Research on tobacco, smoking, and quitting. Covers vaping trends, the social side of smoking, headache links, and cessation methods.
Research reveals that maternal prenatal smoking can limit a child's academic performance and put them behind their peers at school. The systematic review of 19 studies and 1.25 million participants found that 79% of studies reported reduced academic achievement in children exposed to maternal prenatal smoking.
A study found disparities in tobacco ad exposure among U.S. adults based on race/ethnicity, education level, and smoking status, highlighting the need for targeted public health interventions to vulnerable populations. The study aims to inform regulation of tobacco ads to reduce their impact.
A new study found that Americans from minority groups, current smokers, and those with lower education or income levels are more likely to be exposed to tobacco content on streaming services. The research revealed an estimated 12.4% of American adults were exposed to tobacco promotion on these platforms.
Research published in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health found that even light smoking of 1-2 cigarettes a day before or during pregnancy significantly increases the risk of major newborn health issues. The study analyzed data from over 12 million mother-infant pairs and found that women who smoked had higher risks of neona...
Researchers developed alternative criteria using a prediction model to identify people with the most to gain from lung cancer screening. The study found that high-benefit groups include those who smoked for a long duration but at a lower intensity, heavy smokers who quit over 15 years ago, and racial and ethnic minority groups.
Researchers found that a simplified two-question test can predict smoking abstinence in cancer patients with equal accuracy as the full Fagerström Test. However, the test may not work well for Non-Hispanic Black people with a cancer diagnosis. The study aims to help doctors tailor tests for different groups.
Researchers at Duke University Medical Center found that some e-cigarettes contain chemicals similar to nicotine, but with unknown health effects, and are not accurately disclosed on packaging. The study also discovered that manufacturers may be attempting to avoid FDA regulation by using these chemicals.
A study by EMBL researchers found that gut bacteria can convert carcinogenic chemicals like BBN into BCPN, leading to tumour formation. The team discovered 12 bacterial species involved in this process, with individual differences in human gut microbiome affecting the risk of cancer development.
Researchers warn that smart vapes with touch screens, animated displays, and built-in games can couple nicotine addiction with gaming disorder. The devices are user-friendly and attractive to youth, potentially broadening the market to include non-nicotine users.
A recent study found significant biases in media coverage of Philip Morris International's IQOS heated tobacco product among different demographic groups in Israel. Arab and Ultra-Orthodox media portray IQOS more positively than mainstream media, often relying on PMI as a primary information source.
Research found that smoking decreases life expectancy of HIV patients by 3-6 years, but smoking cessation can regain up to 5 years. Integrating tobacco cessation interventions into HIV care could substantially improve life expectancy for this population.
A new study published in JAMA Network Open found that children exposed to indoor vaping absorb 84% less nicotine than those exposed to indoor smoking, while those exposed to neither absorbed 97% less. This suggests that second-hand exposure to harmful substances in e-cigarettes is likely to be much lower still.
A cross-sectional study found lower nicotine absorption in children exposed to secondhand e-cigarette vapor compared to tobacco smoke. Exposure to e-cigarette vapor still posed a significant health risk to children, however.
A large nationally representative study found that only 2.9% of U.S. adults had ever used nicotine pouches, with a lower percentage reporting current use. The study suggests that the majority of adult pouch consumers are using them to 'top off' nicotine in situations where they cannot smoke or use other tobacco products.
Researchers found that smokers are more extraverted but less conscientious and agreeable than non-smokers. Cigar smokers tend to exhibit lower neuroticism and higher openness compared to other types of smokers.
A University of Oklahoma study finds that offering small financial incentives to smokers with low socioeconomic status can double their quit rates. The study's findings come from a clinical trial where participants who received pharmacotherapy, counseling, and financial incentives had significantly higher smoking cessation rates.
Professor Hong Xue at George Mason University is receiving $450,000 to implement a youth tobacco prevention project using AI and immersive technologies. The project aims to tackle electronic cigarette/tobacco use among Virginia's youth population.
Rural residents with head and neck cancer experience higher mortality rates due to factors like alcohol use, tobacco consumption, and lower HPV vaccination rates. This disparity widens the rural-urban mortality gap.
Philip Morris International (PMI) has secretly funded researchers at Kyoto University to conduct studies on smoking cessation. The tobacco giant also funded a life sciences consultancy to build an expert network, raising concerns about the manipulation of science for profit.
A new study by Washington University School of Medicine found that cannabis users are nearly twice as likely to need hospitalization and intensive care when infected with COVID-19. Cannabis use was associated with a higher risk of severe illness, similar to tobacco smoking.
