Smoking in Apartments

Research shows that although you may have strict no smoking rules in your apartment, it does not necessarily mean that your home is “smoke free.” Researchers found that children who lived in shared walled residences had a much higher rate of smoke exposure, even if their own apartment was smoke free. The blood of 5,000 children ages 6-18 was tested for cotinine, a chemical that is present in individuals who have inhaled cigarette smoke.

One third of the participants had reported smelling smoke in their apartment building, condominiums and other multi-unit housing. Half of the participants reported smelling smoke within their own unit. “We know that if you smell it, your child will have evidence of tobacco smoke exposure in their blood. But just because you don’t smell it, doesn’t mean you’re not exposed,” Winickoff, associate professor in pediatrics at MassGeneral Hospital for Children and senior author of the paper, said. Winickoff found that nine out of ten children had some levels of cotinine in their blood. The mean level of cotinine was highest for children who lived in apartments at 0.075 nanograms per millimeter while attached housing had 0.053 and detached housing was 0.031. Researchers excluded testing children who have family members who smoke within their own apartment.

Exposure to smoke increases children’s chances for developing asthma, pneumonia and ear infections. And currently 80 million people live in multiunit housing according to Andrew Hyland, a researcher at Rosewell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo. With these new findings and the known health risks that smoke poses to children, cities –including New York City- are looking to restrict smoking even within people’s own homes.

“It’s very different than even smoking in a restaurant or a bar,” said Dr. Siegel, professor of community health sciences at the Boston University School of Public Health. “You can make the argument that you don’t really have to go to a restaurant, or you could go to another one. But you cannot say, ‘You don’t have to live in your home.’ This is truly involuntary.”

Smoking is detrimental to the health of not only the smoker, but also the people around them. If you currently smoke and are looking for cessation treatment, Southern Methodist University is offering a free program and research study in the Dallas community. If you wish to quit smoking, please call Quit Smoking Dallas at 214-768-7848 or complete the online survey to see if you are eligible to participate. The online screen can be found at quitsmokingdallas.com.

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Is it Harder for Women to Quit Smoking?

While it has long been thought that it is harder for women to kick the habit of smoking than men, a new study from the journal Tobacco Control found that this is not true.

There have been many theories on why it is more difficult for women to kick the habit including that nicotine aids are less effective for women, women are more afraid of the weight gain that is associated with quitting, and even that a women’s menstrual cycle may increase tobacco withdrawal symptoms.

The study found that after a year the genders were relatively equal when staying smoke free. Researchers at University College London looked at over 100,000 smokers from the United States, Canada and Britain and found it was not harder for women to quit smoking. In fact, slightly more women under the age of 50 successfully quit smoking than men. After 60, though, more men were found to have successfully quit smoking than women. Over all the differences were slight for both age categories.

If you currently smoke and would like to take part in a free smoking cessation program in Dallas, Texas, please visit QuitSmokingDallas.com or call 214-768-7848 for more information. Southern Methodist University is currently offering a free trial to help people who live in the Dallas Fort Worth area quit their habit of smoking. To find out if you are eligible for our study please visit us online to fill out our pre-screen survey.

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Do Fruits and Vegetables Help to Quit Smoking?

An observational study from the University of Buffalo found that people who ate more fruits and vegetables were more successful at quitting smoking and staying smoke-free.

The study surveyed 1,000 smokers about their smoking habits as well as how many fruits and vegetables they ate each day. The researchers later followed up with participants after 14 months and found that smokers who ate more fruits and vegetables were more likely to quit smoking and remain smoke-free.

In fact, people who ate the most produce were three times more likely to have remained smoke-free the previous month than the less fruitful participants. They also found that smokers who ate more fruits and vegetables started to smoke later in the day, had fewer cigarettes and showed a decrease in nicotine dependence.

These results are true while holding risk factors such as education, age, gender and health into account.

Experts believe that produce is more filling which decreases the urge to smoke after meals. Also, a study conducted at Duke University Medical Center researchers found that fruits and vegetables might make cigarettes taste worse. “With a few modifications to their diet — consuming items that make cigarettes taste bad, such as a cold glass of milk, and avoiding items that make cigarettes taste good, like a pint of beer — smokers can make quitting a bit easier,” the researcher of that study, Joseph McClernon, Ph.D.

