Building Work Out You Can Do Without Weights (Source: PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement) PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3868937 Mon, 16 Aug 2010 05:38:04 +0100 3868937 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3772207&cid=t_103525_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Feco-friendly-cigarette-machines-promote-literacy-not-smoking%2F Nowadays, it’s tough to find a cigarette machine anywhere — aside from a retro bowling alley or a factory cafeteria. But rather than just let the remaining old clunkers go to waste, a German publishing company is re-purposing them into book vending machines. They’ll carry condensed novels, photo books, graphic novels, and poetry collections from local authors and artists. A green literary vending machine purchase costs $5. We’d love to see these pop up in the U.S, and wonder what other vestiges of yesteryear we could re-purpose into cool new gadgets with an eco-friendly spirit. photo via Inhabitat via Inhabitat Post from: BlissTree Eco-Friendly Cigarette Machines Promote Literacy, Not Smoking (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3772207 Tue, 20 Jul 2010 17:53:42 +0100 3772207 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3746686&cid=t_103525_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Ffeel%2F187949%2F Cancer Deaths Dropping: Death rates for cancer are on a constant downward slope, thanks to early detection, people quitting smoking, and better treatments. (via Web MD) Post from: BlissTree (Source: Healthbolt) Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3746686 Fri, 09 Jul 2010 19:54:41 +0100 3746686 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3729844&cid=t_103525_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Ftop-7-smoking-myths-that-stop-you-from-quitting%2F You just smoke when you’re stressed; you think it’s good for your figure; or you think it’s your body, and you’ll do what you want. There are a lot of excuses that keep you puffing away, but deep down you probably know you should quit. AOL Health’s “Myths That Keep You Smoking” may change your mind about your favorite excuse. 1. Quitting will make you fat: Thin models and actresses who smoke, and ads like the one above from Virginia Slims make you think that cigarettes are the key to keeping your figure, but quitting doesn’t have to mean gaining tons of weight. The average quitter gains about 10 pounds at first, but studies have shown that health-minded quitters tend not to gain as much weight: Clearing up your lungs actually makes it easier ... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3729844 Tue, 06 Jul 2010 18:54:12 +0100 3729844 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3723299&cid=t_103525_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Ffred-flintstone-lights-up-video-of-the-day%2F It seems like a no-brainer that lighting something on fire and inhaling the smoke wouldn’t be good for you. But not so long ago, smoking was socially acceptable in schools, doctors’ offices, airplanes, and the town of Bedrock – as seen in this 1960s Winston cigarettes commercial. Yabba. Dabba. Doobie. Post from: BlissTree Fred Flintstone Lights Up: Video of the Day (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3723299 Sat, 03 Jul 2010 16:00:31 +0100 3723299 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3702929&cid=t_103525_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fcongrats-to-the-5-winners-of-our-become-an-ex-quit-smoking-giveaway%2F Guess what Peggy, Angela, Allan, Susan, and Lee? It’s high time to give up those cancer sticks, because you just won: One EX Quit Pack, which includes: an EX backpack, an EX quit manual, a cigarette pack tracker, an air freshener, an EX cup holder, and quit smoking trigger cards with stickers. Congratulations to all five of you and best of luck! We know you’ll quit smoking for good this time. (And if you didn’t win, read below for info on how to Become an Ex.) At Blisstree, we think smoking is a big deal. And apparently, so do you. (One of our posts: What Happens to Your Body If You Stop Smoking Right Now? currently has 4,282 comments.) For those of you who didn’t win our giveaway, BecomeAnEX is a FREE online and social-media-based quit smoking program. Get t... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3702929 Mon, 28 Jun 2010 01:08:09 +0100 3702929 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3699465&cid=t_103525_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2F185224%2F Last Chance to Become an EX: Quit smoking with this week’s exclusive giveaway. Five Blisstree readers will win an EX Quit Pack to help them kick the habit for good. To enter, let us know how long you’ve been smoking and why you want to quit by this Sunday at 6 p.m. ET. Post from: BlissTree (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3699465 Fri, 25 Jun 2010 17:07:57 +0100 3699465 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3699712&cid=t_103525_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fsmoking-and-erectile-dysfunction%2F Erectile Dysfunction Men who smoke cigarettes run an increased risk of experiencing erectile dysfunction, and the more cigarettes smoked, the greater the risk, according to a study by Tulane University researchers published in the American Journal of Epidemiology. A team of researchers led by Jiang He, Professor of Epidemiology at the Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, examined the association between cigarette smoking and erectile dysfunction in a 2000-2001 study in China involving 7,684 men. The researchers used questionnaires to assess the status of cigarette smoking and erectile dysfunction. Those surveyed were men between the ages of 35-74 who did not have artery disease. The team found that there was a higher link between the number of cigarettes that me... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3699712 Thu, 24 Jun 2010 15:28:01 +0100 3699712 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3690811&cid=t_103525_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2F184666%2F Become an EX: If you’re a smoker and want to quit (and who wouldn’t?), enter this week’s exclusive giveaway. Five winners will win an EX Quit Pack, which has all the tools you need to quit. Just leave a comment and let us know how long you’ve been smoking, and why you want to quit. Post from: BlissTree (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3690811 Wed, 23 Jun 2010 18:05:55 +0100 3690811 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3683590&cid=t_103525_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fbecome-an-ex-and-quit-smoking-enter-this-weeks-giveaway%2F Do you smoke or know someone who does? More importantly, do you want to quit? At Blisstree, we think smoking is a big deal. And apparently, so do you. (One of our posts: What Happens to Your Body If You Stop Smoking Right Now? currently has 4,282 comments.) That’s why we’re partnering with EX® for this week’s giveaway to support smokers who want to kick the habit, as well as non-smokers who want to help them do it. BecomeAnEX is a FREE online and social-media-based quit smoking program. Get this: 70% of smokers in the U.S. want to quit, but only about 5% of smokers are successful in quitting long-term. Most people just don’t know how to quit. That’s where EX comes in. The free EX Plan, available at BecomeAnEX, teaches smokers how to “re-learn” life without cigar... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3683590 Mon, 21 Jun 2010 20:07:23 +0100 3683590 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3621636&cid=t_103525_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Famerican-cigarettes-more-toxic-than-foreign-cigarettes%2F Photo from Flickr user dopesmuglar European stereotypes practically revolve around slowly-smoked cigarettes and smoky cafes, but it turns out their smoking habits might actually be healthier than ours: Americans are getting a higher dose of the most deadly carcinogens in cigarettes, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. American cigarettes are made from the “American blend” tobacco, which has higher levels of carcinogenic nitrosamines because of growing and curing methods. While it might be tempting to get your pen pal across the Atlantic to send you care packages full of less-toxic British cigarettes, we suggest you use this as yet another reason to kick the habit for good. via LA Times Post from: BlissTree American Cigarettes More Toxic Than Foreign Smok... