Ban on Smoking in Cars Cut Child Exposure to Cigarette Smoke

A public ban on smoking in cars in England and Wales has led to fewer children being exposed to cigarette smoke, according to new analysis. England and Wales banned smoking in cars carrying children in 2015, with Scotland introducing a ban the following year. But to date, the impact of the legislation on children’s exposure […]

Read More… from Ban on Smoking in Cars Cut Child Exposure to Cigarette Smoke

Mother’s smoking affects baby’s DNA

Smoking during pregnancy causes chemical changes to a baby’s DNA that affect its risk of smoking-related conditions in adulthood, a study has found. The research, led by scientists at Imperial College London and the University of Oulu in Finland, analysed data from more than 18,000 people in several countries, including the UK, US and Australia, […]

Read More… from Mother’s smoking affects baby’s DNA

Teenagers inherit smoking

Teenagers whose mothers smoke during pregnancy, or whose parents or friends smoke, are more likely to smoke themselves. The findings come from a new study carried out at Imperial College London and published today in the journal Thorax, which highlights caregivers and friends as key drivers of children trying and taking up cigarette smoking. The […]

Read More… from Teenagers inherit smoking

Smoking directly damages muscles

Not only is smoking bad for your lungs, but new research shows that components in cigarette smoke directly damages your muscles. The research, published in The Journal of Physiology, indicates that smoking decreases the number of small blood vessels that bring oxygen and nutrients to muscles in the legs. Smoking limits a person’s ability to […]

Read More… from Smoking directly damages muscles

Girls exposed to smoke in womb more likely to have a miscarriage

Women exposed to cigarette smoke while in their mothers’ wombs are more likely to experience miscarriage as adults, according to new research from the University of Aberdeen. Previous research on the subject has been inconsistent but this latest study, which looked at data for 12,321 women born prior to December 31, 1972, found that women […]

Read More… from Girls exposed to smoke in womb more likely to have a miscarriage

The health benefits of taxing tobacco

tobacco

Cancer of all types is a growing cause of disease in low and middle-income countries and smoking tobacco is a major contributing factor to many cancers. Smoking is also a prime cause of poor health and chronic lung diseases like emphysema. Unlike in countries with higher GDP, there may be poor medical facilities to diagnose […]

Read More… from The health benefits of taxing tobacco

Protect yourself from heart disease

There are certain things that you can’t help, that increase your risk of getting heart disease. These are: Getting older: All the tissues of the body are affected by wear and tear as we get older, including the heart and the arteries. This can affect the way that the heart works, and circulation. Family History: Some people are more susceptible […]

Read More… from Protect yourself from heart disease

Coming up for air

The Hippocratic Post - lung disease

I would like to thank Public Health England and the British Lung Foundation, in helping to raise awareness about the symptoms of lung disease. I have been in post for two and a half years and our collaborative efforts have already made a huge difference. What is clear is that early diagnosis is key to a […]

Read More… from Coming up for air

Needling smokers

The Hippocratic Post - smoking

Acupuncture, the ‘needle therapy’ is often used as an aid to help people quit smoking, but there is little evidence to suggest how it works. A study published in the journal Preventative Medicine in 2001, which focused on men and women who reported smoking around 20 cigarettes each day did conclude that acupuncture could help motivated smokers to […]

Read More… from Needling smokers

Breathing space

The Hippocratic Post - breathlessness

Diagnosing and managing the causes of breathlessness is a vital part of helping people to lead longer and healthier lives. This month, in parallel with the national breathlessness awareness campaign the British Lung Foundation, in conjunction with the London Respiratory Network, launched the Breathing SPACE framework. This is to make it easier for doctors to […]

Read More… from Breathing space