Tobacco Articles: category sexfertility

Heavy metals and couple fecundity, the LIFE Study : Chemosphere Available online 4 February 2012

louisg@mail.nih.gov — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Highlights ► Female cadmium and male lead blood concentrations associated with a longer time-to-pregnancy. ► Male blood lead effect remained in the context of female exposures. ► Environmentally-relevant concentrations of metals adversely affect couple fecundity.

Smoking, lead linked to pregnancy delay

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Higher blood levels of cadmium in females, and higher blood levels of lead in males, delayed pregnancy in those trying to have a baby, U.S. researchers said. Researchers at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md., and colleagues said smokers are estimated to have twice the levels of cadmium as do non-smokers, but exposure also occurs in workplaces where cadmium-containing products are made and from industrial emissions. Common sources of lead exposure include lead-based paint in older homes, lead-glazed pottery, contaminated soil and contaminated drinking water. . . . The study was published online in Chemosphere.

Farmers go wild on tobacco cash

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Commercial sex workers are among the people preying on tobacco farmers in South Nyanza following payment of their leaf deliveries. Growers contracted by BAT Kenya and Alliance One Tobacco Kenya are receiving millions of shillings daily, thus attracting the eye of the night workers. Consequently, some farmers from Migori, Uriri, Rongo, Kuria West and Kuria East districts are painting the region red as they engage in reckless lifestyles. Sex workers from as far away as Nakuru, Kericho and Kisumu are now camping in the area seeking a piece of the cash earned by the growers. Several cases of farmers losing their cash in brothels have been reported. “During planting, women and their children do the most work but during payments, it is the men who pick the money and take off,” said an employee of Alliance One Tobacco Company who asked not to be named since he is not allowed to speak to the Press.

Jerusalemites Gave Smoking Pipes as Gifts to Lovers during Ottoman Period

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT

A romantic inscription found on the ceramic mouthpiece of a tobacco pipe discovered during an ongoing archaeological excavation in the Jewish Quarter of Jerusalem suggests the pipe was probably given as a gift to a lover. The Arabic inscription reads: "Heart is language for the lover", according to a statement released, on Sunday, by Dr. Kate Rafael of the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA). Dr. Rafael is leading the excavation of the site. The literal translation of the caption, however, means: "Love is language for the lovers". The pipe dates back to the Ottoman period, between the 16th and the 19th centuries, when clay pipes were very common and were mostly used for smoking tobacco. The Arabic inscription on the clay pipe reads: "Heart is language for the lover." Photo Credit: IAA Smoking was quite popular among both men and women in Jerusalem during the Ottoman rule.

Women's lung cancer risk not tied to childbirths

Mon, 26 Dec 2011 05:00:00 GMT

A woman's lung cancer risk doesn't appear to be linked to the number of children she has, although some scientists had thought hormonal changes during pregnancy might protect against the disease. That's according to a new report that sums up 16 previous studies on the topic, which researchers have explored to get a better understanding of lung cancer and possible treatments. If lung cancer in women were tied to hormones the same way some breast cancers are, for instance, similar drugs might be effective against both diseases, said Jessica K. Paulus, who worked on the analysis. So far, however, studies haven't agreed on whether or not pregnancies -- and by extension hormones -- play a role in lung cancer. . . . The disease is rare in younger adults, but becomes more common as people grow old. Overall, the risk of getting lung cancer is about one in 13 for men and one in 16 for women. But these overall numbers include smokers, whose risk is many times higher than that of non-smokers. "Both active smoking and exposure to second-hand smoking are some of the strongest risk factors for lung cancer," said Paulus. "Quitting smoking and quitting soon is associated with reducing your risk of lung cancer."

I love her, but can't stand her smoking

dearcoleen@mirror.co.uk (Coleen Nolan, Daily Mirror) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 05:00:00 GMT

Dear Coleen, This might seem like a trivial problem to some people, but I can't stand my girlfriend's smoking habit. I really think she could be 'the one', but I definitely can't marry someone who smokes. . . .