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3621636 Tue, 01 Jun 2010 22:13:15 +0100 3621636 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3617803&cid=t_103525_87_f&fid=34935&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedicine.com.my%2Fwp%2F%3Fp%3D8583 Yesterday was World No Tobacco Day and the theme this year is to combat the rising prevalence of cigarette smoking amongst adolescents and women in particular. One way to dissuade cigarette smoking is to ban sales of small cigarette packs (and hence presumably youngsters who are more inclined to buy the cheaper smaller packs). This was supposed to be enforced on June 1, 2010 but for some strange reason, the Government has decided to defer the ban. I can’t fathom the reason for this flip-flop decision since even the Tobacco companies are caught unaware by the deferment of the ban and they seemed all set to comply with the new regulation. Firms like JTI in fact are calling on the authorities to rescind the delay decision since they have already made preparations to comply. The ball is ... Malaysian Medical Resources blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3617803 Sun, 30 May 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3617803 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3662749&cid=t_103525_109_f&fid=34761&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedblitz.com%2F%7E%2F13784139%2F1hjh2n%2Fneuromarketing%7EImpossible-Branding.htm It looks like Australian politicians have taken up reading neuromarketing books. In the ever-escalating war between regulators and tobacco firms, the most aggressive step yet has been proposed Down Under: un-branding cigarette packaging.In Martin Lindstrom’s Buyology, we learned that tobacco firms had coped with increasing restrictions on advertising in various ways. One key [...] (Source: Neuromarketing) Neuromarketing blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3662749 Tue, 25 May 2010 12:12:42 +0100 3662749 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3585575&cid=t_103525_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fnutrition-the-raw-milk-controversy%2F photo: Thinkstock Raw milk (that is, milk that’s unprocessed and non-homogenized) is thought of among some people as a natural treatment for allergies, asthma, and some stomach problems. According to The Los Angeles Times, the FDA thinks it’s dangerous to consume because of the risk of E coli and other dangerous bacteria. In fact, last March, 13 people fell ill in Michigan because of tainted raw milk. The FDA has prohibited sale of raw milk across state lines, but raw milk currently can be sold in 27 states. Proponents of raw milk, who are largely health-conscious moms, believe that they should have the right to choose what kind of milk they and their families drink. In some states, you can buy the milk in stores; in others, you have to go straight to the source – family far... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3585575 Thu, 20 May 2010 20:56:06 +0100 3585575 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3529787&cid=t_103525_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fhow-a-gynecologist-thinks-about-lung-cancer%2F2010.05.04 A new report on lung cancer in women has been published by the Women’s Health Policy and Advocacy Program at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Called “Out of the Shadows,” the report seeks to raise awareness about lung cancer, currently the leading cause of cancer death in women, and more importantly, to increase funding for research for its prevention, detection and treatment. (HT to Booster Shots, the LA Times‘ fabulous health blog, for highlighting the report.) I encourage you to read the report, which is well written and comprehensive. (more…) *This blog post was originally published at The Blog that Ate Manhattan* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3529787 Tue, 04 May 2010 12:00:00 +0100 3529787 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3475987&cid=t_103525_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2Fo5NBnrcTdoU%2F We can’t quite make out the fine print, but this ad seems to say that Camels were the secret weapon of choice for Betty Draper’s t-zone: Photo: Stanford School of Medicine, via goretro.blogspot.com Post from: BlissTree Flashback Friday: When Doctors Recommended Cigarettes (Source: Genetics and Health) Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3475987 Fri, 16 Apr 2010 15:37:20 +0100 3475987 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3435028&cid=t_103525_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Ffeel%2Ffalling-in-love-with-help-from-divorce%2F Over the last week I’ve learned that four of my women friends are in various stages of divorce. Four – that’s about a third of my yogini friends, all in their 30s. One was horribly betrayed; another is trying to keep her two young kids psychologically intact even though she’s feeling liberated; a third is in the throes of triage-level couples’ therapy; and a fourth is spent from years of “eating glass” to make someone else happy. Yikes. As the irony gods would have it, in the midst of these conversations – listening, nodding, feeling their pain, wondering why anyone would be insane enough to link their happiness to another human being – I’m falling deeply in love for the first time in a zillion years. It’s like cruising by four fatal car crashes during your driver... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3435028 Fri, 02 Apr 2010 17:58:53 +0100 3435028 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3378440&cid=t_103525_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fwhat-happens-to-your-body-if-you-stop-smoking-right-now-2%2F When Blisstree re-launched last week, we hoped to make new friends and keep the old, as the Girl Scout song goes. In that spirit, we’re bringing back a topic that many readers seem to miss: Smoking. Or, quitting smoking, to be exact. Back in 2006, Blisstree posted a timeline of “What happens to your body when you quit smoking now”. The timeline, posted on cancer.org, is as follows: 20 minutes after quitting: Your heart rate and blood pressure drop. (Effect of Smoking on Arterial Stiffness and Pulse Pressure Amplification, Mahmud, A, Feely, J. 2003. Hypertension: 41:183.) 12 hours after quitting: The carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal. (U.S. Surgeon General’s Report, 1988, p. 202) Two weeks to three months after quitting: Your circulation improves an... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3378440 Thu, 18 Mar 2010 00:26:47 +0100 3378440 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3370357&cid=t_103525_87_f&fid=34865&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecancerblog.com%2F2010%2F03%2F16%2Fcigarette-ads-target-teen-girls%2F Filed under: Smoking, Daily newsCigarette advertising campaigns are taking heat after a recent study showed that teenage girls are affected by the smoking ads they see in magazines. The ads for Camel No. 9 cigarettes - which appeared in Vogue, Cosmopolitan and Glamour - were a hit with girls ages 12 to 16, according to Pediatrics. The ads featured pink Victorian script, a pink camel and the words "light & luscious" to promote Stiletto, a sub-brand of cigarettes. The marketing campaign also featured promotional giveaways, including flavored lip balm, purses and cell phone jewelry. Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported in 2001, that teen smoking dropped to 28 percent, which was down from 36% in 1997. Those who worked to curb teen smoking rates see their mis... The Cancer Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3370357 Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3370357 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3063299&cid=t_103525_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F12%2F06%2F10-reasons-i-quit-smoking%2F You’re almost there. You want to quit. In fact, 80 percent of your brain is sure you can. But 20 percent insists that you can’t. How do you make it over to the other side without falling SPLAT on your face? Do this. Make a list. Of ten reasons you should quit. Here’s mine. 1. Smoking Made Me Sick For real. Within a few minutes of inhaling a few cigarettes, my throat would start to tickle and my head would begin hurt. The day after a binge, I’d wake up with a nasty cold that kept me in bed when I had a million things to do. Smoking shrinks your blood vessels, clogs up your lungs, and wears down your immune system. Your body is less able to fight off bacteria and viruses, so, yes, you get sick. And there’s of course the lung cancer and increased chances of heart... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3063299 Sun, 06 Dec 2009 18:30:28 +0100 3063299 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3052208&cid=t_103525_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=2999622&cid=t_103525_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FJu6WghpBQnk%2F It’s been known for a while that smoking increases the risk of developing bladder cancer. Actually, it’s the highest risk factor – smokers are twice as likely to develop bladder cancer than those who don’t smoke. According to the American Cancer Society, Smoking causes about half of the deaths from bladder cancer among men (48%) and almost a third of bladder cancer deaths in women (28%). Some of the carcinogens (cancer-causing chemicals) in tobacco smoke are absorbed from the lungs and get into the blood. From the blood, they are filtered by the kidneys and concentrated in urine. These chemicals in urine damage the cells that line the inside of the bladder. This damage increases the chance of cancer developing. Now, there’s evidence that the risk has risen eve... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2999622 Tue, 17 Nov 2009 01:52:20 +0100 2999622 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2902767&cid=t_103525_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fhealthbolt%2Fgovt-sues-tobacco-companies-really%2F If this wasn’t such a serious topic, it would almost be funny. Farmers, who want to earn a living, grow tobacco for big tobacco companies. Big tobacco companies buy the tobacco to turn into cigarettes and chewing tobacco. Big tobacco companies spend millions and millions of dollars on salaries, production, advertising, and sales. Government rakes in millions and millions of dollars on income tax from tobacco company employees, sales (and other) tax on equipment purchased, gas employees use to get to work, and so on. Big tobacco companies rake in millions and millions of dollars in profit. Smokers get sick from using big tobacco company’s products. Smokers get very expensive medical treatment paid for by insurance companies or government programs (United States) or the governme... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2902767 Sun, 18 Oct 2009 06:22:13 +0100 2902767 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2828281&cid=t_103525_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FvzjDCXVL9f0%2F Although we’d love to see cigarette smoking rates dropping among our youth, certain manufacturers are trying their darndest to get our kids smoking. They deny this, but if it’s not for teen smoking, how else do you explain candy and fruit flavored cigarettes? It’s not the 40-year-old who has been smoking for over 20 years who will buy these “cigarettes,” but someone who is jut beginning and doesn’t want that tobacco taste, right?  