Research

Smokers may have higher risk of HIV
A recently released study shows that smokers may be at a higher risk for becoming infected with HIV. Possible explanations include evidence that smoking increases the risk for infections, perhaps by weakening the immune system. In addition, tobacco use tends to be higher among groups of people most likely to acquire HIV, such as prostitutes. To read more, click here.

Smoking in pregnancy harms infant immune system
New research revealed the mechanism behind why babies born to mothers who smoke during pregnancy suffer from more respiratory infections. The study showed that the immune system of babies born to mothers who smoked had impaired signaling compounds when compared to babies of non-smoking mothers. The study appeared in the European Respiratory Journal. To learn more, click here.

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and reported maternal smoking during pregnancy
An article published in the October 2006 issue of the American Journal of Public Health investigates the effect of maternal smoking during pregnancy on the relative risk of sudden infant death syndrome. Click here to view the abstract.

Smoking doesn’t slim girls; stunts boys’ growth
Past research has shown that many teenage girls use tobacco as a means of weight control. New research from Canada suggests that teenage girls gain weight at the same rate regardless of whether they smoke or not. The Ontario Lung Associated stated that they were not surprised and attributed the myth to tobacco industry marketing. The same study revealed that boys who smoked were more likely to be shorter and leaner. For girls this effect was not visible, as they usually start smoking after starting puberty. For more information, click here.

Double Jeopardy: Obese smokers at higher risk of death
People who smoke and are very obese increase their risk of death by 3.5 to 5 times compared to those who never smoke and have normal weight. In some cases, such as the risk for death from circulatory disease, the risk for those under 65 who are obese and smoke is 6-11 times higher when compared with healthy weight individuals who have never smoked. The study, to be released in the November issue of the American Journal of Preventative Medicine, suggests negative consequences for the 20 percent of obese Americans who smoke. Click here to read more.

Smokers less productive than nonsmokers, survey finds
A survey of employees of 147 U.S. companies revealed that smokers have greater productivity loss compared to former smokers and nonsmokers. The study, released in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, shows that smokers’ lost productivity, which totals $4,430 per year, was due in part to more missed days of work and unproductive time at work. The article also mentions other ways in which smokers drive up employers’ costs including medical costs associated with smoking-related health problems, an increase in fires and fire insurance costs, and early retirement due to smoking-related health problems. Click here for the full story.

25% of smokers get lung disease
British and Danish researchers studied over 8,000 individuals for 25 years. The study revealed that 25 percent of smokers without symptoms had ‘clinically significant’ chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), while up to 40 percent had some signs of COPD. Overall, the longer people smoked, the higher their risk of developing COPD. To read more, click here.

New blood test may detect lung cancer
A new blood test to identify lung cancer is in the early stages of development. The test, revealed by French scientists at the European Society for Medical Oncology, could potentially save millions of lives. The test works by detecting proteins produced by cancer cells and has performed accurately in preliminary use. Although promising, experts estimate that the test will not become available for another 5-10 years. Click here for the press release.

Cancer deaths fall as smoking declines
New research released by the American Cancer Society reported that reductions in smoking resulted in 40 percent of the decrease in cancer-death rates among men between 1991 and 2003. Overall, age adjusted mortality rates for cancer decreased 16.1 percent in men and 8.4 percent in women between 1991 and 2003. The study, released in the journal Tobacco Control, was the first to systematically address the effect of tobacco control efforts on cancer death rates. To learn more about the findings, click here. To view an extract of the editorial click here.

State cuts sharply number of adults who smoke
Washington is now the state with the 5th lowest smoking prevalence, 17.8 percent, a decline of 21 percent since 2000. Credit for this accomplishment is given in part to the Tobacco Quit Line, activated November 2000, which has received over 80,000 calls. It is estimated that the decrease will save about $1.8 billion in future health care costs. This drop was observed before factoring in the indoor-smoking ban that took effect December 2005. To read more, click here.

Nicotine receptors found on kidney cells
For the first time, researchers have discovered that nicotine receptors are found on kidney cells, indicating that smoking can hasten kidney damage. The discovery gives new light to clinical evidence that smokers who have kidney disease fare worse than people who don’t smoke. The findings were presented at the American Heart Association's Annual Fall Conference of the Council for High Blood Pressure Research. Click here for more information.

Cigarettes pack more nicotine
A new report from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health revealed that from 1998 to 2004, the amount of nicotine that can be inhaled from cigarettes increased by 10 percent. By increasing the amount of nicotine, cigarettes become more addictive and it becomes harder for a smoker to quit. This study is the first major study tracking nicotine levels in cigarettes in the last seven years. Click here to read the press release. Click here for the full report.

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