F for Tobacco Prevention

According to the American Lung Association from CBS News, many states did not pass 2012 state reports on tobacco control policies. Although there has been a decline in youth and adult smoking rates, the declining rate is not continuous and has been stalled at times. To make matters worse, tobacco companies are even selling smoke-free dissolvable products that contain nicotine in some states to entice customers. The FDA is currently investigating these products and may take action soon.

UC's Tobacco Free

The University of California will be implementing a ban on smoking and chewing of tobacco on all UC campuses by 2014. President Mark Yudof announced the ban to campus chancellors this week. According to the SFGate, the main goal is to reduce exposure to secondhand smoke.  The sales of tobacco and advertisements for the products on campus will also be banned in buildings owned or rented by the University of California. Currently, 8 percent of UC students and 10 percent of employees smoke.

Hookah

Despite what many may think, hookah also poses a major health hazard to users. Hookah is a type of water pipe filled with flavored tobacco. The tobacco is first heated up by charcoal and then cooled by water found at the base of the pipes. Individuals using hookah inhale the cooled tobacco fumes that contain carbon monoxide. According to health officials, carbon monoxide makes it more difficult for the body to take up oxygen for vital body functions. Individuals experiencing carbon monoxide poisoning may have flu-like symptoms such as nausea and fatigue. In extreme cases, carbon monoxide poisoning can lead to coma or death.

Ban on Flavored Cigars

There has been increasing concern over the use of flavored cigars to attract the youth towards tobacco as an alternative to cigarette smoking. They have the same negative effects of smoking cigarettes and cigars, but contain "candy-like flavoring." The main differences between cigars and cigarettes are the size and type of tobacco used to create the products. In response to the flavored cigars, senators Frank Lautenberg, Dick Durbin, Sherrod Brown, Jeff Merkley, and Richard Blumenthal asked the FDA to ban the sale of flavored cigars, given the FDA's ability to regulate the sale of tobacco from the Family Smoking prevention and Tobacco Control Act of 2009. The cigar industry has fired back against the senators' call for the ban saying it would "devastate local stores."

Smoking and Probiotics?

In the British Journal of Nutrition, researchers discovered that the consumption of probiotics, microorganisms that provide health benefits to its hosts organism, help boost up the immune system of smokers by increasing NK activity. NK, natural killer cells, are lymphocytes that attack and kill harmful cells in the human body, i.e. tumor and virus cells. Although probiotics may assist in improving the immune system of smokers, this does not completely stop or reverse the negative effects of smoking. In fact, this research only emphasizes how much of a negative impact smoking has on the human body by demonstrating how susceptible smokers are to infections and diseases.

Smoking is the Biggest Risk Factor for Cancer

In an epidemiological research study conducted on risk factors for cancer, Professor Parkin from the Centre for Cancer Prevention at the Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine in the UK discovered that smoking is the biggest risk factor for cancer, being a part of approximately 19% new cases for the year. Smoking was followed by diet at 9.2%; weight at 5.5%; and alcohol at 4%.

Menthol vs. "Regular" Cigarettes

Although menthol cigarettes may reduce the irritation and harshness of tobacco smoke, menthol cigarettes still instigate and cause the same negative effects of smoking a regular cigarette. According to the Sacramento Bee, menthol cigarettes may be worse than regular cigarettes because they make it more likely for individuals to become addicted to smoking due to their cooling and anesthetic properties. In other words, there are no substitutes to smoking a "better" or less harmful cigarette.

It's Back On!!!

In retaliation to U.S. District Judge Richard Leon's ruling that blocked the display of FDA-approved warning labels on tobacco products, the FDA will challenge the decision in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. According to Bloomberg, President Obama gave the FDA authority to regulate the sales of these products when President Obama signed the Family Smoking prevention and Tobacco Control Act in June 2009. Who do you think will win out in this ruling?

Indirect Benefit to Decreased Smoking

Besides the negative physical effects that are associated with smoking tobacco, analysis of data from 1991 to 2007 shows that if individual states follow new CDC guidelines, states could save up to 14-20 times the cost of tobacco control programs. According to San Francisco State economists David R. Pieper and Sudip Chattopadhyay, many of these savings would come from medical and productivity costs.

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FDA Sends 1,200 letters to tobacco retailers

Since last week's unfortunate event, when the tobacco company won the injunction set by the FDA to place warning labels on their products, the FDA fought back by reminding tobacco retailers  about the consequences of selling tobacco to minors and holding other illegal tobacco-related activities and sent out 1,200 warning letters. This was especially targeted at stores that did not pass the FDA inspection on tobacco-related sales and activities. More information about the topic can be located here:

http://www.iewy.com/36368-fda-acts-to-protect-children-from-illegal-tobacco-sales-2.html