Recent research published in the online open journal BMC Genomics shows that smoking leads to changes in gene expression, some of which are reversible and some of which are permanent. Genes that are irreversibly changed may help to explain why former smokers, even after 10 years of not smoking, are still more susceptible to lung cancer than those who have never smoked.
Smoking Cessation Timeline: What Happens When You Quit
August 30, 2007 | by
In the U.S., one-quarter of adults 18 years of age and older smoke cigarettes [1]. Smoking is truly a deadly habit. With about 4000 known chemicals in tobacco smoke, more than 50 of them are known to cause cancer. According to the World Health Organization, every six seconds someone in the world dies from tobacco use [2].
How’s this for bad odds: tobacco kills 50% of its regular users. One out of every two regular smokers will die from smoking [2].
In addition, an estimated 200,000 people die every year due to second-hand smoke exposure at work. The United States Environmental Protection Agency estimates that second-hand smoke is responsible for approximately 3000 lung cancer deaths annually among non-smokers [2]. Additionally, new research has linked second-hand smoke exposure to psychological problems in children, including attention deficit disorder (ADHD) and conduct disorder.
The best time to quit smoking is RIGHT NOW. And while quitting is tough, you can start counting the benefits of not smoking in as little as 20 minutes. Here’s what happens to your body when you quit smoking [3-5]:
Health Highlights – August 9th, 2007
August 9, 2007 | by
Health Highlights is a biweekly summary of particularly interesting articles from credible sources of health and medical information that we follow & read. For a complete list of recommeded sources, see our links page.
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Think Bigg
A non-profit blogsite dedicated to bringing information and inspiration to those who care about the people, communities, culture and the world in which we live.
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Another Chapter of “Bad” Foods (Not) Making Kids Fat | Junkfood Science
Sandy Szwarc reviews a study that investigated whether young children adjust how much they eat depending on the calorie content in the foods consumed.
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Sara Ost of Healthbolt and I Will Blog for Health | Eye on DNA
Guest blogger Sara Ost of Healthbolt shares 7 essential steps for non-experts blogging about expert things.
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The Hand of the Beholder | Musings of a Distractible Mind
Dr. Rob shows us that the “perfect child” is simply a matter of perspective.
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Coley’s Cancer-Killing Concoction | Damn Interesting
I stumbed across this on Digg a few weeks ago and thought it was interesting. The advent of immunotherapy and the use of bacterial vaccines in the treatment of cancer.
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Nursing and Web 2.0 | Universal Health
N=1 considers the absence of blogs written by nurses in research and academia.
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Scientific Advancements of the Future | Blah, Blah! Technology
Wayne Smallman at Blah! Blah! Technology imagines a future where nano-mechanical devices, deriving their power directly from blood flow, replace external wireless communication devices and literally become a part of our body. And you thought the iPhone was cool!
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When Do Foods Really Go Bad? | Mark’s Daily Apple
Sell by date? Leftovers? Mark’s Daily Apple reviews how long certain foods really last.
What You Believe Can Kill You
August 1, 2007 | by
The Washington Post published a story yesterday stating that Personal Health Beliefs are Largely Hit and Myth. The story discusses the results of an American Cancer Society (ACS) study released last week, which will be published in the September 1st issue of the journal Cancer.
Health Highlights – July 10th, 2007
July 10, 2007 | by
Health Highlights is a biweekly summary of particularly interesting articles from credible sources of health and medical information that we follow & read. For a complete list of recommeded sources, see our links page.
- What Is Aspartame And Why You Should Avoid It | The Good Human
David at The Good Human writes about aspartame, it’s FDA approval and it’s health effects.
- Very Cool Web Tool | InsureBlog
Although it’s a short post, H G Stern writes about one cool tool … Find Your Doc.
- Heavy metals in foods: more trouble for China | Terra Sigillata
Abel Pharmboy at Terra Sigillata writes about a Wall Street Journal report on heavy metal food contamination in China.
- Cancer Mutation Theory Possibly Overrated | Life Sciences Blog
Konstantinos at the Life Sciences Blog writes about an alternative theory for cancer. Indeed, aneuploidy (meaning the duplication or loss of one or more chromosomes) is a common characteristic in virtually all cancers.
- NextBio: the search engine for life sciences data | ScienceRoll
Berci at ScienceRoll shows us NextBio, a web-based scientific data search engine that looks incredibly cool. If you search PubMed frequently (like I do), you’ll have to give the demo a spin.
- For Your Own Safety Avoid Mixing These Two Products | The Beauty Brains
Insect repellent and sunscreen don’t mix. The Beauty Brains explain why.
