http://www.tobacco.org/newsfeed/category/women.rss Latest top tobacco news headlines en-us http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0045653512000604 http://tobacco.org/news/333626.html 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. Science Direct louisg@mail.nih.gov Sat, 04 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2012/02/08/Smoking-lead-linked-to-pregnancy-delay/UPI-39651328760328/ http://tobacco.org/news/333625.html 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. UPI Wed, 08 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://www.lbpost.com/news/addison/1309300094 http://tobacco.org/news/333523.html For his proposal to study how secondhand smoke exposure may predispose women to heart disease, Cal State Long Beach (CSULB) chemistry/biochemistry senior Tuyen Ngoc Tran has received a $3,000 scholarship as one of this year's recipients of the Howell-CSUPERB Research Scholar Award. CSUPERB (CSU Program for Education and Research in Biotechnology) has partnered with the Doris A. Howell Foundation for Women's Health Research to fund promising undergraduate student research projects in topics related to women's health. The Howell Foundation and CSUPERB recognize that research experience is critical to engaging, retaining and graduating students interested in careers in women's health. CSUPERB received 32 applications from students at 15 different CSU campuses for the Howell awards, but only 11 students from seven of the universities were selected for the $3,000 scholarships. The Howell-CSUPERB Scholars show great professional promise academically and in research programs. Each scholar will be conducting faculty mentored research projects during 2012. Long Beach Post addison@lbpost.com ( Brian Addison * Long Beach News) Tue, 07 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://www.arabianbusiness.com/sheesha-smoking-fashionable-for-qatari-girls-study-443989.html http://tobacco.org/news/333418.html Sheesha smoking is becoming increasing fashionable amongst young Qatari women as they look for alternatives to smoking cigarettes, a new study has found. Smoking, traditionally considered culturally taboo and socially unacceptable by older women in the Gulf state, is becoming more socially acceptable amongst younger national women, according a poll on lifestyle and health choices by the University of Calgary-Qatar. “Participants also observed that even though smoking is a culturally taboo and socially unacceptable behaviour, the younger Qatari generation thinks differently,” the report said. “They noticed that water-pipe [sheesha] smoking is emerging as a fashionable mode of tobacco use in Qatar, especially among young girls. There is an assumption that for these individuals, smoking sheesha is more acceptable than smoking cigarettes,” it added. Poor diet choices coupled with lack of exercise and a highly sedentary lifestyle are all contributing to the rapidly growing rate of lifestyle diseases amongst GCC nationals. Arabian Business registration@arabianbusiness.com ( Claire Ferris-Lay ) Qatar Tue, 07 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://ekasearch01.eurekalert.org/e3/cs.html?url=http%3A//www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-01/bmj-omw012712.php&charset=iso-8859-1&qt=%2Bsmoking%2C+EurekAlert&col=ev3rel&n=3&la=en http://tobacco.org/news/333396.html Mums-to-be who are both overweight and smoke during their pregnancy risk damaging their baby's developing heart, finds research published online in Heart. Congenital heart abnormalities are some of the most common defects found at birth, with around eight in every 1000 babies affected. A likely cause is only found in 15% of cases. The authors base their findings on an analysis of almost 800 babies and foetuses who were born with congenital heart abnormalities, but no other defects, between 1997 and 2008. These babies were compared with 322 children and foetuses who were born with chromosomal abnormalities, but without any heart defects. EurekAlert edickinson@bmjgroup.com Mon, 30 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/happiness-is-a-hotel-cigar-evening-for-new-generation-of-female-smokers-6579557.html http://tobacco.org/news/333384.html An unhealthy habit that whispers of closed doors and secret deals is enjoying an unlikely resurgence. Women smoke cigars now – at least, they do if you ask London's top-flight hotels. The May Fair, near Green Park, has announced plans to open a cigar room this spring that will offer a "feminine experience", consigning the gentleman's club atmosphere to the history books, and sprucing the place up with pot plants and a choice of Martinis. The May Fair joins No. Ten Manchester Street, a hotel in Marylebone, which recently launched a regular ladies' cigar evening, where female chompers can enjoy their stogies without feeling inhibited. The Lanesborough and The Langham also boast cigar rooms or terraces to satisfy a growing demand among a new generation of smokers. I hope my doctor isn't reading this, because I'm fairly sure he'd take a dim view of me pulling away on a Cuban at 10am on a Friday morning. Puff Daddy would