Research

Increased risk of heart attack and stroke with the use of smokeless tobacco products
A new meta-analysis published on BMJ.com reports that people who use smokeless tobacco products like snus have a slightly higher risk of having a fatal heart attack or stroke than non-users. Based on relative risk estimates from multiple studies, smokeless tobacco was responsible for 0.5 percent of all heart attacks in the United States and 5.6 percent in Sweden. The products were also the cause of 1.7 percent of stroke deaths in the United States and 5.4 percent in Sweden. Read more here, or click here to read the abstract of the research on BMJ.com.

Smoking is an independent risk factor for VTE
Results from a large prospective study show that smoking is an independent risk factor for venous thromboembolism (VTE) among middle-aged men and women. Researchers found that women who smoked had a 52% increased risk of VTE compared to non-smoking women, and men who smoked had a 32% increased risk for VTE. Additionally, the study suggested that women who smoked more than 20 grams of tobacco per day and men who smoked more than 30 grams of tobacco per day had a 150% to 300% increased risk for VTE. It was found that former smokers had the same risk as those who never smoked. To read more about the results of the study, click here. Click here to read the abstract of the study in the Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis.

Smoking linked to increased brain lesions and brain shrinkage in MS
According to a study published in the August issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, smokers who have multiple sclerosis (MS) may have an increased risk of brain shrinkage and brain lesions related to the disease. The study found that current smokers with MS had nearly 17% more brain lesions compared to non-smokers with MS, and smokers had 13% smaller brain size compared to non-smokers. Smokers in the study had been smoking for an average of 18 years. Click here for more on the results of the study, or click here to read the abstract.

Middle-aged smokers at higher risk of dementia
New research reveals that middle-aged people between ages 46 and 70 who are smokers, are diabetic, or have high blood pressure have a 70% higher risk of developing dementia. Smokers double their chance of developing dementia if they are diabetic, and those with high blood pressure increase their risk by 60%. It is encouraged that middle-aged smokers quit smoking and make lifestyle changes to control their medical conditions to delay the process of dementia. Additionally, brain exercises, reading, writing, and regular brain stimulation can delay the onset of dementia. The study was published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry. Click here to read more about the study’s findings, or click here to read the abstract of the study.

Pancreatic cancer risk varies with smoking habits
A new study confirms that cigarette smoking increases the risk of pancreatic cancer. The study also determined that, given an equal total exposure to smoking, an individual who smoked less for a longer period of time has a higher risk of the disease compared to an individual who smoked more heavily for a shorter period of time. Additionally, the research suggests that smokers are 1.77 times more likely to develop pancreatic cancer compared to non-smokers. Click here for more information about the study. Click here for an abstract of the article found in the American Journal of Epidemiology.

Quitting smoking causes quick drop in inflammation
New research published in the medical journal Chest shows that women who quit smoking experience reductions in several markers of inflammation associated with heart disease risk within weeks. Blood tests were performed on women four times over 6 to 7 weeks, and results indicated a steady decline in several markers of inflammation. Providing quantified information on cardiovascular health may help those trying to quit remain smoke-free. Read more about the results here.

Smoking link with STEMI risk raised in younger and female patients
During the last few decades, there have been fewer cases of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), the most serious type of acute myocardial infarction (heart attack). Results of a study indicate that smoking is a major risk factor for the development of STEMI, with a greater risk seen in younger patients and women. Researchers found that smoking was more common among STEMI patients than patients with other types of acute myocardial infarctions. Among men 50 years or younger, 58% of STEMI patients were smokers compared to 47% of non-STEMI patients. Additionally, among women, 67% of STEMI patients were smokers compared to 50% of non-STEMI patients. Results of the study were published in the journal Heart. Click here for more information on the findings.

Cigarette smoking dulls taste
A new study in Greece found that in addition to causing cancer and cardiovascular disease, smoking also dulls the sense of taste, making food less palatable. Upon physical examination, researchers found that the smokers’ taste buds were flatter than those of non-smokers. Additionally, a significant difference was found in the taste threshold of smokers and non-smokers. Researchers state that nicotine may alter the physical characteristics and function of taste buds. The study was published in the August journal BMC Ear, Nose and Throat Disorders.  Read more about the study here. Click here for an abstract of the study.

Smokers seen twice as likely to develop active TB
A study in Taiwan tracked 18,000 people for over three years and found that there was a two-fold increase in the risk of active tuberculosis in current smokers compared to non-smokers.  Even after adjusting for age, sex, household income, marital status, alcohol use, and other factors, the study revealed that current smokers still had a higher risk of being diagnosed with active TB.  This study is said to be notable for its large sample size and the prospective follow-up time of more than 3 years.  The study has been published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.  Click here for more information regarding the study, or click here to read the abstract of the research.

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