Quitting smoking begins with the motivation to be healthier for yourself or for your family or friends. If you would like to quit smoking for free, and live in the Dallas area, fill out an online screen to see if you are eligible to participate in a study conducted by Southern Methodist University. If you would like to know more about the study visit QuitSmokingDallas.com or call 214-768-7848.

 

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Is Smoking Hookah Safer than Smoking Cigarettes?

No. Smoking hookah has many of the same cancer causing chemicals as cigarettes and even a few additional health risks.

Hookah, also known as waterpipe, shisha or hubble-bubble, is believed to have been invented half a century ago when Columbus brought tobacco back to India.The Indians were looking for a way to smoke without the harsh burn of tobacco. In hookahs, coal heats tobacco creating smoke, which then travels into a water chamber and through a pipe where it is ultimately smoked. The water chamber cools the smoke and allow for an easier inhale.

Hookah tobacco is commonly flavored with molasses, fruit, or honey. It is marketed as a relaxing social way to finish a meal or enjoy an evening with friends. Young adults and teenagers make up the majority of people who smoke hookah. Since it is so popular with this particular age group, hookah lounges are popping up more frequently around college towns.

Because of its social nature and sweet smell, most cities exempt hookahs from public smoking laws. But, hookah is still tobacco, and still contains many of the same chemicals that traditional cigarettes do. Smoking session typically can last 45 – 60 minutes which is equivalent to smoking over 100 cigarettes.

According to the American Cancer Society,

“Hookah smoke, like cigarette smoke:

  • contains significant amounts of cancer-causing ingredients, such as arsenic, cobalt, chromium, and lead;
  • generates heart-disease-causing carbon monoxide in amounts equal to, or greater than, cigarette smoke; and
  • has the same addictive properties, which can lead a hookah user to begin using cigarettes, or becoming a dual user of hookah and cigarettes.”

Also, because of hookahs social nature there are some additional health risks that include:

  • “Hookah users may inhale more smoke than cigarette smokers, because hookah sessions often last an hour or more, during which hookah users will inhale not only the smoke from the hookah itself but also that of the others with whom they are smoking;
  • Unlike cigarettes, hookah smoke may also contain charcoal or wood cinder combustion products, which can increase cancer- and heart disease-causing agents in the smoke; and
  • Sharing the hookah’s waterpipe can increase the risk of contracting a communicable disease, such as tuberculosis, hepatitis, or meningitis.”

Smoking hookah is no safer than smoking traditional cigarettes despite its social atmosphere, tasty flavors and relaxing nature. Since hookah has similar addictive qualities as cigarettes there is a concern is that hookah smokers may become cigarette smokers.

If you currently smoke cigarettes, would like to quit smoking for free, and live in the Dallas area, fill out an online screen to see if you are eligible to participate in a study conducted by Southern Methodist University. If you would like to know more about the study visit QuitSmokingDallas.com or call 214-768-7848.

 

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Are Electronic Cigarettets Really Safer?

Electronic cigarettes are a rising trend among smokers who are seeking a “healthy” alternative or wish to smoke in areas where traditional cigarettes are banned. The truth is that electronic cigarettes are in fact not a healthy alternative and poses health risks of its own. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reports that e-cigarettes can contain chemicals toxic to human beings and other unstudied ingredients that can cause harm. Clinical studies haven’t even been submitted to the FDA because electronic cigarettes are so new and the long term effects and total safety haven’t been evaluated.

New York has even taken to banning electronic cigarettes, the first state to do so. Electronic cigarettes are largely unregulated, but New York has some of the strictest bans in the nation, which have actually shown to reduce their smoking rates significantly. Electronic cigarettes have been heavily criticized for appealing to a younger generation by using “cutesy colors, fruity flavors, clever designs and other options” reports Discovery News. Marketing cigarettes of any kind to a younger age group and possibly even minors is unacceptable. Minors may be attracted to the electronic cigarette because it doesn’t smell like a traditional cigarette and could be easier to hide from parents or guardians. Another problem with the e-cigarette is that people see it as a healthier alternative, or even a “safe smoke” which researchers do not assume to be true.

