News and Articles on Health. Medical research topics.

Several studies have been done to identify determinants of tobacco use in adolescents. A study using population based cohorts of early adolescents, among many predictive determinants, lesser academic achievement and fewer environmental barriers most strongly predicted smoking (Carvajal & Granillo, 2006). Some of the other determinants for smoking initiation are socio-demographic factors like coming from a family of low socioeconomic status and personal factors like low self-image, low self-esteem and inadequate refusal skills (USDHHS, 2001). But it is seen that if the adolescents come from immigrant families they are less likely to smoke inspite of economic hardships. Protective factors for these adolescents are conjured to be lower rates of parental tobacco use and less exposure to peers who smoke (Georgiades, Boyle, Duku, & Racine, 2006). Interpersonal influences such as peer smoking, attitudinal and cultural influences such as academic achievement, initial liking for smoking, to find a meaning (experimenting) with smoking and intrapersonal influences like susceptibility to smoking or difficulty in quitting smoking were found to be important around the world. Other important determinant of smoking initiation in adolescents is whether its related to a particular racial and ethnic subgroup as we can direct are prevention strategies and programs in that particular sub-group. In a study conducted among nationally representative sample of adolescents aged 12-17, the prevalence of smoking ranged from 27.9% among American Indians and Alaskan Natives to 5.2% for Japanese. White and African American boys initiated smoking a few months earlier than white and African American girls (Carabello, Yee, Gfoerer, Pechacekt, & Henson, 2006). In a multivariate study conducted to test a set of hypotheses in determining the antecedents to cigarette smoking among adolescents, it was found that peer influence factor was the strongest predictor for smoking. Furthermore it was seen that the highest vulnerability for smoking was in blacks, intermediate in Hispanics and whites and lowest in Asians (Castro, Maddahian, Newcomb & Bentler, 1987). These determinants are important to acknowledge as they may guide us in developing prevention interventions in this age group of students.

There are a number of smoking prevention strategies targeted towards the youth such as school-based educational interventions, community-based interventions, advertising restrictions on tobacco use, youth access restrictions and public health education. Reviews of these approaches have shown that most of the adolescent/youth community prevention programs had mixed results (Lantz et al., 2000). The programs which emphasized a social model, along with a community-based health program were found to be somewhat effective but again a majority of this school-based and community based programs haven’t been adequately evaluated in the long-term and the impacts if at all seen are all short-term effects. This is corroborated by the first large scale randomized trial which looked at the social influences approach to smoking prevention (Flay, Koepke, Thomson, Santi, Best, & Brown, 1989). In a review of 94 randomized controlled trials, which focused on school-based prevention programs, 13 studies used social influences intervention of which nine found some positive effect of intervention on the prevalence and four failed to detect any influence (Thomas, & Perera, 2006). Similarly among study of 13 studies which compared community interventions to no interventions or controls, two reported lower smoking prevalence. Of three studies comparing community interventions to school based programs only one found differences in reported smoking prevalence (Sowden & Stead, 2003).

Tobacco use is a major public health problem in our society. Tobacco addiction begins in adolescence and majority of smokers start using tobacco in the age group between 11-13 years. There are a number of tobacco prevention strategies targeted towards the youth such as school-based educational interventions, community-based interventions, advertising restrictions on tobacco use, youth access restrictions and public health education. The purpose of this article is to review smoking prevention educational interventions in adolescents conducted either in the school or community setting. In order to collect the materials for the study, a search of CINAHL, MEDLINE and ERIC databases was conducted for the time period 1985-2006. A total of 15 studies met the inclusion criteria. Eight out of the 15 interventions were targeted towards students in grades 6-7 which makes sense as majority of the adolescents start using tobacco in the age group 11-13 years. Nine out of 15 interventions reviewed did not use any behavioral theory. The six articles that used theory used social learning theory, community organizing theory, transactional and systems theory of environmental change and some constructs from transtheoretical model. There is need to explicitly reify behavioral theories by tobacco prevention interventions. Characteristics of the length of the intervention, personnel conducting the intervention, types of activities included in the interventions, and process evaluation results are discussed in the article. Recommendations for developing future educational interventions for preventing tobacco use in adolescents are discussed.

