Environmental tobacco smoke and mortality in Chinese women who have never smoked: prospective cohort study

Environmental tobacco smoke and mortality in Chinese women who have never smoked: prospective cohort study -- Wen et al. 333 (7564): 376 -- BMJ: "Objective To evaluate the association of environmental exposure to tobacco smoke from husbands and from work, as well as from family members in early life, with all cause mortality and mortality due to cancer or cardiovascular disease in Chinese women.
Design Ongoing prospective cohort study in Shanghai, China.
Participants Of 72 829 women who had never smoked, 65 180 women provided information on smoking by their husbands, and 66 520 women provided information on exposure to tobacco smoke at work and in early life from family members.
Main outcome measures All cause mortality and cause specific mortality with the main focus on cancer and cardiovascular disease. Cumulative mortality according to exposure status, and hazard ratios.
Results Exposure to tobacco smoke from husbands (mainly current exposure) was significantly associated with increased all cause mortality (hazard ratio 1.15, 95% confidence interval 1.01 to 1.31) and with increased mortality due to cardiovascular disease (1.37, 1.06 to 1.78). Exposure to tobacco smoke at work was associated with increased mortality due to cancer (1.19, 0.94 to 1.50), especially lung cancer (1.79, 1.09 to 2.93). Exposure in early life was associated with increased mortality due to cardiovascular disease (1.26, 0.94 to 1.69).
Conclusions In Chinese women, exposure to environmental tobacco smoke is related to moderately increased risk of all cause mortality and mortality due to lung cancer and cardiovascular disease. "

Some Smoking control sites referred by Google

Health Effects of Smoking Among Young PeopleThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) presents the Tobacco Information and Prevention Source (TIPS). This Web site is maintained by the CDC's ...http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/research_data/youth/stspta5.htm
Health Effects of Cigarette Smoking Fact sheet TIPSThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) presents the Tobacco Information and Prevention Source (TIPS). This Web site is maintained by the CDC's ...http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/factsheets/HealthEffectsofCigaretteSmoking_Factsheet.htm
Surgeon General's 2004 Report: The Health Consequences of Smoking ...National Center For Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. Tobacco Information and Prevention Source (TIPS) ...http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/sgr/sgr_2004/sgranimation/flash/
How to QuitIt outlines the effects of smoking on the different organs of the human body and tips to stop smoking along with information on the health benefits of ...http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/how2quit.htm
Harmful Effects Of Smoking CigarettesThe harmful effects of smoking cigarettes and tobacco are staggering. Do you really know what chemicals you are smoking and the effect it is having on you?http://www.quit-smoking-stop.com/harmful-smoking-effects.html
ACSH > Publications >Pamphlet available to download, from American Council on Science and Health. Quitting greatly reduces risks, but some effects of smoking are permanent.http://www.acsh.org/publications/pubID.377/pub_detail.asp
Health Effects of SmokingThe effects of smoking on exercise performance. Sports Med. 1996;22:355-9. ... Effects of smoking and smoking cessation. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1987;135:794-9. ...http://www.umdnj.edu/rspthweb/bibs/smoking.htm

Tobacco in whatever form harms the heart

Tobacco in whatever form harms the heart: "18 Aug, (foodconsumer.org) - Tobacco usage in whatever form is harmful to the heart and significantly increases the risk of heart attack, according to a large international study. The finding held true regardless of whether tobacco was smoked or chewed either firsthand or secondhand, the Canadian researchers confirmed.

Researchers at McMaster University in Ontario found that any form of tobacco increased the risk of heart attack. For example in heavy smokers the risk of heart attack tripled as compared to non-smokers. In light smokers, who smoked 8-10 cigarettes a day, the risk of heart attack doubled.

The study published in the Aug. 19 issue of The Lancet, involved data from more than 27,000 people in 52 countries. The researchers took into consideration lifestyle factors like diet and age. Not surprisingly the researchers found that the risk of heart attack decreased with time after a person stopped smoking.

In light smokers the risk of heart attack dropped to normal levels in 3 to 5 years after they quit smoking, but in moderate to heavy smokers, there was a 22 percent risk of heart attack even two decades after they quit the habit.

The study by professors Salim Yusuf and Koon Teo of the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine at McMaster University and Hamilton Health Sciences in Hamilton calculated the risk of heart attack for various forms of tobacco use among the global population."

Any Tobacco Use Raises Heart Attack Risk - Forbes.com

Any Tobacco Use Raises Heart Attack Risk - Forbes.com: "Any Tobacco Use Raises Heart Attack Risk
08.17.06, 12:00 AM ET
THURSDAY, Aug. 17 (HealthDay News) -- All types of tobacco use or exposure -- smoking, chewing, or secondhand smoke -- boost a person's risk for heart attack, Canadian researchers say.
Researchers at McMaster University in Ontario analyzed data from more than 27,000 people in 52 countries and factored in other lifestyle traits -- such as diet and age -- that could affect heart attack risk. They found that any form of tobacco use or exposure was harmful.
Publishing in the Aug. 19 issue of The Lancet, they found that moderate and heavy smokers had a three-fold increased risk of a heart attack and light smokers (8-10 cigarettes a day) had a two-fold risk.
The risk decreased with time after a person stopped smoking, the study said. Among light smokers, there was no excess risk 3 to 5 years after they quit smoking. Moderate and heavy smokers still had an excess risk of about 22 percent even 20 years after they kicked the habit.
The researchers also concluded that exposure to secondhand smoke increased the risk of heart attack in both former smokers and nonsmokers. People with the highest levels of secondhand smoke exposure (22 hours or more per week) have about a 45 percent increased risk of heart attack, the study said.
Chewing tobacco doubled the risk of heart attack, the researchers found.
More information
The U.S. National Library of Medicine has more about smoking and smokeless tobacco."

Varenicline, an {alpha}4beta2 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Partial Agonist, vs Sustained-Release Bupropion and Placebo for Smoking Cessation

JAMA -- Abstract: Varenicline, an {alpha}4beta2 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Partial Agonist, vs Sustained-Release Bupropion and Placebo for Smoking Cessation: A Randomized Controlled Trial, July 5, 2006, Gonzales et al. 296 (1): "JAMA -- Abstract: Varenicline, an {alpha}4beta2 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Partial Agonist, vs Sustained-Release Bupropion and Placebo for Smoking Cessation: A Randomized Controlled Trial, July 5, 2006, Gonzales et al. 296 (1): "Context The 42 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are linked to the reinforcing effects of nicotine and maintaining smoking behavior. Varenicline, a novel 42 nAChR partial agonist, may be beneficial for smoking cessation. Objective To assess efficacy and safety of varenicline for smoking cessation compared with sustained-release bupropion (bupropion SR) and placebo. Design, Setting, and Participants Randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo- and active-treatment–controlled, phase 3 clinical trial conducted at 19 US centers from June 19, 2003, to April 22, 2005. Participants were 1025 generally healthy smokers (10 cigarettes/d) with fewer than 3 months of smoking abstinence in the past year, 18 to 75 years old, recruited via advertising. Intervention Participants were randomly assigned in a 1:1:1 ratio to receive brief counseling and varenicline titrated to 1 mg twice per day (n = 352), bupropion SR titrated to 150 mg twice per day (n = 329), or placebo (n = 344) orally for 12 weeks, with 40 weeks of nondrug follow-up. Main Outcome Measures Primary outcome was the exhaled carbon monoxide–confirmed 4-week rate of continuous abstinence from smoking for weeks 9 through 12. A secondary outcome was the continuous abstinence rate for weeks 9 through 24 and weeks 9 through 52. Results For weeks 9 through 12, the 4-week continuous abstinence rates were 44.0% for varenicline vs 17.7% for placebo (odds ratio [OR], 3.85; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.70-5.50; P<.001) and vs 29.5% for bupropion SR (OR, 1.93; 95% CI, 1.40-2.68; P<.001). Bupropion SR was also significantly more efficacious than placebo (OR, 2.00; 95% CI, 1.38-2.89; P<.001). For weeks 9 through 52, the continuous abstinence rates were 21.9% for varenicline vs 8.4% for placebo (OR, 3.09; 95% CI, 1.95-4.91; P<.001) and vs 16.1% for bupropion SR (OR, 1.46; 95% CI, 0.99-2.17; P = .057). Varenicline reduced craving and withdrawal and, for those who smoked while receiving study drug, smoking satisfaction. No sex differences in efficacy for varenicline were observed. Varenicline was safe and generally well tolerated, with study drug discontinuation rates similar to those for placebo. The most common adverse events for participants receiving active-drug treatment were nausea (98 participants receiving varenicline [28.1%]) and insomnia (72 receiving bupropion SR [21.9%]). Conclusion Varenicline was significantly more efficacious than placebo for smoking cessation at all time points and significantly more efficacious than bupropion SR at the end of 12 weeks of drug treatment and at 24 weeks. "