Electronic cigarettes do contain many less chemicals because they do not actually contain tobacco and many chemicals added to regular cigarettes. With that said, electronic cigarettes can be considered a better alternative to actual cigarettes, but nothing is a better alternative than not smoking altogether. Michael Siegel, tobacco researcher out of Boston University, likens the e-cigarette quitting strategy to heroin needle exchange programs, “Its not that the devices are good for anyone, they are just better than what they’re meant to replace”. Because electronic cigarettes are not technically tobacco products, they are not regulated as such, meaning that the questionable chemicals that are found in these products will not be held to the same level of disclosure and regulation by the government.

If you smoke and are looking for a free cessation program, Southern Methodist University of Dallas, Texas may have a solution for you. Their program provides several quit therapies free of charge. If you would like to know if you are eligible, simply fill out an online prescreen at QuitSmokingDallas.com or call 214-787-7848.

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Fort Worth Smoking Bans

Although twenty-nine states have enacted laws for the protection of smokers, Texas is not one of them. The city of Fort Worth is planning on enacting a new ban on the hiring of smokers. Texas’ Baylor Health Care System already bans the hiring of smokers since January 1, 2012 because they say, “smokers claim more sick days and incur higher health insurance costs” than other employees. The Baylor Health Care System charges employees who smoke an insurance surcharge of $650 per year. The CDC stated that smoking accounts for $193 billion in medical costs and lost productivity each year.

The New York Times recently reported that the number of health insurance policies that charge employees with higher premiums due to unhealthy lifestyle choices, such as smoking, has doubled over the last two years. Several large companies including Wal-Mart have started to demand as much as $2,000 a year in expenses from employees who smoke. Fort Worth hopes the proposed ban on hiring employees who smoke will discourage more people from smoking and it will also help the city save money.

Although there is still some debate as to whether a smoking ban will limit the number of job applicants, the mayor of Fort Worth told ABC news that the ban is definitely something worth considering. The mayor commented that “we already put taxpayer dollars into health care for our employees,” so if there is something that might benefit “the health to make our employees more protective and healthy” it is necessary to look in to. Once Fort Worth’s human resources department finishes reviewing public and private tobacco-use policies, a final decision will be made on May 8th whether or not the city with enact a hiring ban on smokers.

If you live in the Dallas Fort Worth area and would like to quit smoking and to possibly save money, please contact (214) 768-7848 to find out about Southern Methodist Univeristy’s free smoking cessation treatment. SMU is currently offering a free clinical trial to help smokers quit their habit. You can visit QuitSmokingDallas.com for more information and to fill out the pre-screen survey online to see if you are eligible for the study.

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Australia Considers Cigarette Packaging Designed to Repel Consumers

Cigarette companies have long relied on imagery conveyed by cigarette packs. Word such as “mild”, “light” or “ultra light” are no longer legally allowed to appear on cigarette packaging and cigarettes that are supposedly low in tar, may not carry these names either. Reason being is that the health consequences of “light” cigarettes are the same as regular cigarettes because often times consumers smoke more cigarettes and take longer drags because they falsely assume that light cigarettes are somehow healthier. Cigarette companies have long packaged “light” cigarettes in friendlier packaging, hoping to unconsciously convey a feeling of health by using different, more pure, color schemes than regular cigarettes.

In fact, British writer Ben Goldacre reports that cigarette companies aim to use brand imagery so customers associate lighter cigarettes with healthier outcomes, even saying that the less tar a cigarette supposedly delivers, “the closer to white a pack tends to become”. This rings true with brands like Marlboro at one time having Marlboro Lights in a white and gold color schemed box, and Marlboro Ultra Lights in a white and silver box. With this example it is easy to see that tobacco companies do use imagery to persuade passive consumers into thinking faulty assumptions. Now that vocabulary implying a lesser tar content is banned, tobacco companies have adapted to using colors as the new names for cigarettes, often using lighter colors that still imply a more pure content. For example, Marlboro Ultra Lights now being called Marlboro Silver. When we understand how tobacco companies target consumers, it is much easier to not fall prey to their tactics.