Coleen says.. Listen, I'm a smoker, but I understand both points of view here. I have to agree that it really isn't that easy to quit, although non-smokers think it is! . . . When my sister Bernie met her husband Steve he was anti-smoking and she promised she'd give up. And although she had the odd crafty fag in the loo, she stopped in the end. What Steve hated most was her lying to him about it. . . . . I totally understand where you're coming from as your mum died from lung cancer and you're not being unreasonable in wanting her to quit, but maybe you're being unrealistic in wanting it to be immediate. For further support, visit www.smokefree.nhs.uk

Carolyn Hax: She loves the man but hates his smoking

tellme@washpost.com — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 05:00:00 GMT

Dear Carolyn: My mother recently said, "I would seriously reconsider marrying someone who smokes," referring to my intended after her close friend died at 55. She has a very valid point. What kind of ultimatum can I give here (if any)? Should I allow it to happen naturally, on his time, or throw out a threat? -- Anonymous

It gets a lot trickier when you're also making a choice for people who have no say in the matter: your someday kids. Plus, you have to trust your partner to be meticulous about not exposing them to smoke. But, again, it's not as if society expects cops, firefighters and soldiers to remain childless just because they risk their lives for a living. They're simply expected not to be reckless and to plan ahead in case something goes wrong. These points get you started toward an opinion you can live with. When you have that, then you talk to your smoker about it.

Smoking dangerous to Coke Zero love life

Utalk2ctalk@gmail.com ( PER CHANCE By Cito Beltran - The Freeman ) — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 05:00:00 GMT

It turns out that smoking is not only dangerous to your health, it can also kill your already "Coke Zero" love life. While listening to DZRH this morning I caught the entertainment portion where a gossip "columnist" recounted her eaves dropping on a fashion designer and Femme Fatale Izza Calzado. As the story goes, the designer was allegedly trying his darnest best to convince Izza Calzado to go out on a friendly date, even just lunch, with the most powerful bachelor in the land, President Noynoy Aquino. But no matter how hard he tried, the designer could not convince the beautiful Izza to agree because she was completely turned off by cigarette smoke or even just the scent of tobacco! Unless President Aquino chooses to go cold turkey and stay tobacco free, I don't see him following in the footsteps of French President Nicolas Sarkozy who married celebrity model Carla Bruni. Sadly even if he were smitten enough, it would take 2 years detox to clean out the scent of tobacco in his pores.

The Pap smear screening as an occasion for smoking cessation and physical activity counselling: Baseline characteristics of women involved in the SPRINT randomized controlled trial: BMC Public Health Volume 11

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 05:00:00 GMT

Discussion Out of the 5,657 women undergoing the Pap examination, 1,100 participants (55% of smokers) were randomized in 1 of the 3 study groups (363 in the S, 366 in the S + PA and 371 in the C groups). The three arms did not differ on any demographic, PA, or tobacco-use characteristics. Recruited smokers were older, less educated than non-participant women, more motivated to quit (33% vs.9% in the Preparation stage, p < 0.001), smoked more cigarettes per day (12 vs.9, p < 0.001), and were more likely to have already done 1 or more quit attempts (64% vs.50%, p < 0.001). The approach of SPRINT study appeared suitable to enrol less educated women who usually smoke more and have more difficulties to quit.

Trends in Selected Chronic Conditions and Behavioral Risk Factors Among Women of Reproductive Age, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2001-2009: Preventing Chronic Disease: November 2011: 10_0083

PCDeditor@cdc.gov — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 04:00:00 GMT

Conclusion Among women of reproductive age, prevalence of smoking and physical inactivity improved, but prevalence of obesity and all 4 chronic conditions worsened. Understanding reasons for the improvements in smoking and physical activity may support the development of targeted interventions to reverse the trends and help prevent chronic disease and adverse reproductive outcomes among women in this age group. . . . This study on the trends of common risk factors and chronic conditions among women of reproductive age revealed both positive and concerning trends since 2001. In particular, the benefits related to declines in smoking and current physical inactivity have occurred in the face of worsening trends for obesity, chronic high blood pressure, chronic diabetes, high cholesterol, and asthma. This is of particular concern for women of reproductive age and their children, who are at increased risk because of the effect on reproductive health outcomes and long-term development of chronic disease and its complications over time. The promotion of healthy lifestyle choices that can prevent or delay the development of disease among women of reproductive age may improve reproductive health outcomes, decrease the development of and burden of chronic disease, and improve health throughout the life course. . . . The purpose of this article was to use population-based survey data to highlight trends among women of reproductive age for several common risk factors and chronic conditions that affect reproductive health and chronic disease and its complications. Surveillance of risk factors and chronic conditions related to chronic disease can ensure that population-based approaches are reaching particular subgroups such as women of reproductive age, or highlight that more targeted approaches may be needed. Variation in these trends among different populations such as age or race/ethnicity should also be assessed. Evaluating and monitoring trends in adverse birth outcomes and the development of chronic disease associated with these risk factors and chronic conditions are needed. Individual, community, and population approaches among women of reproductive age should consider both the immediate consequences related to reproductive outcomes and the lifetime risks associated with chronic disease.