Tobacco use is responsible for about 430,000 deaths among adults in the United States (United States Department of Health & Human Services [USDHHS], 2001). In terms of tobacco initiation, it is observed that the use begins in adolescence and act as a gateway drug for use of other drugs later in life. Tobacco use in different forms such as cigars, cigarettes, bidis and spit-tobacco give rise to various morbid health conditions such as cancer of larynx, mouth, esophagus and lung. Also chewing tobacco gives rise to conditions like periodontitis, submucous fibrosis and tooth loss .It is generally seen that there are some sociodemographic, environmental and personal factors which put the youth at risk of using tobacco (USDHHS, 2001).

The Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) survey done to study priority health risk behaviors among adolescents between October 2004 and January 2006, found that 54.3% of students nation wide had ever tried cigarette smoking (life-time cigarette use), 23.0% of students had smoked cigarettes on ≥ 1 of the 30 days preceding the survey and 9.4% of students had smoked cigarettes on ≥ 20 days of the 30 days preceding the survey (current cigarette use) (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2006a). It was also documented that nationwide 14.0% of the students had smoked cigars on ≥ 1 of the 30 days preceding the survey. It is seen that smoking addiction begins in adolescence and majority of smokers start using tobacco in the age group between 11-13 and about 10-15% starting after age 19 (CDC, 2006a). The Global Youth Tobacco survey begun in 1999 by the WHO (World Health Organization), the CDC, and the Canadian Public Health Association, which is a school-based survey, includes questions on prevalence of cigarette and other tobacco use in 132 different countries(CDC, 2006b). The salient findings of their study conducted between 1999 and 2005 reveals that any form of tobacco use was highest in the American and European regions (22.2% and 19.8%, respectively) and lowest in the South-East Asian and Western Pacific Region (12.9% and 11.4%, respectively). Furthermore current cigarette smoking was highest in the European and American regions (17.9% and 17.5%, respectively). Boys were significantly more likely to smoke cigarettes in South-east Asian, and Western Pacific Region (CDC, 2006b). Finally, in the Healthy People 2010 Report that documents national objectives in United States, the objective is to reduce past month tobacco use by students in grades 9 through 12 from a 1999 baseline of 40% to 21% by 2010, reduce past month cigarette use from 35% to 16%, past month spit tobacco use from 8% to 1% and past month cigar use from 18% to 8% (USDHHS, 2001).

While many health interests worry about persistently high rates of cigarette smoking among college students, little research has tracked qualitative changes in student habits such as “social smoking.” A survey of 670 University of California, Santa Cruz, undergraduate students ages 18-43, mean age 20.6, found 57% of the weighted sample smoked cigarettes in the past year, compared to 37% of college undergraduates nationally and 34% of UCSC students’ parents. However, two-thirds of UCSC student smokers smoke socially (less than daily), compared to 60% of student smokers nationally and 16% of parent smokers. Half of UCSC social smokers report smoking less than an entire cigarette per occasion and 70% report smoking less today than in the past; the fraction who smoke heavily tend to have parents who smoke heavily. Students’ reports indicating their social smoking is an equilibrium behavior unlikely to lead to heavier smoking need longitudinal investigation.

Concern has been expressed that college students ages 18-24 show the highest rates of cigarette smoking today, as well as lesser declines in cigarette smoking over the last 25 years, compared to younger teens and older adults. Monitoring the Future (Johnston, O’Malley & Schulenberg, 1980-2004) finds the percentage of college students one to four years beyond high school who reported smoking cigarettes in the previous year or previous month in 2004 was virtually the same as in the first survey in 1980 (Appendix A). However, bigger drops were recorded in college students’ daily smoking, especially heavier (half a pack or more) daily smoking.