These flavors added to cigarettes and other tobacco products make them more appealing to teens. According to statistics, 17-year-old smokers are three times as likely to use flavored cigarettes as smokers over the age of 25. Well, the FDA has taken notice and as of yesterday, September 22, 2009, the sale of fruit or candy ciga... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2828281 Thu, 24 Sep 2009 00:19:36 +0100 2828281 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2785872&cid=t_103525_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=2637865&cid=t_103525_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FIPCAVFv_wRw%2F If you’ve been considering switching to the so-called electronic cigarettes to keep your smoking habit but lower your health risk, save your money. Electronic cigarettes, or e-cigarettes are no safer than the traditional tobacco ones, says the FDA. According to the website E-Cigarettes Choice , While cigarettes emit about 4,000 identifiable chemicals as they are smoked and 69 are known to cause cancer, e-cigarettes contain less than 10 to 20 chemicals on average, depending on the brand or strength purchased.  No more tar blackening your lungs and no more carcinogens. But the FDA says: The FDA’s Division of Pharmaceutical Analysis analyzed the ingredients in a small sample of cartridges from two leading brands of electronic cigarettes. In one sample, the FDA’s analyses detected d... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2637865 Sat, 25 Jul 2009 12:00:17 +0100 2637865 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2602057&cid=t_103525_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FJmpXIkY9WVA%2F If you’re rolling your own cigarettes in an effort to reduce the harmful effects of smoking, you’re not making any difference, say researchers in the United Kingdom. Rolling your own cigarettes is something that gives you a bit of control, you may think, and it may save money as the end result can be less expensive while limiting the amount of extra stuff added by the cigarette companies. But the researchers discovered that although the rolled cigarettes may be cheaper, they aren’t any safer. According to this article, Roll-your-own Cigarettes As Deadly As Ready Mades , There were no differences in the concentrations of the toxins between manufactured and RYO [roll your own] cigarette smokers even when age, sex, body mass index, puffing behaviour and nicotine exposure wer... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2602057 Wed, 15 Jul 2009 12:00:08 +0100 2602057 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2511282&cid=t_103525_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2F7UYK7Jz5D3o%2F If you’re a smoker and you get migraines, a study that appeared in the most recent issue of  the Journal of Headache and Pain may be of interest to you. Researchers from the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology found that smokers had more migraine attacks than non-smoking migraineurs and that as few as five cigarettes per day triggered migraines. Interestingly, not much has been studied about cigarettes and migraines. Some researchers believed that smoking could work to ease migraine pain if smokers found smoking to be relaxing. But this study used medical students as their subjects, who knew what migraines were, and the researchers focused on the number of cigarettes smoked. The researchers looked t 361 medical students, their history of migraine and smoking habits, if the... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2511282 Wed, 24 Jun 2009 20:40:41 +0100 2511282 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2477568&cid=t_103525_87_f&fid=34935&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedicine.com.my%2Fwp%2F%3Fp%3D7203 I like these: View all at Top 45 Creative Anti-smoking Ads (via StreetAnatomy, KevinMD.com) from the Malaysian Medical Resources Very Creative Anti-Smoking Ads (Source: Malaysian Medical Resources) Malaysian Medical Resources blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2477568 Sun, 14 Jun 2009 04:00:00 +0100 2477568 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2452659&cid=t_103525_109_f&fid=36089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthesituationist.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F06%2F03%2Fa-healthy-alternative-or-the-latest-trick%2F Even after all of these years, after millions of deaths, after countless damning scientific reports, and billions in settlements, cigarette companies are still going after children. According to a report, “Deadly in Pink,” published last February, The nation’s two largest tobacco companies—Philip Morris USA and R.J. Reynolds—have launched new marketing campaigns that depict cigarette smoking as feminine and fashionable to counter the growing public consensus that smoking is socially unacceptable and unhealthy. * * * These new marketing campaigns represent the most aggressive efforts by the tobacco industry to target women and girls in at least a decade. These campaigns are jeopardizing the progress the United States has made in reducing smoking and once again putting the health o... The Situationist blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2452659 Wed, 03 Jun 2009 04:01:00 +0100 2452659 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2447498&cid=t_103525_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fhealthbolt%2Ftodays-world-no-tobacco-day%2F Bad for your health and bad for the environment. But for some reason that doesn’t seem to deter the one billion or so people around the world who smoke. Governments have tried to encourage smoker’s to stop with ‘quit smoking’ programs. Many countries and cities have banned smoking from inside public buildings. But unfortunately that has resulted in increased cigarette litter outside the same buildings that ban smoking. So what to do? The World Health Organization has designated today World No Tobacco Day and are focusing on health warnings on tobacco product packaging as a way of encouraging smokers to quit. But does it work? Or do dedicated smokers wear blinders that give them tunnel vision and stop them from seeing the graphic and often disturbing pictures that now are strategica... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2447498 Sun, 31 May 2009 18:27:30 +0100 2447498 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2266674&cid=t_103525_109_f&fid=36089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthesituationist.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F03%2F15%2Fmarket-manipulation-assuaging-cognitive-dissonance%2F From Wikipedia: Cognitive dissonance is an uncomfortable feeling caused by holding two contradictory ideas simultaneously. The “ideas” or “cognitions” in question may include attitudes and beliefs, and also the awareness of one’s behavior. The theory of cognitive dissonance proposes that people have a motivational drive to reduce dissonance by changing their attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors, or by justifying or rationalizing their attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors. Cognitive dissonance theory is one of the most influential and extensively studied theories in social psychology. Dissonance normally occurs when a person perceives a logical inconsistency among his or her cognitions. This happens when one idea implies the opposite of another. For example, a belief... The Situationist blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2266674 Sun, 15 Mar 2009 04:01:37 +0100 2266674 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2256396&cid=t_103525_97_f&fid=35606&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.theangriestpharmacist.com%2F2009%2F03%2F08%2Fa-bunch-of-new-shirts%2F UPDATE: The Angriest POSTAGE STAMPS - HAHA! I sat down and created a bunch of new shirts today. Some of them are funny, some are stupid, some are offensive. There’s a little something for everyone! You can view ALL of my memorabilia here: http://www.zazzle.com/TheAngriestPharm [ALL LINKS WILL OPEN IN A NEW WINDOW] MAY CAUSE RANDOM STREET DANCIN’ SHAKE WELL FREE SOMA - Just follow the arrow and take care of business - Oh no! Another sex/penis joke t-shirt…. TAKE WITH FOOD — Around the world. - This one is more racist than anything. Sue me… FUTURE PHARMACIST - Has an arrow pointing to babymaker. ALCOHOL — the single force keeping your pharmacist from choke slamming you. YOUR DOCTOR HAD ONE SEMESTER OF PCOL. I HAD EIGHT. PHARMACIST — ALL things to ALL... The Angriest Pharmacist blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2256396 Wed, 11 Mar 2009 22:41:23 +0100 2256396 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2240992&cid=t_103525_87_f&fid=34935&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedicine.com.my%2Fwp%2F%3Fp%3D6285 It’s a pity we don’t see more anti-smoking ads on our local media. This one is funny yet so telling! from the Malaysian Medical Resources Great anti-smoking ad! (Source: Malaysian Medical Resources) Malaysian Medical Resources blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2240992 Thu, 05 Mar 2009 05:00:00 +0100 2240992 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2200584&cid=t_103525_87_f&fid=34935&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedicine.com.my%2Fwp%2F%3Fp%3D6167 Here’s another reason to quit smoking. Your actions can affect the cognitive abilities of you and your loved ones. A recent study published in the BMJ suggests that exposure to secondhand smoke is associated with increased risk for cognitive impairment. Some 4800 community-dwelling, nonsmoking adults (mean age, 65) provided saliva samples for cotinine measurement (a biomarker for recent secondhand smoke exposure) and underwent a series of neuropsychological tests. After adjustment for smoking history and