According to a recent study carried out by European researchers, female smoking is implicated with even more health hazards than was previously suspected.  Norwegian scientists have revealed that smoking women have a higher incidence and earlier onset of heart disease in comparison with male smokers. The finding was published in the journal of the European Society of Cardiology.

Naturally, women suffer from cardiovascular disease less frequently than men, which can be explained by a heart-protective effect of the female hormone estrogen. However, due to estrogen-inhibiting qualities of nicotine, smoking females tend to secrete less of this beneficial hormone during their reproductive years. They are also likely to have an early menopause. These factors contribute to a documented vulnerability of female smokers to heart attacks and other cardiovascular problems. In addition, smoking women are likely to develop myocardial infarction a decade earlier than their non-smoking peers. In comparison, male smokers usually develop heart problems approximately six years earlier than non-smoking males.

In the study, researchers led by Dr. Morten Grundtvig examined health histories of almost 2,000 heart attack patients hospitalized in Lillehammer, Norway. The records showed that, at the average, non-smoking men suffered from their first heart attack at the age of 72, while non-smoking women had their first myocardial infarction at the age of 81. However, with smoking patients the situation was quite different: smoking men tended to have their first heart attack as early as at the age of 64, while smoking women – at the age of 66.

Italian cardiologist Silvia Priori says that women have to realize that they can suffer severe health consequences if they choose to smoke. Early heart attack is just one of them.

Jimmy Edwards

There are many different programs that can potentially help you to become smoke-free. To successfully kick the habit, you have to select a smoking cessation program that will work for you. To stop smoking for good, you must be prepared to overcome nicotine withdrawal symptoms that sometimes can be severe, particularly if you are a life-long smoker. Also, be ready to exercise emotional and mental willpower in order to change your established lifestyle habits that are built around smoking. Nicotine is a strong addictive drug and therefore quitting smoking is not easy. It really helps to do your homework and find out what program might work best for your particular needs. This article will give you initial guidelines to get started.

Where to start

Select a date when you intend to stop smoking and then follow your plan. Ahead of time, record your reasons for smoking cessation and read those notes every time you are tempted to start smoking again. Write down why and when you tend to smoke and what triggers your desire for a cigarette. Before quitting, try to abstain from smoking in certain situations that you can perfectly control with your willpower – for example, when you are having your morning coffee, socializing with smoking friends, or driving your car. It is really helpful to write down a list of activities that could be easily done without smoking. Also, be prepared to get engaged into doing something else when your cravings for nicotine are especially strong. Be creative and think ahead about what you can do – for example, you can have a (healthy) snack, watch an interesting movie, or even start lifting weights! A good strategy is to consult your doctor about nicotine replacement products – these would be especially useful during the first several weeks after quitting. Another helpful step is to get counselling or join a support group.

How to prevent relapsing

When you stop smoking, you may get severe nicotine withdrawal symptoms that will make you crave tobacco and provoke irritability, nervous tension, anxiety, or even depression. You may also get headaches, become dizzy, or feel hungry all the time. These unpleasant sensations are due to the highly addictive nature of tobacco. Since your body is used to a constant supply of nicotine, the above withdrawal symptoms are quite natural and signal the healing process. They won’t last long – most former smokers report uncomfortable sensations that only last from several days to several weeks after smoking cessation. Stick to your program and try to stay in control!

To avoid starting smoking again, keep away from anything that may remind you about smoking: clean your house of cigarettes, ashtrays, lighters and other smoking supplies. Ask your friends and family members not to smoke when you are around. During work breaks, munch on healthy snacks or chew a gum instead of smoking. When the urge to smoke is almost unbearable, exercise! Aerobic activities, such as jogging, biking, or playing tennis, are particularly recommended to refocusing your mind off cigarettes.

What to do if you relapse

It is estimated that over eighty percent of quitters eventually return to cigarettes. If you are one of those, try not to give up. Some nicotine addicts have to attempt quitting smoking several times before they can finally kick the habit for good. Maybe, next time you will require a stronger pharmaceutical medication to help you overcome nicotine addiction. Or you will need additional supportive therapies, such as acupuncture or massage. Plan beforehand and consider nicotine patches, antidepressants, or hypnotherapy. Do not lose hope!

Jimmy Edwards

Numerous adverse health conditions can be triggered by cigarette smoking. According to data collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the use of tobacco costs Americans almost $80 billion annually. There are well-established associations between inhaling tobacco smoke and developing cardiovascular disease, lung cancer, and other serious and potentially fatal illnesses. About two decades ago, cigarette consumption was also linked to an increased risk of hip fracture and osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis is a debilitating, progressive disorder which weakens and deforms bones, especially those of the spine and pelvis, making them more susceptible to fracture. In this condition, calcium, magnesium and other vital minerals are lacking and bone protein is diminished, resulting in soft and fragile bones. This disease occurs more often in post-menopausal women as a result of a decrease in hormone levels; however, it can also affect men. In addition to hormonal factors, other causes include: deficiencies in dietary minerals and vitamin D; inactivity; use of certain drugs, including steroid hormones; genetic predisposition; excessive coffee and alcohol consumption; and cigarette smoking.

