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Suicide Risk Quadruples After Lung Cancer Diagnosis
Posted 4 days ago by Drugs.com
TUESDAY, May 23, 2017 – People with lung cancer have a strikingly higher-than-normal risk of suicide, a new study finds. While a cancer diagnosis on its own significantly raises the risk of suicide, the study found that a lung cancer diagnosis raised the odds of suicide by over four times compared to people in the general population. "A cancer diagnosis is an overwhelming diagnosis for patients psychologically and emotionally," explained study senior author Dr. Jeffrey Port. "It is a very tough diagnosis for patients to manage, and there is a higher suicide rate," he added. Port is a professor of cardiothoracic surgery at Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York City. The study included data from over 3 million patients during a 40-year period. Cancer diagnoses were linked to over 6,600 suicides. Although the study wasn't designed to prove a direct cause-and-effect relationship, the ... Read more
Related support groups: Depression, Anxiety, Anxiety and Stress, Major Depressive Disorder, Smoking, Smoking Cessation, Lung Cancer, Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, Dysthymia
Sleep Apnea May Boost Odds of Irregular Heartbeat
Posted 4 days ago by Drugs.com
TUESDAY, May 23, 2017 – People with sleep apnea may be more likely to develop the abnormal heart rhythm atrial fibrillation, especially if the oxygen level in their blood drops below normal, Canadian researchers report. Sleep apnea, which obstructs breathing, causes people to wake many times during the night to start breathing again. It's possible, researchers said, that disrupted sleep along with a drop in the level of oxygen in the blood might lead to atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation causes a rapid and irregular heartbeat. This can lead to stroke and heart problems. "Patients who are at risk for obstructive sleep apnea should undergo testing, particularly if they have other cardiac risk factors," said study senior researcher Dr. Richard Leung, an assistant professor of medicine at the University of Toronto. "Therapy should be strongly considered for patients who have ... Read more
Related support groups: Obesity, High Blood Pressure, Diabetes, Type 2, Hypertension, Smoking, Atrial Fibrillation, Smoking Cessation, Sleep Apnea, Insulin Resistance, Pre-Diabetes, Prevention of Thromboembolism in Atrial Fibrillation, Obstructive Sleep Apnea/Hypopnea Syndrome, Diabetes Mellitus, Abnormal Glucose Tolerance, Hypertensive Heart Disease
Could 'Safer' Filtered Cigarettes Be More Deadly?
Posted 5 days ago by Drugs.com
MONDAY, May 22, 2017 – Filtered cigarettes might be even more lethal than unfiltered ones, and a new review suggests that they have been boosting rates of a cancer that takes root deep in the lungs. The findings have prompted the review authors to call for federal regulators to ban the use of ventilation holes in cigarette filters. "Modern cigarettes are more risky when it comes to lung cancer," said review co-author Dr. Peter Shields. He is deputy director with the Comprehensive Cancer Center at Ohio State University. "The design of cigarette filters that have ventilation can make the cigarettes even more dangerous because those holes can change how the tobacco burns, allowing smokers to inhale more smoke and think that the smoke is safer because it is smoother," Shields explained. The tobacco industry has embraced filters for over 50 years, often touting them as "light" cigarettes ... Read more
Related support groups: Smoking, Smoking Cessation, Nicotine, Nicorette, Nicoderm CQ, Nicotrol Inhaler, Commit, Habitrol, Nicorette DS, Nicotrol NS, ProStep, Nicotrol TD, Nicorelief
Heart Disease the No. 1 Killer Worldwide
Posted 10 days ago by Drugs.com
WEDNESDAY, May 17, 2017 – Roughly a third of all deaths around the world are the result of heart disease and stroke, making cardiovascular disease the number one killer globally, new research finds. Big declines in heart disease-driven fatalities in countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea and many countries in Western Europe have started to level off over the past 20 years, investigators reported. "It is an alarming threat to global health," said study lead author Dr. Gregory Roth, an assistant professor of cardiology at the University of Washington School of Medicine. "Trends in cardiovascular disease mortality are no longer declining for high-income regions," he noted in an American College of Cardiology news release, "and low- and middle-income countries are also seeing more cardiovascular disease-related deaths." The study included 2,300 ... Read more
Related support groups: High Blood Pressure, Hypertension, Smoking, Heart Disease, Heart Attack, High Cholesterol, Ischemic Stroke, Arrhythmia, Alcoholism, Myocardial Infarction, Hangover, Coronary Artery Disease (CAD), Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease, Ischemic Stroke - Prophylaxis, Cardiovascular Risk Reduction, Ischemic Heart Disease, Acute Alcohol Intoxication, Hypertensive Heart Disease
Health Tip: Is Your Lifestyle Raising Blood Pressure?