A cohort study found that cannabis use was an independent risk factor for COVID-19-related complications, even after considering other risk factors. The study suggests that cannabis may increase the risk of severe illness and hospitalization due to COVID-19.
A comprehensive analysis of 62 studies on oral nicotine pouches reveals potential risks for youth, including nicotine dependence and confusing labeling. The study's findings suggest that while these products may be less harmful than cigarettes, they still pose significant health concerns.
A UK study found that young people view vaping and smoking as interchangeable behaviors, despite being more informed about vape risks. Banning disposable vapes or increasing prices may lead to increased tobacco use among youth.
Researchers found that restricting menthol flavor in cigarettes while making nicotine replacement therapy more available can decrease socioeconomic disparities in tobacco use. The study used an online platform to simulate the effects of policy changes on purchase behavior, showing that policies must consider interplay to be effective.
A study found that low doses of filtered kretek cigarette smoke altered rat lung histometric measurements, increasing the size of respiratory bronchioles. P53 gene overexpression was also observed in response to exposure. The findings suggest potential health risks from even low levels of kretek cigarette smoke.
A survey of over 5,000 smokers found that mental health conditions do not affect the effectiveness of smoking cessation aids. The most effective aids were vaping products, varenicline, and heated tobacco products, with no differences in efficacy between people with mental health conditions.
Despite efforts to cut ties with the tobacco industry, top medical journals continue to publish research funded by tobacco companies. The BMJ has updated its tobacco policy to exclude research funded by the industry and authors with personal financial ties to it.
Researchers found 45% of TikTok videos promoting age-verification-free sales, highlighting a loophole in local and federal laws. Small business owners used hashtag challenges like #discreetshipping to circumvent regulations, selling products via Instagram or Telegram.
Research found that 50.4% of TikTok videos advertised popular vaping brands and 45% included cannabis products. Vendors evade age restrictions by creating 'puffbundles' with non-vaping items, making it easy for minors to purchase e-cigarettes.
Researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory identified 28 trace metals in secondhand and thirdhand tobacco smoke, including cadmium, arsenic, and chromium. The study found that the predicted indoor air concentration for these metals exceeded California's cancer risk guidelines, highlighting the need to understand their contrib...
A new study suggests that a 'smoke-free generation' policy may not be enough to meet the UK's levelling up agenda, with health inequalities still being a major concern. The research concludes that a smoking ban would extend working lives but is not enough to narrow the gap between prosperous and deprived areas.
Researchers at UTHealth Houston found a significant link between e-cigarette use and earlier age of asthma onset in U.S. adults. Adults who reported e-cigarette use in the past 30 days were 252% more likely to develop asthma earlier than those who did not use e-cigarettes.
A new study reveals that Philip Morris International is successfully increasing public trust in industry-funded science by portraying itself as a generous supporter while concealing its involvement through third parties. The tobacco company's efforts to build trust are found to be effective, with participants trusting the science more ...
Researchers found a significant disparity between the placebo group and those receiving varenicline, with a quit rate of 45% compared to 30% in the placebo group. The study suggests that varenicline may be effective in helping adults quit using e-cigarettes.
Researchers found that smokers skip meals more often, go longer without eating, and are more likely to snack between meals. They also tend to eat fewer sweet foods, but more fried foods, salt, and sugar than non-smokers.
A new study published in Scientific Reports predicts the potential formation of 127 acutely toxic chemicals in flavored vapes. The research highlights the urgent need for comprehensive regulation of vaping products, particularly among non-smoking teenagers and young adults.
A Rutgers study reveals tobacco companies engage in predatory marketing tactics, targeting Black communities with menthol cigarettes. The survey found high uncertainty and lack of awareness among Black respondents and menthol cigarette smokers about tobacco company activities beyond marketing.
A new study suggests that the withdrawal of a prescription stop-smoking pill could lead to thousands fewer people quitting each year in England, resulting in avoidable deaths. The disruption to varenicline supply may have caused smokers to rely on less effective smoking cessation aids or no medication at all.
Medscape has removed its accredited medical education courses on smoking cessation funded by Philip Morris International following a BMJ investigation. The move comes as doctors and academics call for a global ban on industry-funded medical education, citing concerns over ethics and the potential to prolong tobacco use.
A new study published in Addictive Behaviors found that frequent social media use among US youth is associated with a higher risk of tobacco initiation. Youth who engaged with tobacco marketing on social media platforms were more likely to start using tobacco products, highlighting the need for regulation and education.