Osteoporosis-induced fractures are extremely painful and can lead to long-term disability. Medical experts say that bone fractures affect nearly 45 million Americans, particularly senior citizens. However, both bone breakages and osteoporosis can easily be prevented by incorporating healthy lifestyle habits early in life.

Recent studies investigating links between smoking and the development of osteoporosis show that tobacco smoke is directly involved in making bones less dense.  Smoking can also decrease estrogen levels and facilitate early menopause in women, which is an additional risk factor for the condition. Since nearly 70 percent of hip fracture sufferers are females, cigarette abstinence for them is especially important in order to protect hormone and bone health.

Besides, new studies reveal that greater cigarette consumption, as well as longer length of smoking, is positively correlated with an increased risk of hip fracture after the age of 65. Smoking in an old age significantly decreases bone density in both men and women. Smokers with osteoporosis also have more complicated fractures that require more time for healing.

One recently conducted trial has found a direct association between early exposition to environmental tobacco smoke (second-hand smoking) and susceptibility to having low bone mass later in life.

The good news is that smoking cessation, even in an old age, has been linked to a reduced risk of developing osteoporosis and fractures of the wrist, spine, and hip.

Jimmy Edwards

Although most of us think that smoking is only bad for the lungs since it can cause chronic bronchitis, lung cancer and other respiratory diseases, the link between smoking and heart disease is currently well-established. In fact, cigarette smoke is implicated as the major contributor to atherosclerosis, high blood pressure, stroke, heart attack, and other cardiovascular conditions! It is estimated that at least 20 percent of all heart disease deaths in our country are associated with smoking.

The more cigarettes smokers puff, the greater their risk of contracting cardiovascular problems is. In addition, a longer smoking history is directly linked to a higher probability of dying from heart attack. Those who habitually smoke a pack of cigarettes daily almost double their risk of having myocardial infarction, in comparison with non-smokers. Smoking women who also use oral contraceptives more than triple their risk of developing stroke, contracting peripheral vascular disease, and dying from heart attack.

Unfortunately, cigarette fumes also damage the health of non-smokers. Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) is associated with an increased incidence of heart conditions. Passive smoking is extremely harmful for everybody’s cardiovascular health, and especially that of children. In addition to heart disease, second-hand tobacco smoke can trigger the development of respiratory diseases and a variety of cancers. Experts say that over 35,000 non-smoking people succumb to cardiovascular disease as a direct consequence of their exposure to ETS.

How does cigarette smoking damage the heart? First of all, it decreases the supply of oxygen to the heart muscles, which elevates blood pressure and speeds the heart rate. Secondly, smoking damages the cells of blood vessels, including those of coronary arteries. Another harmful effect of cigarettes smoke is in an increased risk of blood clotting.

The good news is that quitting smoking will greatly benefit your heart health. After stopping consuming tobacco for only one year, your risk of dying from heart attack is reduced in half. And a 15-year period of cigarette abstinence lowers your risks of developing cardiovascular problems to that of people who never smoked a single cigarette!

Quit now!

Jimmy Edwards

This article is for sure not the first publication you have read about dangers of smoking for those who suffer from asthma. However, not many people know that stopping smoking may be the most important step for asthmatic patients. Experts say that kicking the habit may result in a drastic reduction or even complete disappearance of acute attacks and chronic symptoms of asthma. In addition, it will protect the lungs and bronchi from further damage.

Smoking is extremely bad for general health, but it is especially damaging for people whose respiratory system has already been compromised, such as patients with asthma. Quitting smoking will likely improve your general health, prolong life expectancy, make you look younger and feel better, and improve your breathing. In addition, by saying ‘no’ to cigarettes you will diminish your risks of contracting lung cancer, cardiovascular disease, and emphysema.

For people suffering from asthma, quitting smoking is an essential and even life-saving measure. Nicotine-replacement therapy, low-dose antidepressant drugs, counselling or hypnotherapy can be helpful in achieving your goals for a smoke-free life. In order to select the most effective smoking cessation program that is right for you, a good strategy would be to consult your doctor and follow his or her advice.

