Never too late to quit smoking, reduce AMD risk

It is never too late to reduce your risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) by quitting smoking, say scientists from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Smoking and age are the two most important risk factors for AMD. 

AMD is the leading cause of legal blindness for people older than 50 in the Western world, according to the AMD Alliance International. An estimated 25 to 30 million people around the world are affected, and this number is expected to triple within 25 years. In the United States alone, about 1.8 million people age 40 and older have AMD, and more than four times that number are at significant risk of developing the eye disease, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report.

In the current study, which appears in the American Journal of Ophthalmology, the researchers followed 1,958 women who underwent retinal photographs at five-year internals, beginning with a baseline exam at age 78. Four percent of the women smoked.

The retina is examined because AMD causes progressive damage to the macula, which is at the center of the retina. The macula allows people to see fine details. As the macula deteriorates, individuals lose central vision, which prevents them from being able to read, drive, recognize faces, watch TV, and many other activities.

A comparison of the retinal images showed that overall, women who smoked had an 11 percent higher rate of AMD than women their same age who did not. In women older than 80, those who smoked were 5.5 times more likely to develop AMD than women their age who did not smoke.

Prior to this study, most of the research in AMD has been done in people younger than 75, according to the study’s lead author, Dr. Anne Coleman, professor of ophthalmology at the Jules Stein Eye Institute at UCLA. She notes that “this research provides the first accurate snapshot of how smoking affects AMD risk later in life.”

The bottom line is that “it’s never too late to quit smoking,” says Dr. Coleman. “We found that even older people’s eyes will benefit from kicking the habit.”

Smoking is believed to have several negative effects on the eyes in causing AMD, including reducing the levels of antioxidants, altering blood flow to the eyes, and lowering levels of pigments in the retina.

Source: EmaxHealth, 01 January 2010
Link: http://tinyurl.com/y8evrer

Labour MP David Taylor dies following heart attack

David Taylor, the Labour MP for North West Leicestershire, has died after suffering a heart attack while walking with his family.

The 63-year-old had been walking in the grounds of Calke Abbey, Derbyshire, on Saturday. He died at Queen's Hospital, Burton-upon-Trent, Staffordshire.

Gordon Brown paid tribute to Mr Taylor, describing him as "one of the most hard working MPs locally and nationally".

Mr Taylor won his seat in 1997 and his majority in 2005 was 4,477.

He had been due to step down as the MP for North West Leicestershire at the next general election.

The prime minister said Mr Taylor had been "a strong campaigner and representative of his community for decades. He was a great campaigner in the East Midlands, a very caring person and a popular local MP"

Mr Brown went on to praise the MP's "indefatigable campaigning, constant attendance in the Commons and his independence of mind - no greater tribute can be made to David's lasting legacy as a local champion for North West Leicestershire".

Regional Minister for the East Midlands Phil Hope MP said: "I am shocked and saddened at this news and my thoughts are with his family at this time.

"He was a great campaigner in the East Midlands, a very caring person and a popular local MP who believed deeply in the principles of social justice and co-operation. He will be much missed."

Labour MP for Leicester South Sir Peter Soulsby said: "It's a terrible shock.

"I'd known David for many years, long before he was a member of Parliament and he's remained unchanged through all of those years. He was kind, considerate, passionately committed and the absolute model of a backbencher."

Mr Taylor had cited an "excessive workload" for his decision in May 2008 to stand down at the next general election and said he had faced increased abuse from constituents and in some cases threats to his life.

He had said it had been an "enormous privilege" to represent the constituency and said at the time: "The vast bulk of people you come into contact with are good, decent people."

Before becoming an MP Mr Taylor was a member of Heather Parish Council and North West Leicestershire District Council.

He worked as an accountant and computer manager at Leicestershire County Council between 1977 and 1997.

In 2007, Mr Taylor was voted Backbencher of the Year.

He served on three select committees, including the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, and he was chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Smoking and Health.

Deborah Arnott, director of the anti-smoking campaign group ASH, said Mr Taylor was "crucial in getting the smoking ban legislation through parliament".

During the 1980s Mr Taylor was a keen long distance runner, competing in several half marathons and full marathons including the 1989 London Marathon in which he finished in just over three hours.

In the 1990s he cycled routes including the Pennine Way and Coast to Coast.

He is survived by four daughters and his wife Pam.