Persistent high smoking rates among these young, well-educated populations together with standard assumptions about nicotine’s addictiveness create apprehensions of a future smoking revival. However, there are indications that today’s smoking among high school seniors and college students differs qualitatively from past patterns. In 1980, 51% of college students who smoked at all smoked daily and 35% smoked heavily; in 2004, just 38% and 19%, respectively (Johnston, O’Malley & Schulenberg, 1980-2005). High school and college students’ smoking, once dominated by daily use, increasingly is dominated by episodic weekend or occasional “social” use.

Students’ trend toward “social smoking” is poorly understood (Moran, Wechsler & Rigotti, 2004). Some health experts regard it as a stable behavior but argue true social smoking is rare (University Health Center, 2005), while others view it as a stage among college students who smoke cigarettes occasionally in connection with drinking alcohol and socializing (Hines, Fretz & Nollen, 1998). Others believe college students’ social smoking “may represent a stage in the uptake of smoking” (Moran, Wechsler & Rigotti, 2004, p. 1033) and “can wind up as a lifelong problem” (Office of Health Education, 2005). A California Department of Health Services anti-smoking ad declares that young “social smokers” will progress rapidly to pack-a-day smokers.

Arteries are part of the human circulatory system. They contain blood which carries oxygen and other nutrients throughout the body. As a person gets older, a sticky substance called plaque can develop and build up on the interior walls of the arteries. Over time your blood flow can become obstructed because arterial plaque can cause your arteries to narrow. Apart from the blood flow being blocked in the arteries, small pieces of artery plaque can get stuck. If these pieces become trapped in the heart or brain, they can cause you to suffer from a stroke or heart attack.

It is best to refrain from smoking to reduce an excessive build up of arterial plaque. Managing your stress is also crucial in promoting good cardiovascular health. Vitamins play an important role in combating arterial plaque. Some of these vitamins include:

Magnesium Citrate taken with Calcium

Fish Oil supplement

Vitamin C

Lister below are 4 home remedies to reduce your risk for arterial plaque.

Showers
Alternate between hot and cold showers to help stimulate circulation. Start slowly with hot and lukewarm showers, alternating every 4 minutes. As the weeks progress, gradually increase the temperature difference between hot and cold.

Asparagus Juice
To make the juice, blend 4 to 6 fresh asparagus spears, 1 cup water and 1 teaspoon honey in the blender. To help with the cholesterol lowering effects drink twice a day for one month. The B vitamins in this juice are good for reducing cholesterol and inflammation.

Exercise
Exercise is very important for promoting circulation. Exercise and stress reduction help to support your immune system and protect your heart. Any type of exercise will increase your blood flow, reduce arterial pressure and enhance the oxygen supply to your heart.

Eat Smaller Meal
It is best to graze throughout the day rather than have one or two big meals. Listed below are some heart healthy foods you should include with your meals:

Green Leafy Vegetables

Whole Grains

Brown Rice

Peanuts

Vinegar

Celery

Water Chestnuts

Ginger

Soybeans

Bananas

Watermelon

Sunflower seeds

Garlic

Cold Water Fish

Green Tea

Listed below are foods to avoid:

Preservatives

Additives

Pesticides

Greasy Foods

Spicy Foods

Simple Carbohydrates

MSG

Alcohol

Coffee

Tobacco

Aged Cheese

Cured Meats

It is also best to visit your dentist on a regular basis. Poor dental health can contribute to inflammation in the blood vessels. This can lead to arterial plaque buildup.

I have had family members that have died from arterial plaque. I know first hand the devastating effect not taking care of your cardiovascular system can have. I try each day to be very conscious of the decisions I make regarding my diet and exercise. It is very important to me that I do not increase my arterial plaque, which again can lead to a heart attack or stroke.