other potential confounders, participants with the highest cotinine levels were significantly more likely to show cognitive impairment than those with the lowest levels (odds ratio, 1.44). (via Journal Watch) Original ref: Exposure to secondhand smoke and cognitive impairment in non-... Malaysian Medical Resources blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2200584 Thu, 19 Feb 2009 05:00:00 +0100 2200584 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2121723&cid=t_103525_87_f&fid=34935&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedicine.com.my%2Fwp%2F%3Fp%3D5888 We’re a little ahead of Singapore on this one. from the Malaysian Medical Resources Graphic warning on cigarette packs (Source: Malaysian Medical Resources) Malaysian Medical Resources blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2121723 Tue, 20 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0100 2121723 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2095870&cid=t_103525_87_f&fid=34935&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedicine.com.my%2Fwp%2F%3Fp%3D5833 strWebsiteID = window.document.location.toString();strSplitWeb = strWebsiteID.split("/")strWebsiteID = strSplitWeb[2];document.write(”“); from the Malaysian Medical Resources Third-Hand Cigarette Smoke Poses Risks, Antioxidants Alleviate Pain of Chronic Pancreatitis, Healthcare-Associated Pneumonia More Deadly Than Community-Acquired Type (Source: Malaysian Medical Resources) Malaysian Medical Resources blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2095870 Sun, 11 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0100 2095870 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2089997&cid=t_103525_87_f&fid=34935&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedicine.com.my%2Fwp%2F%3Fp%3D5811 We not only have to worry about second hand smoke, but research shows that even “third hand smoke” is hazardous Toxic particles in cigarette smoke can remain on nearby surfaces, as well as the hair and clothing of the smoker, long after the cigarette has been put out, and small children are susceptible because they are likely to breathe in close proximity, or even lick and suck them. Other studies have linked this exposure to learning problems in children. Breastfeeding mothers who smoke also pass toxins on to their baby in their milk, he said. His team surveyed more than 1,500 households, asking smokers and non-smokers about their attitudes. They found that while 95% of non-smokers and 85% of smokers agreed that direct inhalation of second-hand smoke was harmful to children, j... Malaysian Medical Resources blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2089997 Thu, 08 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0100 2089997 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2056224&cid=t_103525_151_f&fid=35823&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FAddictionInbox%2F%7E3%2F490713335%2Fobamas-addiction.html President-elect should come clean about cigarettes.For a candidacy built on transparency and straightforward messaging, the Obama juggernaut is missing a wonderful opportunity to send direct aid and comfort to struggling addicts everywhere. All the president-elect has to do is admit that he is still struggling to quit smoking cigarettes.It doesn’t take a campaign genius to understand the reasoning during the primaries: Smoking, something now done behind closed doors, or while leaning against a dark wall out back, was not something Obama’s handlers were eager to have taken up as a topic of discussion with respect to their candidate. The U.K. Guardian maintains that certain opinion polls found Obama’s smoking to be a greater hindrance to his election than the color of his skin. The rec... Addiction Inbox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2056224 Sat, 20 Dec 2008 17:32:00 +0100 2056224 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1930260&cid=t_103525_87_f&fid=34935&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedicine.com.my%2Fwp%2F%3Fp%3D5165 The Health Minister was quoted to say that the Health Ministry will be stepping up enforcement against smokers who light up in non-smoking areas. Smoking in prohibited areas is still a problem so now the Health Ministry will target premise owners who neglect the rules and they face a maximum fine of RM10,000 or two years jail or both. Action would also be taken against restaurant owners who allowed smokers to puff away at non-smoking sections, said its minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai. “Air-conditioned places such as restaurants must have separate smoking areas with their own vacuum system to prevent other parts of the premise being polluted,” Liow told reporters after launching Health Day here on Sunday. “We will increase the number of raids and checks to ensure rules are abided by,�... Malaysian Medical Resources blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1930260 Sun, 02 Nov 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1930260 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1870978&cid=t_103525_151_f&fid=35823&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FAddictionInbox%2F%7E3%2F418778205%2Fsupreme-court-lights-up.html Unlikely to let states sue over low tar cigarettes.Can states sue tobacco companies for marketing one of the most addictive products known to man? Not if the claim hinges on deceptive claims about “light” cigarettes, the U.S. Supreme Court seemed to say last Monday.The Court began its new term by taking up the tobacco case, in which three residents of Maine filed suit against Altria Group Inc. and its subsidiary, Philip Morris USA, under a state law barring unfair marketing practices. According to an Associated Press report, the plaintiffs argued that Philip Morris had long known that smokers of low tar cigarettes compensate by taking longer puffs and smoking more cigarettes.After being thrown out by a federal district court, a U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals allowed the suit to proceed.... Addiction Inbox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1870978 Sun, 12 Oct 2008 18:30:00 +0100 1870978 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1829805&cid=t_103525_107_f&fid=36585&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FHighlightHEALTH%2F%7E3%2F403109392%2F This article was published on Highlight HEALTH. Other Articles You May LikeQuitWinLive - The Great American SmokeoutSmoking Duration vs. Intensity and the Impact on Lung Cancer RiskIrreversible Gene Expression Changes From SmokingSmoking Cessation Timeline: What Happens When You QuitMore Education Decreases the Risk of Death (Source: Highlight HEALTH) Highlight HEALTH blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1829805 Thu, 25 Sep 2008 20:23:05 +0100 1829805 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1826009&cid=t_103525_151_f&fid=35823&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FAddictionInbox%2F%7E3%2F401239404%2Fscared-smokeless.html Will New Yorkers quit smoking if you frighten them? If it looks grim, that’s because it’s meant to. And if you don’t like that one, the New York Health Department has several other yucky pictures you’re bound to dislike just as much.That’s the idea, anyway. Whether or not it proves successful or even useful is another matter. Yesterday, the city’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene rolled out its new series of revolting matchbooks designed to help undercut tobacco industry marketing schemes. By focusing awareness on the graphic presentation of smoking’s worst effects, the campaign hopes to highlight the ugly side of the public health equation and reinforce this message by associating cigarettes with pictorial representations of gum disease, blackened lungs, and throat ca... Addiction Inbox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1826009 Tue, 23 Sep 2008 23:11:00 +0100 1826009 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1739370&cid=t_103525_151_f&fid=35823&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FAddictionInbox%2F%7E3%2F377199414%2Fquitting-when-youre-high.html Active smokers underestimate rigors of withdrawal.An alcoholic wraps his car around a tree in a drunken haze. He has "hit bottom" and vows never to drink again.A meth tweaker gets so high he becomes unruly and disoriented and is arrested. In jail, cranked to the gills on speed, she pledges to go sober, starting right now.A cigarette smoker stumbles to bed after a typical two-pack day, coughing, throat burning, reeking of tobacco, and swears that upon waking, his remaining cigarettes will go out with the trash and his life as a human ashtray is over.Each of these addicts has started off on exactly the wrong foot, and will very likely fail quickly in their quitting attempts, according to recent research on smoking cessation from the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University. It... Addiction Inbox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1739370 Thu, 28 Aug 2008 14:49:00 +0100 1739370 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1686429&cid=t_103525_151_f&fid=35823&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FAddictionInbox%2F%7E3%2F357655423%2Fgates-bloomberg-target-cigarettes.html Billionaires pledge $500 million, but will it do any good?If money were all it took, tobacco smoking would be on the run after Bill Gates and Michael Bloomberg jointly pledged last month to fight tobacco use worldwide, especially in low- and middle-income countries, through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Johns Hopkins University.Mayor Bloomberg, who has been involved in anti-smoking campaigns for years, admitted at a joint news conference that "all the money in the world will never eradicate tobacco. But this partnership underscores how much the tide is turning against this deadly epidemic."The program, put together by Bloomberg and Dr. Margaret Chan of the World Health Organization (WHO), is an ambitious, multi-faceted effort to be coordinated by the Bloomberg Initiative to Red... Addiction Inbox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1686429 Wed, 06 Aug 2008 18:41:00 +0100 1686429 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1652609&cid=t_103525_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fcoffee-may-help-alcoholics-quit-drinking%2F Vanderbilt study suggests coffee may help alcoholics quit drinking Not all recovering alcoholics smoke cigarettes, but almost all of them drink coffee, according to a new Vanderbilt study suggesting that healthy intake behaviors could help addicts kick their habit. The study, “Coffee and Cigarette Consumption and Perceived Effects in Recovering Alcoholics Participating in Alcoholics Anonymous in Nashville, Tenn.,” will be featured in the October print issue of Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research (ACER). Study co-author Peter Martin, M.D., director of the Vanderbilt Division of Addiction Medicine, said Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) participants are reportedly notorious for their coffee drinking and cigarette smoking, but very little research has quantified their cons... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1652609 Thu, 24 Jul 2008 13:24:41 +0100 1652609 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1480641&cid=t_103525_117_f&fid=34612&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedoctorweighsin.com%2Fjournal%2F2008%2F5%2F31%2Ftobacco-legislation-a-case-study-of-democracy-in-action.html By Dov Michaeli MD, PhDDemocracy, like a sausage, is better enjoyed if you don’t see how it was made. Here is an example. Legislation that would regulate the marketing of flavored cigarettes is wending its way through Congress. The legislation, which would give the FDA the power to oversee tobacco products, would try to reduce smoking’s allure to young people by banning most flavored cigarettes, including clove and cinnamon. So far so good, but wait a minute: there is a curious exemption to the flavors to be banned – menthol is not to be touched! How come? Read on. Why flavor cigarettes? In their effort to addict young people to cigarette smoking, tobacco companies realized that flavoring would increase the chance that a beginner would stay with the habit, long enough to ... The Doctor Weighs In blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1480641 Sat, 31 May 2008 00:53:23 +0100 1480641 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1489539&cid=t_103525_105_f&fid=36987&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FIvorKovicMd%2F%7E3%2F299546289%2F Are you struggling to stop smoking? You tried all sorts of approaches, but none of them worked. Maybe you can try qwitter, it’s not like you have something to lose (except your nasty habit). Qwitter is a social tool powered by twitter and created, you guest it, to help you stop smoking. It does that by allowing you to: easily keep track of how many cigarettes you smoke each day keep a journal of your thoughts & feelings as you strive to smoke less view your progress over time share this information with others who can support you (or insult you) I like certain things about it, mostly originating from twitter working in the background. It is very easy and simple to use, it allows your friends/family/shrink to subscribe to your grumbling and it produces some nice looking stats, r... Ivor Kovic, M.D. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1489539 Wed, 28 May 2008 03:54:58 +0100 1489539 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1391200&cid=t_103525_151_f&fid=35823&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FAddictionInbox%2F%7E3%2F275513463%2Ffemale-smokers-and-menstruation.html Better to quit after ovulation, study finds.Women stand a better chance of successfully quitting smoking if they stop during the later phase of their monthly menstrual cycle, according to new research conducted at the University of Minnesota and published in the May 2008 edition of the journal Addiction. Sharon Allen and co-workers discovered that women who quit smoking right before they start to ovulate--the so-called follicular stage--relapsed more often than women who quit during the "luteal" stage, defined as the two weeks between ovulation and the start of a new cycle. In the study, 86 percent of women who gave up smoking during the follicular phase relapsed during the first 30 days, compared to 66 per cent of women who quit during the later luteal phase."Our findings support an impor... Addiction Inbox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1391200 Tue, 22 Apr 2008 16:27:00 +0100 1391200 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1131973&cid=t_103525_109_f&fid=35677&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FBrainBasedBusiness%2F%7E3%2F211876201%2Fethics_trump_profits_in_wegman.html I was particularly interested in Wegmans’ announcement today … No MORE CIGARETTE SALES … from an ethical point and because of the risk to the food chain’s profit.A brief letter to employees from leaders Danny and Coleen Wegman … highlighted an ethical core in their decision:We believe in a person’s right to smoke. But we believe there are few of us who would introduce our children to smoking. Since Wegmans is valued in this city for its commitment to health … they decided to risk a loss of sales to further that commitment. In their usual fashion … Wegmans’ leaders values choice and respect their employees … who still take smoking breaks during their shifts.Known for their encouragement and scholarships to help young workers ... BrainBasedBusiness blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1131973 Sun, 06 Jan 2008 02:56:53 +0100 1131973 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1122607&cid=t_103525_107_f&fid=36585&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FHighlightHealth%2F%7E3%2F208797533%2F This article was published on Highlight HEALTH. (Source: Highlight HEALTH) Highlight HEALTH blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1122607 Mon, 31 Dec 2007 14:16:08 +0100 1122607 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1045162&cid=t_103525_151_f&fid=35823&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FAddictionInbox%2F%7E3%2F188793175%2Fsmokers-underestimate-health-risk-study.html Most believe nicotine is the culprit; “will power” the answerTwo-thirds of adult smokers in a recent national survey incorrectly believed that nicotine causes cancer and heart disease, a finding which may help explain the reluctance of many smokers to try nicotine replacement therapy in the form of nicotine gum and nicotine patches. Nicotine is the addictive element in cigarettes, but it does not cause cancer.The national study of 900 American smokers, undertaken by Richard Day Research on behalf of the American Legacy Foundation and GlaxoSmithKline, also found that two out of three smokers underestimated their chances of developing lung cancer. Up to a third of the smokers believed that vitamins and exercise could “undo” the unhealthy effects of smoking.The American Legacy Foundat... Addiction Inbox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1045162 Thu, 22 Nov 2007 12:05:00 +0100 1045162 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1030406&cid=t_103525_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=1019423&cid=t_103525_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2F183226162%2F Here are a few good links and articles that go right along with our Hearty blog… Have a great Sunday! We all know that smoking cigarettes increases your risk for heart disease, right? Then why don’t more people quit? Well duh, it is an addiction after all so that makes it more than tough. Researchers have found that the individual differences in brain chemistry can have a profound effect on a person’s susceptibility to addiction, and smoking may predispose adolescents to mental disorders in adolescence and adulthood such as affective disorders like depression. It is a vicious cycle! Another risk factor in heart disease… obesity. Scientists can now measure how full or hungry a mouse feels, thanks to a new technique which uses imaging to reveal how neurons behave in t... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1019423 Sun, 11 Nov 2007 20:10:21 +0100 1019423 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1015033&cid=t_103525_151_f&fid=35823&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FAddictionInbox%2F%7E3%2F181808504%2Fnicotine-vaccine-doubles-quit-rate-in.html NicVax still showing promise against cigarette addictionNabi Biopharmaceutical announced this week that an experimental vaccine it has been testing against nicotine addiction had shown itself to be effective in human trials. Volunteers were more than twice as likely to quit, compared to a control group whose members were injected with a placebo.The company-funded study gave volunteers five injections of NicVax, Nabi’s proprietary drug, or else a placebo. In regulatory filings, the company claims that the vaccine triggers an antibody response, which prevents nicotine molecules from reaching the brain. The antibodies bind with the nicotine molecules, making nicotine too large to cross the exceedingly fine blood-brain barrier of the brain. Roughly 15 per cent of smokers who received injecti... Addiction Inbox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1015033 Thu, 08 Nov 2007 19:54:00 +0100 1015033 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=975027&cid=t_103525_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=931209&cid=t_103525_151_f&fid=35823&url=http%3A%2F%2Faddiction-dirkh.