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ASH Daily News for 26 November 2007

Fuller, Smith and Turner announce profits

Pub group, Fuller, Smith & Turner have shrugged off the effects of the smoking ban and a washed out summer with a 16 per cent rise in half year profits.

The London Pride brewer announced that  pre-tax profits for the six months to September 29 rose to £12.7 million as operating profits climbed 4 per cent to £13.3 million.

The company's beer volumes rose 2 per cent during the period, which Fuller's described as particularly pleasing after the UK market fell 4% amid poor weather. Operating profits at the Fuller's Beer Company rose 2 per cent to £3.5 million.

Fuller's said: "The summer provided interesting challenges but, thanks to good planning, preparation and investment, we minimised any negative impact."

Source: The Yorkshire Post, 23 November 2007 
Link: http://tinyurl.com/33jydu

Vietnam: 30,000-40,000 die from smoking annually

According to new reports, thirty to forty thousand people die of smoking related disease each year in Vietnam.

Some 56 percent of local men aged 15 upwards are cigarette smokers, the Vietnam Tobacco Control Program reported.

In recent years, smokers in Vietnam have spent over 8.2 trillion Vietnamese dong (512.5 million U.S. dollars) on smoking, said the programmes secretary, Phan Thi Hai.

According to statistics released by the Vietnamese Health Ministry in late 2005, over 50 per cent of local men and 3 per cent of local women smoke.

Vietnam, with a population of 84 million, is trying to reduce the number of smokers by imposing higher taxes on tobacco products, restricting investment in cigarette production, and raising public awareness about the harm of smoking.

Source: news xinhaunet, 26 November 2007
Link: http://tinyurl.com/ytpqaa

Smoking and depression often occur together in new mothers

Smoking and depression often go hand-in-hand for new mothers, according to a new study by Dr Robert Whitaker, a pediatrician and profressor of public health at Temple University.

He said, “While smoking and depression adversely affects a mother’s health, the combination may also affect the health of her child."

For children, the potential consequences of maternal smoking include sudden infant death, asthma, ear infections and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, while the potential consequences of maternal depression include behaviour problems, language delay and childhood depression.

Dr Whitaker said that depression and addiction to tobacco should not be treated in isolation from each other as giving a mother who smokes a quit smoking helpline number is not going to be enough.

Data for the analysis came from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study. In 20 U.S. cities, 4,898 mothers were surveyed at the time of delivery, from 1998 to 2000. In a follow up survey 15 months later, 4,353 (89 percent) of mothers reported their smoking behaviour and symptoms of a major depressive episode during the prior 12 months.

The follow up survey showed that the 12 month prevalence of a major depressive episode was 46 percent higher among smokers and that the prevalence of smoking was 33 percent higher among those who had a major depressive episode in the prior 12 months.

“Most recently, healthcare policy has focused on children’s access to healthcare, but we also have to keep the mother’s health in the discussion,” Dr Whitaker said.

Source: Science Daily, 24 November 2007
Link: http://tinyurl.com/3d7vd2

Ex smoker: "Look at what has happened to me and tell me smoking is worth it"

Isaac keery, 62, who had a lung removed after being told he had just a year left to live is urging smokers to think twice about lighting up.  

Mr Keery, was diagnosed with cancer last April and told he could expect to live just 12 months if he didn't have his left lung taken out.

Recalling the moments when he was given the heart wrenching news an emotional Isaac said: "It didn't dawn on me how serious things were until a Macmillan Nurse spoke to me at the hospital after my x-ray and scan results were in. I kept thinking, "am I really going to die?"

Six months on after his diagnosis Isaac is asking smokers to give up the habit.

He said, "I used to smoke 20-30 roll ups a day before I became ill, but when I was told about the cancer I was smoking up to 75 a day. My nerves were wrecked, I knew I shouldn't but I just couldn't help myself."

"I want to get the message across to people that smoking could claim your life. People will normally dismiss calls to stop but, when I show them my scars they are shocked and left speechless."

Isaac's great sense of humour and the support of his family has clearly helped him on his road to recovery but he realises that life is precious and treasures every minute he has.

He joked: " I told my doctor that I am hanging around until my youngest grandson is married, he's three."

Source: Ulster Star, 19 November 2007
Link: http://tinyurl.com/2k3ra7