Before quitting by gradual reduction or “cold turkey”, write down your reasons for smoking cessation, to read over when you are tempted to reach for a “lung rocket” again. Do not forget that kicking the habit may drastically reduce the symptoms of your disease. Experts say that only one day of cigarette abstinence will normalize carbon monoxide levels in your bloodstream and improve your oxygen status. Three days of not smoking will relax the bronchial tubes resulting in improving asthma symptoms and exercise tolerance. After about six months, you will notice a considerable reduction in coughing, shortness of breath, chest and sinus congestion, and asthma-induced fatigue.

Smoking cessation will also allow cilia, the tiny “hairs” located in the air passages, to re-grow and restore their ability to remove mucus and foreign particles from the lungs and airways. This improved function of cilia will help further diminish your asthma symptoms.

John Burke

Nicotine junkies can now be free from remorse since their cravings for nicotine are, in fact, a genetic disease. A group of American scientists representing the University of Michigan, the University of North Carolina and Washington University School of Medicine have confirmed the hypothesis that nicotine addiction can originate on a genetic level.

More precisely, they found a genetic configuration typical for nicotine-dependent individuals. Unfortunately, the same genetic variant can be involved in triggering lung cancer, the scientists reported in the latest issue of the journal Addiction.

Those who have the nicotine-sensitive genetic configuration tend to enjoy their first smoking experience. They are also much more likely to become hooked on tobacco for life, says lead author of the research professor Ovide Pomerleau.

The study also focused on investigating possible solutions in treating genetically-based nicotine addiction. Every year, over 400,000 people fall victims of their smoking habit, succumbing to lung cancer, severe infections, and other devastating diseases directly caused by tobacco smoke.

In the study, the scientists looked at possible connections between the gene CHRNA5 that is believed to be responsible for nicotine addiction and smoking patterns of the participants. Total of 435 adults, both smokers and non-smokers, took part in the research.

As a result, the researchers found that non-smoking participants without the gene in question, although had tried cigarettes at least once during their lifetime, had not become dependent on tobacco. They also reported a negative reaction to their initial tobacco smoke exposure. On the other hand, established smokers, especially those who had enjoyed their first cigarette and quickly become addicted to nicotine, have showed a much higher occurrence of the gene CHRNA5.

Individuals with the nicotine- addictive genetic makeup are highly susceptible to become life-long smokers, says Dr. Pomerleau. They also tend to enjoy their first and subsequent smoking experiences much more than people without the genetic variant.

However, genetic predisposition is only one part of smoking addiction, point out the researchers. Environmental and social factors, such as availability of tobacco products, peers’ pressure, fashions, traditions, and cultural trends can play a significant role in the individual’s decision to become and remain a smoker.

Hopefully, these recent findings of the American scientists will help in developing new approaches and medications to successfully treat nicotine dependence.

Darlene Marlow

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According to a new Canadian study published in the Journal of Neuroscience, some people can develop a full-blown tobacco addiction after smoking just one cigarette, while others can be discouraged from further smoking after their initial exposure to tobacco fumes.

The scientists have discovered that specific brain regions can hold key to different reactions to nicotine, at least in rats. In the study, brain receptors of laboratory animals were manipulated in such a way that some rats were repelled by their first nicotine exposure. When rats’ specific dopamine receptors were inhibited by drugs, the animals experienced negative, unpleasant sensations after being exposed to tobacco smoke.

The same brain areas which are responsible for hooking people on tobacco can also be involved in producing nicotine withdrawal symptoms when smoking cessation is attempted, the researchers said.

These findings can make clear why some individuals can develop tobacco dependency after a single puff, says lead author of the study Dr. Steven Laviolette. On the other hand, the recent discoveries can also help develop a drug that will not only prevent people from starting smoking but also will be able to cure already established nicotine addiction.

Previous studies suggested that teenagers could be especially vulnerable to their experimenting with tobacco, finding smoking to be highly pleasurable and rewarding.

Currently, the same team of Canadian researchers are investigating the molecular processes occurring in the relevant brain regions of rats that seem to enjoy their nicotine experience. The results of this research will help manufacture a medication to block the brain receptors responsible for cigarette addiction. Such drug will alter the brain’s positive assessment of nicotine, thus discouraging people from smoking.

Jimmy Edwards

According to a publication at the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, female smoking can contribute to breast cancer risks even to a lager degree than is currently accepted within the medical community. Active smoking, say researchers, can promote dangerous cellular mutations.  Tobacco smoke contains a wide range of hazardous carcinogenic substances that end up in the tissues of smokers and can trigger the development of various diseases and malignancies. Metabolites of tobacco smoke can easily reach the fluid found inside the breast tissue, stimulating the formation of cysts and tumours.