Source: BBC News, 27 December 2009
Link: http://tinyurl.com/ydkjvg6

Free smoking quit kits launch for new year resolutions

A free quit-smoking kit has been launched, as research shows almost half of smokers in England have resolved to quit in the new year.

The NHS Stop Smoking Quit Kit, contains calming audio downloads, a stress toy and a tool to help smokers work out how much money they are saving by quitting.

The NHS is releasing television adverts to accompany the kits, showing children singing song I'd do Anything from the musical Oliver and asking: 'If they'd do that, why won't you give up smoking?"

The NHS Stop Smoking Services said nicotine gum and patches were the most popular aids to quitting, with 42% of smokers planning on using a Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) this new year.

Public Health Minister Gillian Merron said: "Stopping smoking is hard - it takes a lot of effort and willpower. At any time around seven out of 10 smokers actually want to quit smoking. The government has worked with experts and smokers to create a tailored set of tools to help everyone who wants to quit."

But Simon Clark, director of the smokers' lobby group Forest, said: "Another day, another quit smoking campaign."

"You would think the government would give it rest - but they can't resist the lure of another initiative, even over Christmas. How much money is the quit kit costing the taxpayer? If people choose to stop smoking that's a matter for them, not the government."

"This is yet another example of the nanny state reaching into our homes through television advertising and other intrusive measures."

"People are getting heartily sick of the use of children of smokers in quit-smoking advertisements. Trying to make smokers feel guilty about their habit is a form of moral blackmail and it is quite wrong to use children in this way."

Latest figures show 770,000 smokers tried to stop in January 2009 and research suggests 5% of them are likely to last at least a year (38,500).

But the majority of successful quitters do not stop on their first quit attempt. Four out of every five smokers have tried and failed to quit in the past.

The TV ads will remind parents of the importance of quitting not only for their own well being for the sake of their children too.

Kevin Hood, from London, stopped smoking as one of his new year's resolutions using his local NHS Stop Smoking Service.

He said: "After nearly a quarter of a century smoking I decided enough was enough and last Christmas I decided to make it my new year's resolution to kick the habit."

"I have now been smoke free for nearly a year. I booked an appointment with my local NHS Stop Smoking advisor who helped me choose a Nicotine Replacement Therapy which suited me and I've never looked back."

Amanda Sandford, of Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), said: "Stopping smoking can be difficult - but millions of people have successfully quit for good."

"Although some manage to give up without help, the chances of succeeding long term are much greater if they get professional help. The quit kits will provide smokers with helpful tips on quitting and the TV ads will remind parents of the importance of quitting not only for their own well being for the sake of their children too."

Source: BBC News, 26 December 2009
Link: http://tinyurl.com/yeupkks

Emphysema in adulthood linked to early-life exposure to tobacco smoke

The adverse health effects of cigarette smoking are serious and, in many cases, deadly. Each year, more than 400,000 Americans die from tobacco use—more than from alcohol, suicide, AIDS, homicide, car accidents and illegal drugs combined. But not all of the health problems related to smoking result in deaths. Millions of people suffer from at least one chronic disease due to current or former smoking. Furthermore, the smoke from cigarettes has a harmful health effect on those around the smoke, especially children because their bodies are developing.

According to the Surgeon General, secondhand smoke exposure causes acute lower respiratory infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia in infants and young children and respiratory symptoms including cough, phlegm, wheeze, and breathlessness among school-aged children. Exposure to secondhand smoke also causes children who already have asthma to experience more frequent and severe attacks. And a new study shows that children who are exposed to tobacco smoke face early emphysema in adulthood—a finding that suggests early-life exposures to tobacco smoke (ETS) causes permanent damage to children’s lungs.

The study, conducted by researchers from the Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, used computed tomography (CT) scans to examine lung changes in 1,781 healthy non-smoking adults from six communities in the United States. About half of the participants had at least one regular smoker in their household during childhood. Those reporting childhood exposure to tobacco smoke were average age 61, primarily non-Hispanic white, and less likely to have been born outside the United States. An analysis of the scans showed that, compared to participants who did not live with regular smokers during childhood, those who were exposed to ETS had more emphysema-like lung changes. The changes were worse for adults whose households had two smokers, compared to one, compared to no one in the home who smoked. Those exposed to ETS were also at an increased risk of developing childhood asthma.