Patients who quit smoking before starting chemotherapy or radiation responded better to treatment, were less likely to need their voice boxes surgically removed, and lived significantly longer than those who continued to smoke. Quitting smoking also improved quality of life for seven years after treatment.
A new study confirms community pharmacies can help people quit smoking by providing access to tobacco cessation tools and support. The study found that pharmacies successfully initiated cessation services after completing tobacco treatment training, with compatibility with existing workflows and staff buy-in being key factors.
Researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine have identified hundreds of new genes associated with tobacco use disorder, including those linked to psychiatric and medical conditions. The study also identified hundreds of potential drug candidates that could help treat the disease.
Researchers argue that among adults who have tried FDA-approved cessation medicines, switching to e-cigarettes may be a better option due to lower health risks. E-cigarette products authorized by the FDA are considered less harmful than combustible cigarettes.
Vaping additives, particularly vitamin E, can damage the lungs by inhibiting gas exchange and lung stability. The study used Langmuir films to simulate the expansion and compression of the pulmonary surfactant, observing how the additive changed its properties and monitored changes as more were added.
A new study published in Nicotine & Tobacco Research found that smokers who switch to electronic cigarettes are now more likely to stop smoking regular cigarettes. Between 2018 and 2021, 30.9% of e-cigarette users quit smoking combustible cigarettes, compared to 20% of non-e-cigarette users.
People who use e-cigarettes are significantly more likely to develop heart failure compared with those who have never used them. The study found a substantial association between e-cigarette use and an increased risk of heart failure, especially for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.
A new study suggests that most essential care for cardiovascular health happens in general primary care clinics, but many at high risk don't receive it. The study found that large percentages of people with major cardiovascular risk factors didn't see a primary care provider or cardiologist in the past year.
A new study from Umeå University found that lung cancer rates haven't decreased as expected with reduced smoking. Despite declining smoking rates, the number of cases of lung cancer has increased, especially among women. The study suggests that previous assumptions about the quick decrease in risk after quitting may have been exaggerated.
Researchers discovered a feedback loop involving estrogen that may explain why women become more dependent on nicotine. Estrogen-induced proteins called olfactomedins could be targeted with therapies to help control nicotine consumption.
Research suggests that early-life tobacco exposure significantly increases the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes in adulthood, particularly for individuals with a high genetic risk. Lifestyle factors such as diet, exercise, and smoking habits may modify this risk, emphasizing the importance of healthy lifestyle choices.
A new study finds that e-cigarette users with a limited smoking history experience similar DNA changes to specific cheek cells as smokers. The researchers also found that some smoking-related epigenetic changes remain more stable after giving up smoking, suggesting that e-cigarettes may not be completely safe.
A recent study by UCL researchers found that 16% of adult smokers in England, Wales, and Scotland reported using menthol-flavored cigarettes, equivalent to nearly one million people. The prevalence of menthol cigarette smoking remained stable despite the UK ban, which aimed to curb its use.
Rutgers Health researcher found that lesbian/gay and bisexual women are more receptive to tobacco marketing and have a harder time quitting. The study also discovered that bisexual women smoke at higher rates and struggle with nicotine addiction.
A new study from the University of Chicago analyzed DNA methylation in tissue samples from former smokers, finding evidence of the body's attempts to defend itself from tobacco smoke. The research team identified new regions associated with smoking and found that DNA methylation varies dramatically across cell types and tissue types.
The college will investigate the harmful effects of alternative tobacco products, exploring their toxicity and addictiveness. The funding supports a trio of studies led by the Center for Research on Tobacco and Health, which aims to inform better regulation and improve public health.
A recent study found that high school students who use both tobacco and cannabis products miss more school and have lower grades compared to those who don't use either product. The researchers analyzed data from the California Healthy Kids Survey, which showed that students who used both tobacco and cannabis reported the highest percen...
The study found that while cigarettes maintained market share, their popularity decreased, allowing for a more diverse marketplace at various price points. Modern oral nicotine products, such as nicotine pouches, emerged as the fastest-growing and most price-stable options.
Researchers discovered that lung cancer cells can persist in the presence of cigarette smoke due to a protein pump called ABCG2, which clears damaging molecules from the cells. This mechanism could also contribute to resistance to pharmaceutical treatments in cancer cells.
A large-scale study has found a significant link between smoking and DNA methylation, with two new epigenetic markers identified that differ by race or ethnicity. The research could lead to better ways to predict smoking-related disease risk and improve early detection and treatment.