Of all the stop smoking aids that have been marketed throughout the years, the most intriguing, and possibly most effective, is the electronic cigarette (also known as the e-cigarette or smokeless cigarette). At first glance, this device appears to be a real cigarette in size, weight, and usage. However, since it does not contain tobacco, its operation does not expose the smoker to the over 4000 toxic chemicals and 60-70 known carcinogens found in traditional cigarettes.

• Electronic Cigarettes as a Stop Smoking Aid

So, how do these “fake cigarettes” help people stop smoking? In several ways, actually. First of all, they contain a cartridge that, upon inhaling, generates the taste of a traditional tobacco cigarette. Different manufacturers offer a wide variety of flavors (tobacco, menthol, and even options like apple, strawberry, and chocolate, to name a few), and users should try out a few different brands and varieties to see which ones are the most pleasing to them personally.

If desired, smokeless cigarettes can also be used as nicotine delivery system. When choosing the cartridges to be used in your electric cigarette, you can specify a nicotine level of high, medium, low, or none. This makes the electronic cigarette a true “quit smoking cigarette,” since you can start at a higher nicotine level, and gradually reduce your nicotine intake, just like you can with other stop smoking aids such as the nicotine patch.

Next, the physical actions required in smoking electronic cigarettes are identical to those used to operate a regular cigarette, thus giving the smoker something to do with their hands. This is perhaps one of the most cited reasons for failure when attempting other quit smoking methods; nicotine gum or patches do nothing to replace the physical routines and habits involved in smoking addiction.

• E-Cigarettes Allowed Where Smoking Is Banned

Finally, since they do not emit actual smoke, the use of electric cigarettes is allowed in places traditional cigarettes have been banned: restaurants and bars, theaters, workplaces, sporting venues, cruise ships, and more. You see, e-cigarettes expel a water vapor that looks and tastes like smoke, but it virtually odorless and dissipates into the air almost immediately. This is due to the electronic cigarette’s atomization chamber, that heats up the liquid contained in the cartridge and produces a vapor that gives the user the physical sensation of smoking, but without the harsh smoke and irritation of traditional tobacco.

• Make Sure to Try Before You Buy

I’m sure you’ve noticed the multitude of brands and varieties of tobacco cigarettes on the market – there are literally hundreds to choose from, and each smoker has his or her own specific favorite. Now that smokeless cigarettes have evolved on the market, the situation is no different. Each brand and style of electric cigarette will be different from the next in ways such as taste, feel, usage, and convenience (carrying, charging, refills, etc.). That’s why many electronic cigarette manufacturers give you the opportunity to take advantage of a risk-free trial of their product before you commit to spending the $100 or so that it takes to purchase a complete kit.

For a small shipping and handling charge, usually between $2-8, you can receive an e-cigarette starter kit that contains everything you need to try the product out for yourself. You will be given a period of time, generally 10 days or so, to use the electric cigarettes at no risk, and see if you are satisfied with your choice. If you wish to keep your smokeless cigarette kit past the trial period, simply do nothing and you will be billed for the total cost of your purchase. If you are not completely happy, just follow the enclosed instructions to contact the company and return the unused portion of the product. Some companies will even allow you to extend the length of your trial period if you need a bit more time to decide.

So stick with those New Year’s resolutions and make 2010 the year you give up smoking traditional tobacco cigarettes for good!

Quit smoking today and your body will start healing tomorrow. Actually it will start within the next 20 minutes. It doesnt take longer before you can see the first signs of the healing process.

• Your blood pressure decreases and your pulse rate drops 20 minutes after your last cigarette.
• The body temperature of hands and feet will also increase.
• The carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to a normal level after 8 hours and the oxygen level in blood increases to normal.

Tomorrow at the same time, your risk of a heart attack is decreased. And the day after tomorrow your nerve endings will begin to growth again. Your will also have improved your ability to taste and smell. On day later your breathing will be easier.