understand. And besides, it was all in the name of research. . . . But cigar-smoking today is less about making a stand than it is about taking a seat. Part of the joy of a cigar, I am told, is the fact you can draw it out over an evening; this is not a quick chuff while you're waiting for the bus. "We have gents who sit for five, six hours and smoke three," says Nemethova, "but that's too much for me. One over three hours maybe, is really nice but there isn't always time." And the cigar industry is catering to this new market – unsurprisingly, given cigar sales declined by 5.4 per cent last year and were hit severely by the smoking ban. But they're on the up again, as hotels get wise to the limitations of the laws. These new spaces skirt the ban's definition of indoor space as one that is 50 per cent covered, with mesh walls, foliage, tiles and outdoor heaters to create an ambience that is fresh – both literally and metaphorically – and as free of fug as it is of fogies. Havana itself has recognised the unlikely new demand: Cuba's most famous brand, Romeo Y Julieta, last year developed the "Julieta", a 4.75-incher targeted at the lady smoker. The Independent someone@somewhere.com ( Harriet Walker is a fashion writer for The Independent. ) UK Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://www.bmj.com/content/344/bmj.e372 http://tobacco.org/news/333367.html Conclusion Chronic use of PPIs is associated with increased risk of hip fracture, particularly among women with a history of smoking. British Medical Journal achan@partners.org Tue, 31 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/12/102/abstract http://tobacco.org/news/333360.html Background Smoking during pregnancy is associated with known adverse perinatal and obstetrical outcomes as well as with socio-economic, demographic and other behavioural risk factors that independently influence outcomes. Using a large population-based perinatal registry, we assess the quantity of cigarettes smoked for the magnitude of adverse birth outcomes and also the association of other socio-economic and behavioural risk factors documented within the registry that influence pregnancy outcomes. Our goal was to determine whether number of cigarettes smoked could identify those in greatest need for comprehensive intervention programs to improve outcomes. . . . Results There were 233,891 singleton births with available smoking status data. A significant dose-dependent increase in risk was observed for the adverse birth outcomes small-for-gestational age, term low birth weight and intra-uterine growth restriction. Results from the pp-odds model indicate heavy smokers were more likely to have not graduated high school: AOR (95% CI) = 3.80 (3.41-4.25); be a single parent: 2.27 (2.14-2.42); have indication of drug or alcohol use: 7.65 (6.99-8.39) and 2.20 (1.88-2.59) respectively, attend fewer than 4 prenatal care visits: 1.39 (1.23-1.58), and be multiparous: 1.59 (1.51-1.68) compared to light, moderate and non-smokers combined. Conclusion Our data suggests that self reports of heavy smoking early in pregnancy could be used as a marker for lifestyle risk factors that in combination with smoking influence birth outcomes. This information may be used for planning targeted intervention programs for not only smoking cessation, but potentially other support services such as nutrition and healthy pregnancy education. BioMed Central Canada Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://7thspace.com/headlines/405136/heavy_smoking_during_pregnancy_as_a_marker_for_other_risk_factors_of_adverse_birth_outcomes_a_population_based_study_in_british_columbia_canada.html http://tobacco.org/news/333359.html Conclusion: Our data suggests that self reports of heavy smoking early in pregnancy could be used as a marker for lifestyle risk factors that in combination with smoking influence birth outcomes. . . . Author: Anders C EricksonLaura T Arbour Credits/Source: BMC Public Health 2012, 12:102 7thSpace Interactive Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://consumer.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=660767 http://tobacco.org/news/333358.html Children born to women who smoke during pregnancy are not at increased risk for autism, according to a new study. Smoking during pregnancy has been considered a possible cause of autism in children due to known links between smoking and behavioral disorders and obstetric complications, but previous studies of a connection between smoking during pregnancy and autism have had mixed results. In this study, researchers analyzed data from nearly 4,000 Swedish children with autism and a control group of 39,000 children without autism. The results showed that 19.8 percent of the children in the autism group and 18.4 percent of those in the control group had mothers who smoked during pregnancy. The study was published online in December in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders and will appear in a upcoming print issue. HealthDay [HealthScout] Fri, 20 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://consumer.