Factors Identified That May Raise Risk of Early Menopause: Studies suggest links to inflammatory diseases and breast cancer genes

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 04:00:00 GMT

Certain factors have been found to be associated with a raised risk of early menopause, including having a chronic inflammatory disease or having one of two genes known to be linked to breast cancer, especially among those who smoke, according to two new studies. The studies were slated for presentation Tuesday at the annual meeting of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) in Orlando, Fla. In one study, researchers examined data from the University of California, San Francisco Cancer Risk Registry on 931 white women in the United States and found that BRCA1 and BRCA2 carriers started menopause at a much earlier age than those without the breast cancer genes -- age 48 versus 53. Heavy smoking (20 or more cigarettes a day) was associated with an even earlier onset of menopause in BRCA1/2 carriers, an average age of 45.5, the study revealed.

Why smoking may speed up the onset of the menopause: * One theory suggests smoking might impact oestrogen production * Some researchers believe certain components found in cigarettes might kill eggs

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 04:00:00 GMT

The study, carried out at the University of Hong Kong, assessed data from previous studies which included around 6,000 women from the United States, Poland, Turkey and Iran. On average non-smokers hit menopause between the ages of 46 and 51, but in all but two of the studies, smokers were shown to hit menopause between 43 and 50. Author of the study, which was published in the journal Menopause Volodymyr Dvornyk, said: 'Our results give further evidence that smoking is significantly associated with earlier (age at menopause) and provide yet another justification for women to avoid this habit.' . . . Jennie Kline, an epidemiologist from Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health in New York outlined two theories as to why smoking might result in an earlier menopause. Kline, who was not included in the study, said that smoking might impact the way women's bodies make, or get rid of, oestrogen while some researchers believe certain components of found in cigarettes might kill eggs. Dvornyk's team did not have information on how long women had been smoking or how many cigarettes they smoked each day. For that reason, and a lack of data on other health and lifestyle factors - such as weight and alcohol intake - the team said that the analysis alone is not enough to resolve the link between smoking and menopause.

Meta-analysis suggests that smoking is associated with an increased risk of early natural menopause: Published Ahead-of-Print

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 04:00:00 GMT

Objective: Age at natural menopause (ANM) is usually defined as the age at the last menstrual bleeding followed by the absence of menses for 12 consecutive months. Although many studies have suggested an association between smoking and early age at natural menopause, evidence remains conflicting because some studies reported inconsistent or contrasting results. To resolve this ambiguity and to quantitatively evaluate the effect of smoking on ANM, we conducted a meta-analysis of the available data about smoking and ANM. Methods: After extensive searching of public literature databases, a total of 11 studies were selected for this meta-analysis. Among them, the phenotype of the participants in five studies (dichotomous studies) was classified as early or late ANM, and odds ratio (OR) was used to evaluate the effect of smoking on early ANM. For the other six studies (continuous studies), mean and SD were provided for smoking and nonsmoking samples, and weighted mean difference (WMD) was used as the effect size. . . . Conclusions: The results of our study suggest that smoking is a significant independent factor for early ANM.

Smoking linked to earlier menopause

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 04:00:00 GMT

Women who smoke may hit menopause about a year earlier than those who don't light up, according to a new look at past research. That's important because the age at which women stop getting their periods may influence their risk of bone and heart diseases as well as breast cancer. Study author Volodymyr Dvornyk, from the University of Hong Kong, said that women "should be aware of this effect and possible health consequences" of smoking, in addition to its other known risks. He and his colleagues scanned the literature and found that women who were current smokers hit menopause a year earlier, on average, than non-smokers. That data came from six studies including about 6,000 women in the U.S., Poland, Turkey and Iran. Non-smokers hit menopause between age 46 and 51, on average, depending on the study population. In all but two of the studies, smokers were younger -- between 43 and 50, overall.

Tobacco-free Wedding Campaign initiated

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 04:00:00 GMT

leading brands of cigarettes and wines are a must at wedding banquets, where newlyweds visit each table and toast the guests to express their gratitude and the bride, in particular, lights a cigarette for each male guest. However, traditions like this were challenged in March, when the country's Ministry of Health included a ban on smoking in enclosed public spaces in a revised regulation on health management. Campaigns promoting tobacco-free weddings were thus carried out in Shanghai Municipality and several provinces including Zhejiang, Jiangxi and Shandong. "Prohibiting smoking in wedding receptions is an effective way of raising public awareness," said Lu Yajuan, the head of the tobacco control project for the city's disease control and prevention center.