The following weeks and month your will improve your circulation. Walking will be easier and your lung function will increase. The nicotine withdrawal symptom will subside after the first month, so you will be able to focus on the psychological need for a cigarette.

One year from now, your risk of coronary heart disease will only be the half as today. This is a very important thing, because in the United States smoking is directly linked to 30 % of all heart disease deaths.

It is not only the short-term benefits, which makes it worth quitting.

• The risk of a stroke has been reduced to the same as people who have never smoked after only 5 years.
• And the risk of lung cancer drops to one-half that of the smokers after 10 years.
• The risk of other cancer types will also decrease; including the risk of cancer in the throat, esophagus, kidney, mouth, and pancreas.
• The risk of coronary heart disease will be the same of people who have never smoked after 15 years.
• And in many other ways will the risk of death be at nearly the same level of people who have never smoked.

So do yourself (and your body) a favor and quit smoking today; and see your health improve. Just remember that the nicotine addiction healing process is an ongoing process. You will see some quick improvement, but other will happen more slowly.

Herbal remedies are becoming an increasingly popular method for quitting cigarettes. Herbal remedies are popular because, unlike other smoking cessation products, they do not contain nicotine.

Many products that help smokers to quit cigarettes contain nicotine. The nicotine in those products help to mitigate the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal. By mitigating the effects of nicotine withdrawal, quitting cigarettes becomes less difficult. However, nicotine is highly addictive. Accordingly, there is always a chance for a smoker to remain addicted to nicotine even after they have ceased smoking. Moreover, many experts believe that nicotine is carcinogenic in any form.

Because of the disadvantages of nicotine based smoking cessation products, many smokers are looking for alternative products for quitting cigarettes. One of the more popular alternative methods is the use of herbal remedies. Nature provides several substances that can mitigate the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal. Many herbal remedies use a combination of herbs. Some of the more commonly used herbs are:

• Passion Flower. There is some evidence that passion flower was used by the ancient Aztects. It is also a popular herbal remedy in Europe. Passion flower is known to be an effective remedy for anxiety and and nervousness, symptoms that usually accompany nicotine withdraw. Passion flower is safe alternative to nicotine. However, women who are pregnent or who are breastfeeding should consult a doctor before ingesting passion flower.
• Skull Cap. Like passion flower, skull cap is a popular herbal remedy used to fight anxiety and depression. In addition, it has inflammation properties as well.
• Eldeberry. Although it won’t help treat anxiety and depression caused by nicotine withdraw, eldeberry has very potent anti-oxidant properties. Anti-oxidants are important to fight free radicals. Free radicals cause damage. Many free radicals are created by smoking.
• Turmeric. A common spice used in Indian food, Turmeric has been shown to help remove carcinogens that smoking leaves behind in the body. It can be added to food several times per day as an herbal remedy for smoking.

There are many effective herbal remedy products that use varying combinations of herbs that can help to mitigate nicotine withdrawal. Smokers looking to quit cigarettes can easily do research on them.

There are many ways to quit smoking, great number of smokers have tried many ways in order to get rid from their smoking habit but, because of painful withdrawal session that comes with quitting sometime make their all efforts in vein.

Are YOU a chain smoker and continuously looking for the ways or tips on how to quit smoking with least efforts?

If you don’t know already, let me enlighten your mind in order to make you know a bit on how to quit smoking in a  fast and easy way. What will be your reaction when you come to know that some one you love or someone whom you know very well, is in the hospital because of poison, the same thing is applied for you because you are also taking slow poison, I do not want to say you that but this is true as we all know this bitter truth – you are slowly dying because smoking kills.

There are around 4 million smokers, losing their lives each year because of nicotine . Try to boost your will power if your really want to quit smoking. Stop smoking is hard but not impossible with strong will power. If you really love near to you or dear to you then quit your smoking habit, as second hand smoke is just as dangerous as smoking itself.

Here are some ways on how to quit smoking with:

Are you continuously smoking for years then wake up! SAVE YOUR LUNGS

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