Posted 10 days ago by Drugs.com
-- If your blood pressure seems to rise continually, you should take a careful look at your lifestyle. Here are habits you can change, suggested by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Eating too many foods high in salt and low in potassium. Getting insufficient physical activity. Being obese, which also increases your risks for high cholesterol, heart disease and diabetes. Drinking too much alcohol. Women should limit consumption to one daily drink, and men should hold the line at two daily drinks. Smoking cigarettes. Read more
Related support groups: Obesity, Smoking, Smoking Cessation, Alcohol Dependence, Alcoholism, Hangover, Acute Alcohol Intoxication
Many Under 40 May Not Need Regular Cholesterol Checks: Study
Posted 12 days ago by Drugs.com
MONDAY, May 15, 2017 – Many adults under 40 may not need to have routine cholesterol screenings, a new study suggests. To come to this conclusion, the researchers looked at the real world implications of two conflicting sets of guidelines on cholesterol testing. One, from the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA), says that all adults older than 20 should have a cholesterol screening. They also suggest a repeat test every four to six years. The other guidelines come from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, a government-funded, independent panel of medical experts. They say many adults can go longer before their first cholesterol test – until age 35 for men, and age 45 for women. The exception would be people with a major risk factor for heart problems – such as high blood pressure, smoking or a family history of early heart disease. Those patients ... Read more
Related support groups: Obesity, High Blood Pressure, Hypertension, Smoking, Heart Attack, High Cholesterol, Smoking Cessation, Myocardial Infarction, Myocardial Infarction - Prophylaxis, Hypertensive Heart Disease
E-Cigarettes Linked to Bladder Cancer Risk
Posted 12 days ago by Drugs.com
MONDAY, May 15, 2017 – Although many people think "vaping" is safer than smoking, research suggests that both e-cigarettes and traditional cigarettes are tied to an increased risk for bladder cancer. "We've known traditional smoking raises bladder cancer risk, and given the surge in popularity of e-cigarettes, it's imperative we uncover any potential links" between e-cigarettes and bladder cancer, Dr. Sam Chang said in an American Urological Association news release. Chang is a professor of urologic surgery at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville. Most inhaled nicotine is excreted in the urine. For the study, the researchers compared the urine of people who use e-cigarettes with that of nonsmokers. The investigators looked for five chemicals known to cause bladder cancer and may be found in e-cigarette liquid. Ninety-two percent of e-cigarette users tested positive for two of ... Read more
Related support groups: Smoking, Smoking Cessation, Nicotine, Nicorette, Nicoderm CQ, Nicotrol Inhaler, Bladder Cancer, Commit, Habitrol, Nicorette DS, Urothelial Carcinoma, Nicotrol NS, ProStep, Nicotrol TD, Nicorelief
Speed Is Key When a Stroke Strikes
Posted 15 days ago by Drugs.com
FRIDAY, May 12, 2017 – Every 40 seconds someone in America has a stroke. But fast action and quick treatment can save lives and reduce disability. "Stroke statistics are alarming. It's the fifth leading cause of death in the United States and the leading cause of serious adult disabilities," said Dr. Randolph Marshall, chief of the stroke division at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center. "The most effective method in saving a stroke victim's life is to diagnose and treat immediately after a stroke occurs," said Dr. Matthew Fink, neurologist-in-chief at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center. Both hospitals are in New York City. "Strokes kill nearly 133,000 people a year. The good news is that approximately 80 percent of strokes can be prevented," Marshall said in a NewYork-Presbyterian news release. As part of Stroke Awareness Month, the two experts ... Read more