Although, some countries are taking matters into their own hands. Australia is considering removing all forms of brand identification other than allowing the brand to be written on the package in a standardized font. This is not all they are doing though, along with the brand’s plainly stated name, Australian marketers have created packaging for cigarettes that is designed to repel consumers. If the Australian government’s ban on logos passes, every cigarette box will be 100% designed by health authorities with the intent to dissuade purchase. The box is proposed to be an olive-brown color with yellow warning messages as well as a graphic image of diseases caused by smoking. Researchers actually went though a great deal of effort to obtain the least attractive packaging possible, citing their dark olive-brown packaging as, “Pantone 448C isn’t a color found on most product packages, for a good reason” saying that it was the “least appealing” and implied poor quality. Those who smoke prefer to view their brand as less harmful than others, and often make these assumptions based on product names or packaging. These assumptions can be thwarted in the future if logos are no longer to appear on cigarette packaging, hopefully leading to a lesser number of smokers.

Government regulated packaging is only one method of preventing smoking in the population, and at the end of the day, packaging will make a minimal difference to lifetime heavy smokers. Quitting smoking begins with the motivation to be healthier for yourself or for your family or friends. If you would like to quit smoking for free, and live in the Dallas area, fill out an online screen to see if you are eligible to participate in a study conducted by Southern Methodist University. If you would like to know more about the study visit QuitSmokingDallas.com or call 214-768-7848.

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How the Media Effects Smoking Behavior

Media resources are ways in which people gather information about specific topics and events each day. Often times, a culture’s beliefs and values are represented through various forms of media. In today’s society it is very uncommon for families to live without a television, which helps explain how so much information is conveyed to individuals through various media sources. In particular, movies are very popular in terms of portraying images that influence kid’s behaviors and actions, especially health behaviors. There have been recent debates on whether or not movies with smoking scenes should be rated R, in order to protect younger generations from smoking images they perceive as acceptable. According to Professor Stanton Glantz from the Medical School at the University of California, “movies are the single largest influence getting kids to smoke today,” and movies are even more influencing “than parenting role models and cigarette advertising.” 

Professor Chyke Doubeni with the University of Massachusetts Medical School says that, ”kids who perceive cigarettes as readily accessible are more likely to end up as regular smokers,” according to findings in his recent study. Kids who are allowed to watch R rated movies are more likely to believe cigarettes are easy to obtain; similar to the idea that kids who have parents who smoke believe it is easy to access cigarettes. Doubeni and his research team explain the importance of parental permission to watch R-rated movies. The research study shows a strong association between the ability to watch R-rated films and the perception that cigarettes are easily available. The study’s findings indicate that ”nonsmokers were almost twice as likely, and smokers were almost three times as likely to say it would be easy for them to get cigarettes,” if they were allowed to watch movies with tobacco use.

Previous research indicates that between 2005 and 2009, the number of high school students trying cigarettes declined at the same time the number of movies depicting smoking and tobacco use declined. Thus, this is why the CDC is still encouraging film producers to rate movies with smoking scenes as rated R. A recent study observed more than 6,500 kids between the ages of 10 and 14, and estimated that ”young people who had the greatest exposure to smoking scenes are twice as likely to become “established” smokers.” As a result, this year The Motion Picture Association of America has decided to consider smoking as a factor when rating movies, but it is still being debated whether or not all movies with smoking scenes should be R-rated.  

The media is used as a viable source for finding information and news, especially for younger generations. If you are a parent who currently smokes and are looking for cessation treatment, Southern Methodist University is offering a free program and research study in the Dallas community. If you wish to quit smoking, please call Quit Smoking Dallas at 214-768-7848 or complete the online survey to see if you are eligibile to participate. The online screen can be found at quitsmokingdallas.com.