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F10%2Fnicotine-addiction-in-uk.html Study group urges harm reduction strategy for heavy smokersBritain's Royal College of Physicians (RCP) called upon the government to treat cigarette smoking like any other drug addiction, and faulted its members for failing to offer sufficient help to heavy smokers trying to kick the habit.Because of that failure, the Academy called for greater access to nicotine substitution products, and the development of safer and more effective nicotine delivery systems for smokers who cannot quit.The Academy’s report, "Harm Reduction in Nicotine Addiction: Helping People Who Can’t Quit," called for a sweeping overhaul of the country’s nicotine marketing structure "so that harm reduction strategies are in place."The report’s principle suggestion: "Change nicotine product regulation to make it ... Addiction Inbox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=931209 Fri, 05 Oct 2007 19:55:00 +0100 931209 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=824743&cid=t_103525_151_f&fid=35823&url=http%3A%2F%2Faddiction-dirkh.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F08%2Fsmoking-in-new-york-city.html A Borough-By-Borough Survey New York City has 240,000 fewer smokers than it did in 2002, according to a recent report released by the city’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. City health official Jennifer Ellis told the New York Times that the data represent the sharpest fall-off in cigarette smoking since the department began the surveys in 1993.The report cited bans on smoking in public places, higher taxes on tobacco products, and a multi-million dollar local advertising campaign as the ingredients that helped lead to the overall reduction in the number of smokers. Based on a citywide survey of adults, Who’s Still Smoking states that as many as 800,000 smokers attempted to quit in the past year, but less than one-fifth of them succeeded.However, quit rates over the 5-year per... Addiction Inbox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=824743 Mon, 27 Aug 2007 18:00:00 +0100 824743 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=807320&cid=t_103525_87_f&fid=34865&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecancerblog.com%2F2007%2F08%2F19%2Fsmokeless-tobacco-worse-than-cigarettes%2F Filed under: Research, Smoking, Daily newsYou might think, like many people do, that smokeless tobacco products are safe alternatives to cigarettes. Wrong. According to researchers at the University of Minnesota Cancer Center, smokeless tobacco users are exposed to higher amounts of carcinogenic molecules than cigarette smokers. In a study of 182 users of chewing tobacco or oral snuff and 420 cigarette smokers, they found snuff users were exposed to higher levels of 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) than smokers. NNK is a human carcinogen known to produce lung cancer. In laboratory animals, it also contributes to cancers of the pancreas, nasal mucosa, and liver.Published in the August issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, this study serves to remind ... The Cancer Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=807320 Sun, 19 Aug 2007 04:00:00 +0100 807320 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=793966&cid=t_103525_151_f&fid=35823&url=http%3A%2F%2Faddiction-dirkh.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F08%2Fbook-review-part-1-women-under.html Women and Cigarettes: “The Virginia Slims Woman is Catching up to the Marlboro Man.”“Compared to boys and men, girls and women become addicted to alcohol, nicotine, and illegal and prescription drugs at lower levels of use and in shorter periods of time, develop substance-related diseases like lung cancer more quickly, suffer more severe brain damage from alcohol and drugs like Ecstasy, and often pay the ultimate price sooner. Yet 92 per cent of women in need of treatment for alcohol and drug problems do not receive it. Stigma, shame, and ignorance hide the scope of the problem and the severity of the consequences.” --Joseph A. Califano, Jr.“Women Under the Influence,” with a Foreword by former Health, Education and Welfare Secretary Joseph Califano, appeared in print las... Addiction Inbox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=793966 Sun, 12 Aug 2007 04:33:00 +0100 793966 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=770621&cid=t_103525_87_f&fid=34866&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecardioblog.com%2F2007%2F07%2F31%2Fsmoking-while-pregnant-will-raise-your-babys-blood-pressure%2F Filed under: Smoking, Children Heart HealthNew research shows that raised blood pressure can be added to the list of negative side-effects babies get from their mother when she smokes during pregnancy. 456 healthy full-term babies were tested at 2 months of age and those with mothers who smoked during pregnancy had higher blood pressures on average than those whose mothers did not smoke. The higher blood pressure readings did not seem linked necessarily to low birth weight, the mother's age, or whether or not the babies were breast-fed, and follow-up studies will need to be done to see if the negative blood pressure effect stays with the children as they grow up.Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments (Source: The Cardio Blog) The Cardio Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=770621 Tue, 31 Jul 2007 04:00:00 +0100 770621 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=760480&cid=t_103525_87_f&fid=34866&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecardioblog.com%2F2007%2F07%2F26%2Fan-inspirational-office-smoking-area%2F Filed under: SmokingOffice smoking areas are notoriously drab and plain -- purely functional, with little decor besides places to stand and sit, and of course ashtrays everywhere. And the walls always have that yellowish hue and there's usually a token air freshener in the corner pathetically battling the noxious fumes. I sympathize with smokers because it is a really tough habit to break, but maybe this paint job on the walls and ceiling would help. There's nothing like being reminded of the consequences of such a bad habit by feeling like you're buried alive every time you light up! And while you're remodeling it might be fun to replace the regular ashtrays with these that cough and scream every time they get used. That smoking area will be fun times! (Sorry smokers, it's for your own go... The Cardio Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=760480 Thu, 26 Jul 2007 04:00:00 +0100 760480 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=734888&cid=t_103525_151_f&fid=35823&url=http%3A%2F%2Faddiction-dirkh.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F07%2Fwhats-wrong-with-this-picture.html A bit of cognitive dissonance, perhaps? The situation could easily be reversed, but cigarette manufacturers mostly advertise in magazines, not newspapers. Otherwise, we might be reading about the dangers of consuming too much alcohol in casinos, while looking at an ad for a new brand of cigarettes. (Source: Addiction Inbox) Addiction Inbox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=734888 Sun, 15 Jul 2007 01:39:00 +0100 734888 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=727297&cid=t_103525_87_f&fid=34866&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecardioblog.com%2F2007%2F07%2F11%2Fignite-gets-young-people-involved-in-fight-against-big-tobacco%2F Filed under: Prevention, SmokingIGNITE is the brain child of Katherine Klem who conceived the idea of a youth oriented group that could be involved in fighting Big Tobacco. As Klem was taking notes in a high school class she wondered just why there was no voice for her generation in the deadly battle of cigarette marketing to kids. Today IGNITE has grown into a country wide organization that is supported by government officials hoping to get Big Tobacco out of the political scene.IGNITE offers young people a chance to be heard. The organization offers empowerment to America's youth by giving them a chance to fight Big Tobacco at the local and state wide levels. By informing kids just how deeply the tobacco companies are buried in activities such as campaign contributions and special intere... The Cardio Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=727297 Wed, 11 Jul 2007 04:00:00 +0100 727297 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=726260&cid=t_103525_87_f&fid=34866&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecardioblog.com%2F2007%2F07%2F10%2Fteens-score-cigarettes-at-convenience-stores%2F Filed under: Smoking, Children Heart HealthThough signs are plastered all over convenience store counters and registers warning that IDs will be checked, it appears that gas stations are still the easiest place for minors to buy a back of cigarettes. Compliance checks, which are required for states to receive federal substance abuse funding, found that 1 in 10 teens could buy cigarettes at convenience stores. A smaller percentage were able to purchase cigarettes at tobacco stores, restaurants, and grocery stores. Teen cashiers were more likely to sell to other teens than older employees.One theory is that the distraction of gas sales causes employees to be less diligent about checking IDs. When IDs were checked during the study, the sale was less likely to be made. Obviously, there are oth... The Cardio Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=726260 Tue, 10 Jul 2007 04:00:00 +0100 726260 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=716546&cid=t_103525_87_f&fid=34866&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecardioblog.com%2F2007%2F07%2F05%2Fcool-wristbands-help-kids-to-stay-away-from-cigarettes%2F Filed under: Prevention, Smoking, ProductsMy kids must have twenty or more of those bright colored, rubbery wristbands. They have the LiveStrong one. A couple of green, yellow and purple Hurricane Katrina ones and hand fulls of other bands that support good causes. I just found a new one on the Internet that I am going to order for them. It is a red 1200 band.Everyday 1200 Americans die from smoking related illnesses ranging from cancer to heart