Research

Life expectancy in relation to cardiovascular risk factors: 38 year follow-up of 19,000 men in the Whitehall study
A recent study sponsored by the British Heart Foundation found that men who smoke, and have high blood pressure and high cholesterol are expected to live 10 to 15 years less than their healthy counterparts. The study, led by the University of Oxford, followed 19,000 men aged 40 to 69 and measured life expectancy in relation to these three heart disease risk factors. Being a smoker significantly increased the likelihood of a shorter life expectancy, and this threat was increased when high blood pressure and/or high cholesterol was included. While the study only included men, researchers suggest that these findings may be applicable to women as well. This research shows that by taking appropriate measures to quit smoking and lower blood pressure and cholesterol, one can prevent the onset of heart disease, and therefore increase life expectancy. Click here to read a summary of the findings, or click here to read the full article in BMJ.

Second breast cancer: Three lifestyle risks
A new study of breast cancer survivors has identified three behaviors that are associated with an increased risk of a recurrence of breast cancer. The greatest risk factor was found to be smoking, as women smokers had a 120% increased risk of developing second breast cancer. The other two lifestyle risks included obesity, which carried a 50% increased risk, and drinking at least one alcoholic drink daily, which was associated with a 90% risk increase. The study was published in the September issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Click here to read more about the study’s findings. Click here to read the abstract of the study.

Nearly any lifetime smoking ups breast cancer risk
New research suggests that women who smoke more than 100 cigarettes during their lifetime are at a significantly higher risk of developing breast cancer than women without a history of smoking. Therefore, the sooner a woman quits smoking, the more she stands to benefit. Other studies have not consistently demonstrated a link between smoking and breast cancer, which may be partly attributable to weaknesses in the studies’ definitions of smoking status. A strength of this study is that women were classified as current, former, or never smokers. Anyone who had smoked at least 100 cigarettes was noted to have a history of smoking. Click here to read more, or click here to read the abstract of the research in The Breast Journal.

Cigarettes boost MS risk, but not through nicotine
Multiple studies have identified a link between smoking and the development of multiple sclerosis (MS). A recent analysis suggests that the nicotine in cigarettes is not to blame. Researchers compared the risk of MS among smokers, users of Swedish snuff, and nonsmokers. The data showed that smokers were more likely to have been diagnosed with MS than nonsmokers, but users of Swedish snuff were not at a greater risk for MS than nonsmokers. Although nicotine intake from Swedish snuff was not linked to MS, the researchers caution that smokeless tobacco does have other harmful health effects, including head and neck cancers. Click here for more information. The study was published in Neurology. Click here to read the abstract.

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Reports

E-cigarettes presentation: “Are e-cigarettes a bridge product to smoking or abstinence? Or both?”
In September, the American Legacy Foundation (Legacy) hosted a panel discussion on e-cigarettes, which have emerged as an important area of discussion for the public health and tobacco control communities, smokers and those trying to quit. Public health experts provided thoughts, opinions and recommendations about the controversial e-cigarette, a nicotine delivery device containing no tobacco that is designed to mimic cigarettes and cigarette smoking. E-cigarettes are primarily manufactured in China by non-drug companies, and are not currently approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In July, the FDA released findings that e-cigarettes contain chemicals toxic to humans and that quality control processes used in the manufacturing of e-cigarettes are inconsistent or non-existent. The product is still currently available in the marketplace, despite the many unanswered questions concerning both its efficacy and safety. Click here to obtain more information about e-cigarettes from Legacy, and to view the webcast.

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International

Tobacco use worsens malnutrition in developing countries
Numerous studies have documented the adverse health effects directly related to smoking and secondhand smoke exposure. A recent survey of rural households in Indonesia, where 60% of men smoke, describes the how the economic costs of smoking affect the availability of food for children in low-income households. Parental smoking was linked to a significant reduction in the quantity and quality of food being consumed, which was in turn associated with worse nutritional status of the children in the household. There are indications that the problem of household spending on tobacco instead of food may be moderated if mothers are more educated and better able to choose nutritious foods. Click here for more details, or click here to read the abstract of the research in the journal Economic Development and Cultural Change.

Smoking threatens Africa with cancer epidemic (Africa)
AllAfrica.com interviewed Dr. John Seffrin, CEO of the American Cancer Society, after the LIVESTRONG Global Cancer Summit in Dublin about the potential impact of tobacco use on health in Africa. He notes that countries in Africa with limited resources should focus on prevention strategies that are known to be effective, such as tax increases to decrease cigarette consumption. He states that the prevalence of tobacco use in Africa is still low, but is increasing more quickly than anywhere else in the world. He recommends that governments enact the policies and protocols outlined in the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. Seffrin calls upon public health groups to intervene now, while the potential for preventing an epidemic is greatest. Click here for more information.

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