MDQuit News Archives - January, 2009
Today Show Partners with Legacy® on Cessation Series -- January 30, 2009
In a two-part series aired on January 29 and 30, NBC's Today
Show in partnership with the American Legacy
Foundation presented "Today Calls It Quits." This program follows
three smokers from Baltimore, the Washington, DC area, and New York
City in their journey towards smoking cessation. Today is also providing cessation resources on their website,
including the national tobacco quitline, 1-800-QUIT-NOW, a Stop Smoking
Contract, and opportunities to chat with medical experts about smoking
cessation. Read Legacy's press release here.
Pregnant women with mental illness more likely to smoke -- January 12, 2009
The
link between smoking and mental illness is well documented. Recent
research has found that pregnant women with mental illness were more
likely to be smokers, which may make smoking cessation during this
critical time more difficult. More information can be found here.
Brain imaging studies give new insights into cigarette craving -- January 12, 2009
Three
brain imaging studies by Dr. Arthur Brody focusing on nicotine craving
have highlighted the importance of the activation of brain circuits
that focus attention and regulate emotion to resist cravings, that
cravings can be reduced by filling nicotine receptors in the brain, and
of the many chemicals contained in tobacco smoke, only nicotine can
fill these receptors in the brain. Read more here.
Nearly half of U.S. children exposed to second-hand smoke, weekly -- January 5, 2009
A
recent study found that 42% of U.S. children are still exposed to
secondhand smoke each week, despite increasing bans on smoking indoors.
Read more here.
Third-hand smoke a risk for non-smokers -- January 5, 2009
Experts
have identified toxins left by second-hand smoke, or "third-hand"
smoke, as a risk to health, as third-hand smoke can contain many of the
harmful toxins contained in cigarette smoke, including lead,
polonium-219, and arsenic. A survey found that only 65% of non-smokers
and 43% of smokers agreed that third-hand smoke could he harmful. Read more here.
Declines in heart attack hospitalizations following smoking ban -- January 5, 2009
A
Colorado city saw a 41% decrease in heart attack hospitalizations in
the three years following the implementation of an indoor smoking ban.
Neighboring vicinities did not see the same decline, suggesting the
decline was due to the ban. Read more here.
Teenagers' perceptions of smoking salient to initiation -- January 5, 2009
A
recent study of 395 high school students found that those who viewed
the negative health effects of smoking as minimal and the social value
of smoking highly were more likely than students who viewed smoking as
more harmful to health and less socially desirable were nearly three
times more likely to start smoking. Read more here.
Women who reported smoking or remember being around smoking parents were found to be more likely to experience difficulty getting pregnant. Read more here.