disease. It is not only smokers who die but people who are exposed to the dangers of second had smoke. The financial tab for these illnesses tops $75 billion dollars per year. The emotional tab is the grief and loss so many of us feel from losing our loved ones to this habit. The bands come in packs of ten for just $10. These would be great to hand... The Cardio Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=716546 Thu, 05 Jul 2007 04:00:00 +0100 716546 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=716545&cid=t_103525_87_f&fid=34866&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecardioblog.com%2F2007%2F07%2F05%2Fcamel-no-9-terrific-marketing-or-just-plain-terrible%2F Filed under: SmokingThere's a new product out there just for women -- it's called Camel No. 9. What is it, you ask? A perfume? A line of clothing? A push-up bra? No, it's a women-oriented brand of cigarettes. And despite wide-spread smoking bans being implemented almost everywhere, it's all the rage, since the makers behind it are holding ladies' nights at bars across the country, giving away goody bags full of cigarettes. I'm pretty anti-smoking so the thought of this makes me a bit ill. A friend of mine actually got hooked on smoking because she stayed at a resort that offered free cigarettes in the bar. And yet, soda companies don't get loads of flack for marketing soft drinks, which have been shown to contribute to obesity. Video game makers don't get told off for contributing to the l... The Cardio Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=716545 Thu, 05 Jul 2007 04:00:00 +0100 716545 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=716525&cid=t_103525_87_f&fid=34865&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecancerblog.com%2F2007%2F07%2F05%2Fa-history-of-cigarette-commercials%2F Filed under: Television, SmokingThe television industry just might owe a bit of its success to the tobacco industry. Cigarette producers were one of the earliest and most consistent advertisers on TV. Big tobacco had large pools of money and were able to take a chance on the new medium of television when it first debuted in the 1940's. At a time when many sponsors were financially unable to buy advertising spots or unwilling to try TV ads, tobacco companies found opportunities to attach strings to their endorsements. Many shows were required to feature characters smoking during the shows. Stars were expected to use cigarettes and show their enthusiasm for the products. Popular shows such as I Love Lucy showed Lucy happily fetching a smoke for husband and exclaiming, "You see how easy it ... The Cancer Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=716525 Thu, 05 Jul 2007 04:00:00 +0100 716525 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=716522&cid=t_103525_87_f&fid=34865&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecancerblog.com%2F2007%2F07%2F05%2Fsmoking-is-poison-to-bar-and-restaurant-staff%2F Filed under: Lung Cancer, Opinion, Environment, SmokingThe city I live in recently banned smoking. I, along with many other people, breathed a huge sigh of relief when the ban was implemented (literally!) because it sometimes seemed downright impossible to have a social life in a city where smoking was allowed in almost all restaurants and bars. I recall an argument I had with someone who was upset because not being allowed to smoke in a public place was unconstitutional -- it was his right to smoke wherever he pleased and if people don't like it, they shouldn't go out. Ever.What about the right to live and to work in an environment where you're not putting yourself in grave danger? Everyone has the right to a safe work environment, including bar and restaurant staff. And make no mistake--... The Cancer Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=716522 Thu, 05 Jul 2007 04:00:00 +0100 716522 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=704453&cid=t_103525_87_f&fid=34866&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecardioblog.com%2F2007%2F06%2F29%2Fcandy-cigarettes-just-a-treat-or-an-early-introduction-to-smoki%2F Filed under: Smoking, Children Heart HealthOn a recent shopping trip to a party supply store, my husband noticed a box of candy cigarettes (cleverly labeled "candy sticks). "I can't believe they still sell those," he said, and I agreed. I thought candy cigarettes were a part of our childhood and never imagined my own kids might come across them. Research suggests that candy cigarettes may lead kids into smoking the real thing more often than we think. A recent survey of 26,000 adult smokers found that 12% of smokers had never tried a candy cigarette as a youth, but 22% of smokers had. While they may seem like child's play, candy cigarettes introduce children early on to how it feels and looks to hold a cigarette and makes what should be unfamiliar, familiar. I'd love to see these products ... The Cardio Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=704453 Fri, 29 Jun 2007 04:00:00 +0100 704453 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=682797&cid=t_103525_87_f&fid=34866&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecardioblog.com%2F2007%2F06%2F19%2Fdo-candy-smokes-lead-to-the-real-thing-for-kids%2F Filed under: Smoking, ProductsWhen I was a child I remember well the thrill of holding a bubble gum cigarette in my hands. It was rare that my older brother and I would get our hands on the treats, but when we did the excitement of blowing through the paper cover and seeing a puff of sugar toot out the other end was pretty cool to a four year-old. After that one puff was done, I would sit in what I thought was a glamorous pose and chomp on the end until it was soggy and then I would rip off the paper and chew away on pink, gooey gum. My brother also enjoyed the cigarettes, though he wasn't as cosmopolitan as I when it came to role playing, but he grew up to be a smoker and I cannot inhale without becoming violently ill.According to a recent study, many children who enjoyed "smoking" candy ... The Cardio Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=682797 Tue, 19 Jun 2007 04:00:00 +0100 682797 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=658871&cid=t_103525_87_f&fid=34866&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecardioblog.com%2F2007%2F06%2F05%2Fthe-tobacco-debate-continues%2F Filed under: Smoking, Daily newsSmoking bans are a popular topic these days ... my city just implemented one in the new year and it's generated lots of controversy. But here's another controversial subject that I noticed on our sister blog, That's Fit: Should the government be regulating what goes in to cigarettes too? Right now, there's no limit on how much nicotine tobacco companies can put in cigarettes, and as you probably know, nicotine is what makes cigarettes addictive. Theoretically, tobacco companies could put huge amounts of nicotine in cigarettes to keep their current customers addicted for as long as possible. That's what would be best for business, after all. But at the same time, smokers need to own up to some sort of personal responsibility for what they're putting into thei... The Cardio Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=658871 Tue, 05 Jun 2007 04:00:00 +0100 658871 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=644980&cid=t_103525_87_f&fid=34866&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecardioblog.com%2F2007%2F05%2F30%2Fthe-immediate-benefits-of-quitting-smoking%2F Filed under: Prevention, Smoking, Women Heart Health, Men Heart HealthWhen considering exercise, we know that we won't see significant changes in our fitness level for several weeks. Even so, we know that the minute we step onto that treadmill or take that first step out our door, we're improving our fitness levels. After all, you can't reach your goal if you never start. But what about bad habits? How quickly can we reverse the damage done by years of unhealthy living?Jonathon over at That's Fit recently wrote a post about what happens to your body when you quit smoking. Within minutes, your health starts to improve as your blood pressure drops. In as little as 8 hours, the carbon monoxide levels in your blood will drop by half and oxygen levels will normalize. Within two days, you'll hav... The Cardio Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=644980 Wed, 30 May 2007 04:00:00 +0100 644980 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=629129&cid=t_103525_87_f&fid=34866&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecardioblog.com%2F2007%2F05%2F22%2Fnipping-smoking-in-the-bud-with-the-cold-hard-truth%2F Filed under: Smoking, Children Heart HealthThe other day I was taxiing my 13 year-old son and a few of his friends around town. I shamelessly eavesdrop on their conversations because I believe that at this age I need to know anything they are willing to divulge. If they are scheming about doing something they needn't be doing, I need to know that information. One of the boys was discussing smoking and what he would do were he to pick up a cigarette and start inhaling. He was laughing and telling the other boys that they would likely get "all hyper and spaz out!"One of the activities I hope never to witness my children doing is lighting up and inhaling. So I piped up and began conversing with the boys. While three of them claimed they would never do such a thing, the other said he would jus... The Cardio Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=629129 Tue, 22 May 2007 04:00:00 +0100 629129 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=612074&cid=t_103525_87_f&fid=34866&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecardioblog.com%2F2007%2F05%2F17%2Flight-cigarettes-are-just-as-dangerous-for-the-heart%2F Filed under: Research, SmokingIf you're a smoker who's switched to light or low-tar cigarettes to decrease the strain of smoking on your heart, you just might have to think again. Turkish researchers