Research

Brain bleeds more common in smokers, research shows
Smokers are about three times more likely to experience brain bleeds compared to nonsmokers. An aneurysm is a bulge in a weakened artery, and when it bursts, blood leaks into the brain. New research analyzed 426 people in South Korea who experienced brain bleeds as a result of an aneurysm and 426 who did not. The average age of the study participants was 50. Among those with brain bleeds, 38% were smokers compared to 24% of those who did not suffer brain bleeds. The researchers controlled for factors such as weight, salt intake, and family health history. Additionally, the longer and more frequently the individual smoked, the greater their risk for developing a brain bleed. A link has been revealed between smoking and the risk of experiencing a brain bleed as a result of an aneurysm, but this study does not establish a causal relationship. Click here to read more about this study published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry. Click here to read the study abstract.

UF researcher in Jacksonville finds cigarettes squelch good cholesterol
A study published in Life Sciences reports that smoking reduces the amount of “good” cholesterol produced in the body, thereby increasing the risk for heart disease. Previous studies have found that smokers have lower levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) which protects the body from heart disease. This study examined why this occurs by analyzing the effects of the chemical benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), a component of cigarette smoke, on liver cells. The presence of BaP was linked with low HDL production. Evidence explaining the relationship between smoking and lower levels of HDL is important in preventing heart disease in smokers. To read more, click here. Click here to read the abstract of the study.

Why children of smokers are sicker
A decreased sensitivity to cough-producing respiratory irritants may be an explanation for why children of smokers tend to be sicker than children of nonsmokers, a study published in Nicotine & Tobacco Research concludes. Thirty-eight healthy children ages 10-17 were included in this study. Seventeen of the children were regularly exposed to secondhand smoke (SHS) at home, and 21 were never exposed to smoke at home. The participants inhaled increasing concentrations of a strong cough stimulant, capsaicin, a burning ingredient typically found in chili peppers. Two times as much capsaicin was needed to trigger a cough from participants who were regularly exposed to SHS compared to those who were not exposed to SHS. Evidence showed that children exposed to SHS were less sensitive to irritating environmental stimuli, which may explain why they are more susceptible to respiratory illnesses such as bronchitis and pneumonia as well as experimentation with smoking as teens. Click here to read more. Click here to read the study abstract.

Tobacco smoke tied to flu complications in kids
A new study found that children exposed to secondhand smoke (SHS) are more likely to need special care when having contracted the flu, compared to children not exposed to SHS. Medical records from 117 children hospitalized with the flu in the state of New York between 2002 and 2009 were analyzed, and about 40% of the charts reported SHS exposure. When children with and without SHS exposure were compared, 30% of SHS-exposed children needed intensive care versus 10% for unexposed children. Intubation was needed for 13% of exposed children compared to 1% for unexposed children. Additionally, the average hospital stay for SHS-exposed children was 70% longer than for unexposed children. Based on this data, SHS exposure negatively influences the health of children who contract the flu. Click here to read more about this study published in the Journal of Pediatrics. Click here to read the study abstract.

Link between secondhand smoke exposure and memory problems
Researchers have found an association between secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure and memory damage. This novel study compared a group of current smokers ages 18-30 with two groups of nonsmokers: those with regular SHS exposure and those with no SHS exposure. Regular SHS exposure was defined as being exposed to SHS an average of 25 hours per week during a four and a half year timespan. All three groups were then tested on time-based and event-based memory activities. Smokers forgot 30% more than both nonsmoker groups, and nonsmokers with SHS exposure forgot 20% more than nonsmokers with no SHS exposure. The results suggest that SHS exposure affects cognitive functions, and more research needs to examine the links found between SHS exposure, health outcomes, and everyday cognitive function. Click here to read more about this study. Click here to access the abstract of the article published in Addiction.

Teen obesity linked to mom's smoking in pregnancy: Study
A new study published in the Archives of General Psychiatry has identified an explanation as to why children born to mothers who smoked during pregnancy are at a higher risk for obesity in adolescence. Evidence shows that babies born to smokers were more likely to weigh less at birth, be breast-fed for shorter lengths of times, and weigh more in adolescence compared to those whose mothers did not smoke during pregnancy. Additionally, teens that were born to smokers have a significantly lower volume in the amygdala, the reward center of the brain - a trait which is linked to cravings for fatty foods. Future studies are needed to better understand this observed relationship between prenatal smoking and obesity in teens. Click here to read more. Click here to read the study abstract.

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