Related support groups: Smoking, Ischemic Stroke, Smoking Cessation, Transient Ischemic Attack, Ischemic Stroke - Prophylaxis, Thromboembolic Stroke Prophylaxis, Intracranial Hemorrhage
What Harms the Young Heart Also Hurts the Brain Later
Posted 17 days ago by Drugs.com
WEDNESDAY, May 10, 2017 – High blood pressure, elevated cholesterol or a smoking habit early in life increases your odds for mental decline during middle age, a new study warns. "While it is well known that high blood pressure, cholesterol and smoking are associated with poor cognitive [mental] performance in adults, the effects of these risk factors from childhood on midlife cognition were unknown," study lead author Suvi Rovio said in a news release from the American College of Cardiology. "These findings support the need for active monitoring and treatment strategies against cardiovascular risk factors from childhood," said Rovio, a senior scientist at the University of Turku, in Finland. For the study, Rovio and colleagues analyzed data from thousands of people in Finland who were followed from childhood to adulthood. The investigators found that high blood pressure and high ... Read more
Related support groups: High Blood Pressure, Hypertension, Smoking, High Cholesterol, Smoking Cessation, Psychiatric Disorders, Hypertensive Heart Disease
Just a 'Social Smoker'? Toll on Your Health Still High
Posted 5 May 2017 by Drugs.com
FRIDAY, May 5, 2017 – If you think that having an occasional cigarette in social settings is less dangerous for your heart than smoking a pack a day, think again. New research shows that social smokers have the same risk for high blood pressure and high cholesterol as regular smokers do. "Not smoking at all is the best way to go. Even smoking in a social situation is detrimental to your cardiovascular health," said study author Kate Gawlik, an assistant professor of clinical nursing at Ohio State University. "One in 10 people in this study said they sometimes smoke, and many of them are young and already on the path to heart disease," she added in a university news release. The researchers surveyed nearly 40,000 people in the United States and found that more than 10 percent were social smokers – meaning they don't smoke every day – while 17 percent were regular smokers. Among both ... Read more
Related support groups: Smoking, Smoking Cessation, Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease, Cardiovascular Risk Reduction
Pot a Factor in More ER Admissions for Colorado Teens After Legalization
Posted 5 May 2017 by Drugs.com
FRIDAY, May 5, 2017 – A Colorado children's hospital saw four times as many marijuana-intoxicated teenagers land in its ER or urgent care centers following legalization of recreational pot in that state, a new study reports. The number of teens diagnosed annually with marijuana intoxication or testing positive for pot during a drug screen at Children's Hospital Colorado rose from 146 in 2005 to 639 in 2014. The findings run counter to national surveys that have shown no increase in teenage pot use in states where recreational marijuana is legal, said lead researcher Dr. George Sam Wang. He's an assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. For example, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health found a similar percentage of teenagers reported pot use in 2015 as in the prior decade, researchers said in background notes. "Our study shows that ... Read more
Related support groups: Smoking, Drug Dependence, Substance Abuse, Cannabis, Toxic Reactions Incl Drug and Substance Abuse
Could Smoking in Pregnancy Affect a Grandkid's Autism Risk?