However, previous research focusing on links between smoking and breast cancer were inconsistent, and scientists were unable to find a direct connection between tobacco consumption and an increased incidence of breast cancer. But the new study that took into consideration such important factors as the length of active smoking, genetics, diet, and exposure to environmental tobacco smoke, has shown that cigarettes can significantly contribute to a risk of contracting breast cancer among female populations.

Dr. Peggy Reynolds, the lead author of the study, and her co-workers from the California Department of Health Services investigated the rates of breast cancer among more than 100,000 women who participated in a large-scale California Teachers Study. The female participants were asked about their lifestyle, diet, and a smoking status.

During the study period of four years, over 2,000 women developed an invasive type of malignant breast tumour. At that, current smokers, particularly those who had started consuming tobacco before the age of 20 and those who smoked more than a pack of cigarettes a day, had a 30 percent higher incidence of the disease than non-smoking women.

After taking into account women’s exposure to passive smoking and their family history of invasive breast cancer, the researchers nonetheless have found an unquestionable link between active smoking and a substantial increase in a risk of contracting breast cancer. On the other hand, smoking cessation has been positively correlated with a reduced incidence of breast cancer. No association has been found between exposure to environmental tobacco smoke and breast malignancies.

Breast cancer is currently estimated to be the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among American women, with the rates of the disease showing a tendency towards a steady increase.

According to the Merck Manual, major risk factors for developing breast cancer include family history of the disease, genetic mutations, early menarche, late first pregnancy, late menopause, history of multiple breast lumps, a prolonged use of oral contraceptives, postmenopausal hormonal replacement therapy, obesity, and exposure to radiation therapy.

Although smoking is not mentioned as a risk factor in breast cancer development, the study authors have reported that, in view of their new findings, quitting smoking can be one of the most reliable prevention measures against invasive breast cancer in female populations.

Jimmy Edwards

According to a randomized telephone survey conducted and analyzed by German researchers of the Robert Koch Institute and reported by the journal Deutsches Ärzteblatt International, smokers are more prone to developing chronic back pain than non-smoking individuals. The survey included 8000 adults, both smokers and non-smokers, who were asked to provide information on their social status, average annual income, smoking habits, and lifestyle. Upon analyzing the obtained data, the study authors determined a link between smoking habits of the participants and their increased proneness to chronic back pain.

Their findings show that both current and former tobacco addicts tend to develop back aches significantly more often than those who never smoked. A direct correlation was also found between the length of smoking and severity of chronic back pain: long-term smokers showed to have a two-fold increase in the incidence and severity of back pain in comparison with those who had smoked for a period less than a decade.  However, no correlation was observed between the frequency of tobacco consumption and chronic back pain, at least in the survey participants.

The authors say that smoking cigarettes may be a contributing factor in developing chronic back aches. However, due to the mild pain-alleviating properties of nicotine, it may also be possible that back pain is a factor that supports the habit of smoking in some people and motivates them against smoking cessation. The exact link between tobacco consumption and back pain is planned to be further revealed in upcoming research.

According to the prestigious Merck Manuals, chronic back pain is a widely-spread medical condition and one of the most common complains of those who visit their health-care providers. Although underlying causes can vary, back aches usually result from chronic tension in the ligaments and muscles that support the spinal cord. In some cases, back pain can be triggered by vertebral dislocations or internal conditions, such as PMS, infections, or diseases of the lungs, liver, prostate gland, and stomach.

Darlene Marlow

According to a recent publication in the journal Nicotine and Tobacco Research, scientists from the University of Vermont have revealed that cutting back on the amount of daily cigarettes can lead to eventual smoking cessation. The method of gradual reduction therefore can provide a gentle alternative to quitting smoking “cold turkey”. Before arriving to this finding, the researchers have analysed 19 placebo-controlled clinical trials on smoking cessation and found that cutting back was an effective method of stopping smoking even in patients who were initially unwilling to kick the habit. The best results were shown in the studies where the gradual reduction approach was combined with nicotine replacement therapy.

“Smoking fewer cigarettes is an approved strategy of smoking cessation in some European countries, however, in the United States it is not widely applied,” says researcher Dr. John Hughes of the University of Vermont College of Medicine. “Our study demonstrates that most smokers can successfully overcome their nicotine addiction by gradually lowering the number of cigarettes they smoke daily. Our review also proves that cutting back can be a very successful strategy to change smoking habits and eventually quit smoking altogether.”

According to the study, cutting back can be effective as a smoking cessation method even in those patients who did not respond to other, more conventional methods of therapy.

However, smokers should also be aware of the fact that smoking fewer cigarettes does not reduce the risks of heart disease, lung cancer, and other tobacco-related illnesses. Therefore, gradual reduction should only be considered a positive measure when it is a step taken by smokes in order to eventually kick their tobacco dependency for good.

Jimmy Edwards