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Immediate & Long Term Effects of Quitting Smoking

There is no question as to whether or not smoking is detrimental to your health. Quitting smoking can provide immediate and long health term benefits. Even within twenty minutes of smoking a cigarette your body works to restore your health. Quitting smoking is not an overnight challenge, but here are the changes your body goes through after quitting, according to NetDoctor’s Adam Ramsay:

  • 20 minutes: blood pressure & pulse steady to normal
  • 8 hours: nicotine & carbon monoxide levels are halved & oxygen levels are restored to normal
  • 24 hours: carbon monoxide & smoking debris are removed making breathing easier
  • 2 days: nicotine is removed significantly improving taste & smell
  • 3 days: breathing becomes even easier & energy levels are higher
  • 3 months: improved circulation & lung functioning possibly increased by 10%
  • 5 years: risk of long term illness and disease falls, halved the risk for heart attack
  • 10 years: heart attack risk is almost that of a non-smoker & lung cancer risk halved

These findings show the positive outcomes that quitting smoking can have. It is important to have motivation and incentives to keep yourself on track when you are trying to quit smoking. When nicotine cravings happen within the first few weeks they can be hard to fight, but if you remain focused on the larger goal, your health, it can be easier. A tip from the professionals is to have a strong support system of family or friends to encourage you along the way, especially early on when quitting is the most difficult. Another word of motivation, if you are a pack-a-day smoker and you quit today, in 5 years you will have saved yourself at least $10,500!

If you currently smoke and are seeking a free cessation therapy, Southern Methodist University of Dallas, TX may have a program for you. Find out if you are eligible by completing an online screen or visit QuitSmokingDallas.com or call 214-768-7848 for more information.

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The Lasting Effects of Thirdhand Smoke

The issue of secondhand smoke and its harmful effects on people has been a topic of discussion and concern for many years. However, the notion of thirdhand smoke is recently gaining popularity and recognition amongst healthcare professionals and doctors worldwide.

Recent research indicates that the residue left behind on furniture, carpet, and even walls from the nicotine in cigarettes can continue to drift and float in the air a second time. Most people would assume that they are safe from the harmful effects caused by cigarette smoke once the smoker is gone; however, the tiny particles in nicotine can be absorbed and could possibly lead to asthma or even lung cancer long after someone has smoked.

James F. Pankow, PhD, a professor of chemistry and civil and environmental engineering at Portland State University in Oregon, says that the portion of nicotine that is not absorbed in the body goes someplace else, and one of the places it can stick to is on the surfaces of the room tha you are in. Previous research indicates that thirdhand smoke can be carried to the lungs through dust, ”can rub off onto skin, and even be ingested if food is eaten that’s been exposed to smoke.” In addition, the nictoine on the surfaces in a room can react with other indoor air pollutants and form particles, known as secondary organic aerosols. These secondary organic aerosols are so tiny and minute that they can be inhaled into a person’s lungs where it becomes very hard for a person to clear them out again.

 Yael Dubowski, PhD, a researcher and lecturer at Technion-Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa, Israel, says that “exposure to harmful compounds via thirdhand smoke and thirdhand smoke transformations is an additional source for skin and lung exposure,” which can lead to complications similar to those caused by secondhand smoke. What many people do not realize is that thirdhand smoke exposure can remain in the air long after the smoking occurred. Dubowski commented that the “ozone can continue to pull nicotine off surfaces and back into the air for months” after smoking in the specific area has stopped. Dubowski and her research team conducted a study to examine the degree to which temperature affects the amount of residue that can be reabsorbed into the air. The study allowed the researchers to measure the amount of nicotine remained on surfaces that went back into the air and could be wiped off onto skin or clothing. Their research indicates that there might be an association between low humidity temperatures and exposure to thirdhand smoke from surfaces.

If you currently smoke and would like to take part in a free smoking cessation program in Dallas, Texas, please visit QuitSmokingDallas.com or call 214-768-7848 for more information. Southern Methodist University is currently offering a free trial to help people who live in the Dallas Fort Worth area quit their habit of smoking. To find out if you are eligible for our study please visit us online to fill out our pre-screen survey.

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