recently put light cigarettes to the test to see if they had a reduced affect on cardiovascular health compared to regular cigarettes. After lighting up, smokers had something called coronary flow velocity response (CVFR) tested, which means that their arteries were tested to see if they could properly dilate in response to blood flow. In both groups, CVFR fell significantly, and in addition, smoking either type of cigarette raised blood pressure and heart rate.Check out this article for more information about "the truth" behind light cigarettes.Read | Permalink | Email thi... The Cardio Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=612074 Thu, 17 May 2007 04:00:00 +0100 612074 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=523130&cid=t_103525_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2F106917513%2F My friend Christina has been trying to quit smoking for ages. Last weekend, she thought she’d sneak out for a drag on her last cigarette. I had a cigarette breakdown, and had one in an otherwise empty pack in my purse last night. I spent the evening pondering when I was going to smoke it, either that night, or save it for the morning. So, I got up out of bed last night about 11, went for my *one* cig, and pulled it out of the pack and it had some flower stickers on it and a message - April Fools! It took me a minute to figure out that Zoe [her daughter] had thrown it away and replaced it with a rolled up piece of paper. OMG I thought I would kill her. Addiction sucks. Addiction probably sucks more for some people than others because of their genetic make-up. In the first study to e... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=523130 Thu, 05 Apr 2007 18:56:10 +0100 523130 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=506831&cid=t_103525_87_f&fid=34865&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecancerblog.com%2F2007%2F03%2F28%2Fcannibis-linked-kind-of-to-lung-cancer-risk%2F This study may prove otherwise.Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments (Source: The Cancer Blog) The Cancer Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=506831 Wed, 28 Mar 2007 04:00:00 +0100 506831 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=485339&cid=t_103525_87_f&fid=34865&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecancerblog.com%2F2007%2F03%2F20%2Fthought-for-the-day-it-all-seems-so-wrong%2F Filed under: Lung Cancer, Pink products, Smoking, Daily news, Thought for the DayBusiness is business. Maybe it's about making a difference in the world of consumers but mostly, it's about making money. I get that -- and if I owned my own company and offered some sort of product, surely my goal would be to reap a financial reward. And if I wanted to increase my reward, I guess I would consider new markets, new advertising, and new techniques for hauling in loads of cash.So I see what's going on with the new Camel No. 9 cigarettes, in their hot-pink fuscia and minty-teal green packages with the slogan Light and Luscious. I understand this brand is targeting female smokers with enticing wording that Camel maker R.J. Reynolds executives say is meant to suggest dressed to the nines, putting on... The Cancer Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=485339 Tue, 20 Mar 2007 04:00:00 +0100 485339 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=485335&cid=t_103525_87_f&fid=34865&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecancerblog.com%2F2007%2F03%2F20%2Fsmoking-away-the-years%2F Filed under: Prevention, All Cancers, Research, SmokingAccording to the American Cancer Society, smoking damages most organs in the human body and is linked to at least 10 different cancers. Smoking accounts for nearly 30 percent of all cancer deaths. Yet one in four Americans still lights up. So how many days are you taking away from the longevity of your life every time you light up.According to studies on smokers, if you smoke 1 pack of cigarettes a day for 10 years you lose 2 years of your life. If you smoke 2 packs in 10 years time you lose 4 years. If you have smoked one pack of cigarettes a day for 20 years you lose 4 years off of your life and if you smoke 2 packs a day in 20 years you lose 9 years off of your life.You are just as much at risk if you are breathing second hand smoke... The Cancer Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=485335 Tue, 20 Mar 2007 04:00:00 +0100 485335 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=480946&cid=t_103525_87_f&fid=34865&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecancerblog.com%2F2007%2F03%2F18%2Fthought-for-the-day-making-the-cut%2F Filed under: Lung Cancer, Prevention, Research, Magazines, Thought for the DayIf you are trying to ward off cancer by making a change in your smoking habits, cutting back isn't enough. Cutting out cigarettes altogether is the only way to really protect your health.Think about this tidbit I found in the March 2007 issue of Woman's Day Magazine.A 20-year-study of more than 50,000 people in Norway recently revealed that patients who smoked fewer cigarettes -- even those who cut back by half -- were just as likely as heavy smokers to suffer from early death due to cardiovascular disease, cancer, and other tobacco-related problems.Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments (Source: The Cancer Blog) The Cancer Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=480946 Sun, 18 Mar 2007 04:00:00 +0100 480946 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=730534&cid=t_103525_151_f&fid=35823&url=http%3A%2F%2Faddiction-dirkh.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F02%2Fbrain-injury-stops-smokers-cold-in.html In a research development that the director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) calls nothing short of “ming-boggling,” stroke victims lost all desire for cigarettes after suffering damage to a tiny structure in the forebrain. The stroke victims who smoked were seemingly freed from nicotine addiction by damage to the insula, a part of the brain that has not previously been a primary target of addiction research.Along with the nucleus accumbens, the amygdala, and other structures in the limbic system, certain regions of the cerebral cortex are also implicated in active addiction. Now, said NIDA’s Dr. Nora Volkow, “Everybody’s going to be looking at the insula.”Researchers at the University of Iowa and the University of Southern California collaborated on the brain inj... Addiction Inbox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=730534 Tue, 06 Feb 2007 02:20:00 +0100 730534 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=730535&cid=t_103525_151_f&fid=35823&url=http%3A%2F%2Faddiction-dirkh.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F01%2Fsnail-toxin-fits-nicotine-receptor.html This post courtesy of Biology-blog.com http://www.biology-blog.com/A New Tool Against Brain DiseaseUniversity of Utah scientists isolated an unusual nerve toxin in an ocean-dwelling snail, and say its ability to glom onto the brain's nicotine receptors may be useful for designing new drugs to treat a variety of psychiatric and brain diseases."We discovered a new toxin from a venomous cone snail that may enable researchers to more effectively develop medications for a wide range of nervous system disorders including Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, depression, nicotine addiction and perhaps even schizophrenia," says J. Michael McIntosh.McIntosh is the same University of Utah researcher who as an incoming freshman student in 1979 discovered another "conotoxin" that was developed int... Addiction Inbox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=730535 Thu, 01 Feb 2007 03:31:00 +0100 730535 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=730536&cid=t_103525_151_f&fid=35823&url=http%3A%2F%2Faddiction-dirkh.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F01%2Fnew-drug-for-smokers.html First there was Wellbutrin, an antidepressant which helped cut down on the cravings and nicotine withdrawal symptoms for many addicted smokers when it was marketed as the smoking cessation aid Zyban. In May, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) okayed a second medication for the treatment of nicotine addiction. Chantix, the trade name for varenicline tartrate, works on the dopamine system to reduce withdrawal and craving symptoms, like Zyban. In randomized, placebo-controlled clinical studies involving more than 3,500 smokers, Chantix outperformed both placebos and Zyban. Common side effects included nausea, headache and vomiting. Two studies published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) showed that about 22 per cent of smokers on Chantix were abstinent at the one-y... Addiction Inbox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=730536 Fri, 26 Jan 2007 20:34:00 +0100 730536 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=730538&cid=t_103525_151_f&fid=35823&url=http%3A%2F%2Faddiction-dirkh.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F01%2Fsmokers-drink-more.html It’s no secret that smoking and drinking go together like salt and pepper. No comes further evidence that smoking helps drinkers hold more liquor. Put simply, “Cigarette smoking appears to promote the consumption of alcohol,” says Wei-Jeun Chen of the Texas A&M Health Science Center.Nicotine seems to slow the movement of alcohol through the intestines, leaving more alcohol molecules backed up and metabolised before reaching the bloodstream by means of intestinal absorption. In animal studies, in which rats were given stomache injections of alcohol and nicotine, clinicians found that “smoking” rats exhibited lower blood-alcohol levels than rats given the same amount of alcohol without the addiction of nicotine.Dr. David Ball of the Institute of Psychiatry in London, told BBC news:... Addiction Inbox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=730538 Sun, 21 Jan 2007 18:52:00 +0100 730538