“We were able to detect a difference on CT scans between the lungs of participants who lived with a smoker as a child and those who did not,” said Dr. Gina Lovasi, assistant professor of epidemiology at Mailman. “Some known harmful effects of tobacco smoke are short term, and this new research suggests that effects of tobacco smoke on the lungs may also persist for decades.”

None of the information in the study could determine if lung damage occurs during pregnancy from expectant mothers who smoke, but the researchers said “the association between childhood ETS and early emphysema among participants whose mothers did not smoke suggests that the effect we are detecting is for smoke exposure in the home during childhood rather than in utero exposure alone.”

“The take-home message from our analysis is that exposure to tobacco smoke during childhood may be associated with detectable differences in lung structure, and perhaps early emphysema, later in life among people who do not themselves smoke,” Lovasi said.
 
“These findings might also help researchers to understand how lung damage develops. However, the observed associations are small and the implications of the novel CT-based measures for long-term health this research needs to be replicated.”

Emphysema is a long-term, progressive respiratory disease that affects nearly 2 million Americans. In most cases, it is caused by cigarette smoking. Tobacco smoke damages the air sacs in the lungs (alveoli), which over time causes decreased lung function and difficulty breathing. There is no cure for emphysema, but treatment can help to relieve symptoms, treat complications and minimize disability. The number one treatment is to quit smoking, which can serve to protect the lungs of everyone in the household—especially the children.

The study is published in the December American Journal of Epidemiology. 

Source: Health News, 30 December 2009
Link: http://tinyurl.com/y977x5t

My body and soul: Ray Winstone

As part of an interview about his health and wellbeing actor Ray Winston is asked about smoking.

Attitude to smoking? I hate it, but I do it. I had to chain smoke on a film years ago and I've had 15 a day ever since.

Source: The Observer, 03 January 2010
Link: http://tinyurl.com/ydkkyjg

'Arrogant' BAT tried to remove a judge

British American Tobacco, one of the UK's most powerful companies, has been accused of "breathtaking arrogance" after one of its subsidiaries pushed for the removal of a judge hearing a cancer compensation lawsuit being brought against it.

The company, which each year produces 715 billion cigarettes in 41 countries and employs more than 50,000 people, claimed an Australian judge, Jim Curtis, would not have "an impartial and unprejudiced mind'' over the case brought by Claudia Jean Laurie, the widow of a smoker.

The company, which last year made global profits of almost £2.7bn, said this was because in a separate case in 2006 Curtis had branded BAT Australia "dishonest" for its role in the destruction of documents relating to the potentially harmful effects of its products.

Curtis said the company destroyed documents in anticipation of legal action and "dishonestly concealed this purpose by pretence of a rational non-selective housekeeping policy".

A former senior BAT executive, Fred Gulson, admitted the purpose of the policy was "to get rid of all the sensitive documents under the guise of an innocent housekeeping arrangement".

BAT Australia's application to have Curtis dismissed in the latest case has been rejected by two judges.

The court of appeal in New South Wales said that BAT had caused "a real risk of a diminution of public confidence in the administration of justice'' by seeking to have Curtis removed.

In a damning summary, it said that upholding BAT's challenge would lead the public to believe the company had "manipulated the system in the hope of obtaining a more favourable outcome from a different judge".

A spokeswoman for the anti-tobacco campaign group ASH said that BAT had a reputation for defending itself robustly in Australia.

"For BAT to think that it could succeed in this approach is breathtakingly arrogant yet at the same time symptomatic of its past behaviour in Australia and elsewhere," she said.

BAT has been fighting lawsuits in Australia for almost a decade. On 11 April 2002, a jury ordered BAT Australia to pay Rolah McCabe A$700,000 (£390,000) in damages, the first award of its kind.

McCabe was a 51-year-old woman dying of lung cancer who was said to have started smoking at the age of nine. She alleged that BAT Australia knew cigarettes were addictive and dangerous, and that, through its advertising, the company had targeted children.

McCabe died six months after the initial ruling in her case, which first revealed evidence of BAT Australia's policy of destroying documents.

BAT Australia was not immediately available for comment. But its parent company has pledged to vigorously contest all lawsuits brought against it.

The company states on its website: "The tobacco industry has a strong record of winning these cases and we, along with many analysts, believe this will continue, although it's always possible that sometime, somewhere, a smoking and health case will be lost."

Source: The Obsever, 03 January 2010
Link: http://tinyurl.com/yarnqap