Posted 27 Apr 2017 by Drugs.com
THURSDAY, April 27, 2017 – When a woman chooses to stop smoking during her pregnancy, the potential effects to her baby are probably on her mind. But a new British study hints that smoking in pregnancy could even affect the health of a woman's grandchildren – specifically, their risk for autism. "We already know that protecting a baby from tobacco smoke is one of the best things a woman can do to give her child a healthy start in life," said study co-author Jean Golding of the University of Bristol. "Now we've found that not smoking during pregnancy could also give their future grandchildren a better start, too." The study can't prove cause-and-effect, but one U.S. autism expert who reviewed the findings said the researchers' conclusion is not farfetched. While the finding is new, "the mechanism by which it might be occurring has been a focus of study for half a decade," noted Alycia ... Read more
Related support groups: Smoking, Smoking Cessation, Autism, Asperger Syndrome, Labor and Delivery including Augmentation
Higher Illicit Pot Use in States That OK Medical Marijuana: Study
Posted 26 Apr 2017 by Drugs.com
WEDNESDAY, April 26, 2017 – An unintended byproduct of medical marijuana laws could be a sharper increase in illicit pot use, a new U.S. study reports. Illicit pot use increased significantly more in states that passed medical marijuana laws compared to other states, researchers found in comparing three national surveys conducted between 1991 and 2013. States with medical marijuana laws also saw an increase in people who can't stop using pot even though it's interfering with many aspects of their lives, researchers said. This is known as cannabis use disorder. These laws "seem to send a message that use of this drug is safe and acceptable in some way," said lead researcher Deborah Hasin of Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health. With this implicit message, more people feel free to use pot as they would alcohol, as a means to relax or to cope with problems like anxiety or ... Read more
Related support groups: Smoking, Smoking Cessation, Substance Abuse, Cannabis, Toxic Reactions Incl Drug and Substance Abuse
The Top 5 Conditions That Shorten Americans' Lives -- And Are Preventable
Posted 24 Apr 2017 by Drugs.com
MONDAY, April 24, 2017 – More bad news for plus-sized Americans: Obesity is the leading cause of preventable life-years lost in the nation, a new study finds. Obesity steals more years than diabetes, tobacco, high blood pressure and high cholesterol – the other top preventable health problems that cut Americans' lives short, according to researchers who analyzed 2014 data. "Modifiable behavioral risk factors pose a substantial mortality burden in the U.S.," said study lead author Glen Taksler, an internal medicine researcher at the Cleveland Clinic. "These preliminary results continue to highlight the importance of weight loss, diabetes management and healthy eating in the U.S. population," Taksler said in a clinic news release. Obesity was linked with as much as 47 percent more life-years lost than tobacco, his team said. Tobacco, meanwhile, had the same effect on life span as high ... Read more
Related support groups: Obesity, High Blood Pressure, Diabetes, Type 2, Hypertension, Smoking, High Cholesterol, Smoking Cessation, Insulin Resistance, Pre-Diabetes, Diabetes Mellitus, Abnormal Glucose Tolerance, Hypertensive Heart Disease
Money Spent on Teen Health a Good Global Investment
Posted 20 Apr 2017 by Drugs.com
THURSDAY, April 20, 2017 – Worldwide investments in teen health could yield significant economic returns, a new study contends. "Investing in young people is in everyone's interest," said Babatunde Osotimehin, executive director of the United Nations Population Fund. "A small investment in empowering and protecting the world's over a billion adolescents can bring a 10-fold return, or sometimes even more." Improving the physical, mental and sexual health of kids aged 10 to 19 – at a cost equivalent to US$4.60 per person per year – could result in a 10-fold economic return by preventing 12 million deaths and more than 30 million unwanted pregnancies, the study authors reported. Investing in teen education at a cost of $22.60 per person each year would generate a 12-fold economic return, and lead to an additional 12 million formal jobs for young adults, the researchers said. Investing ... Read more
Related support groups: Birth Control, Depression, Anxiety, Contraception, Emergency Contraception, Anxiety and Stress, Opiate Dependence, Smoking, Postcoital Contraception, Drug Dependence, Eating Disorder, Alcoholism, Substance Abuse, Acute Alcohol Intoxication
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