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=661244 http://tobacco.org/news/333357.html Older women who take popular medications to control indigestion and heartburn may put themselves at higher risk for hip fractures, researchers report. Long-term use of these drugs, called proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), may increase that risk by 35 percent to 50 percent for current or former smokers, the researchers added. Prilosec, Nexium and Prevacid are some examples of these medications. "Although PPI use might be strongly indicated in some patients, at least for short-term use, we believe that clinicians should continue to carefully monitor the need for long-term use of these medications, specifically among postmenopausal women with a history of smoking," said lead researcher Dr. Hamed Khalili, a clinical and research fellow in gastroenterology at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. "Our data supports the recent decision by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to revise labeling of PPIs to incorporate concerns about a possible increase in risk of fractures with these drugs," he said. The report was published in the Jan. 31 online edition of the BMJ. HealthDay [HealthScout] Tue, 31 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://news.yahoo.com/plastic-surgeon-cautions-against-smoking-surgery-080445994.html http://tobacco.org/news/333328.html Concerned about studies that indicate a link between smoking and complications during and after breast augmentation, Boston, MA area plastic surgeon Dr. Michael Tantillo is urging women to kick their cigarette habits prior to surgical procedures. He's so concerned, in fact, that he's using Facebook to spread the word about the connection between smoking and surgical complications. "Despite so many studies showing the risks of smoking, it's still a widespread habit," Dr. Tantillo says. "Many people do not even know about the potential affect it can have on surgery. To help spread the word on the risks of smoking when it comes to surgical procedures, I decided to use my Facebook Page (http://www.facebook.com/MichaelTantilloMD?v=wall) to call attention to an ABC News report on the correlation between cigarettes and surgical complications. PR Web Sun, 05 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9051747/Indigestion-drugs-taken-by-millions-linked-to-hip-fractures.html http://tobacco.org/news/333286.html Post-menopausal women who take drugs known as proton pump inhibitors are around 35 per cent per cent more likely to suffer a broken hip, research has suggested. Millions of people take the drugs for heartburn, acid reflux, or peptic ulcers. The longer the women took the drugs, the higher the risk of a fracture, as the research shows those taking them for six to eight years were 50 per cent more likely to suffer a broken hip. . . . "These findings further support the recent decision of the Food and Drug Administration to revise labelling of PPIs to incorporate concerns about a possible increase in risk of fractures with these drugs. "Our data suggest the importance of carefully evaluating the need for long term, continuous use of PPIs, particularly among individuals with a history of smoking." Electronic Telegraph UK Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://www.nhs.uk/news/2012/02February/Pages/hip-fracture-risk-higher-heartburn-ppi.aspx http://tobacco.org/news/333285.html “Heartburn pills taken by thousands of women ‘raise risk of hip fractures by up to 50 per cent’,” the Daily Mail reported today. The headline is based on a large new study of drugs called proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), which are commonly used to treat heartburn, acid reflux and ulcers. The study found that post-menopausal women who regularly took PPIs for at least two years were 35% more likely to suffer hip fracture than non-users, a figure that increases to 50% for women who were current or former smokers. However, although this increase in risk is large, the overall risk of fractures remains small. . . . Conclusion This large study had several strengths. Unlike some previous studies, it collected information on and took into account other key risk factors for fracture, including body weight, smoking, alcohol use and physical activity. It also looked at the women’s use of PPIs every two years (rather than just asking them once) and took into account variations in use during this time in their analysis. However, as the authors note, it also had some limitations: National Health Service UK Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://www.rnw.nl/english/bulletin/lung-cancer-rise-among-dutch-women http://tobacco.org/news/333178.html The number of women suffering from lung cancer is expected to more than double in the coming decade. The Dutch Cancer Society (KWF) expects about 8,500 women will be suffering from the disease in 2020, compared to close to 4,000 in 2007. A spokesperson for the organisation says: "When women smoke just as much as men, they are more likely to get lung cancer. This is probably related to their hormonal system." Radio Netherlands Netherlands Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT