Op-Ed: The Dangers of Vaping
Understanding the harmful consequences of e-cigarettes Chicago Health is committed to publishing a diversity of opinions. The opinions expressed in this op-ed article are the author’s own. Many people believe the best way to kick a smoking habit and to decrease the risk of tobacco-related diseases is to transition to e-cigarettes. Although this idea has grown […]
Using Nicotine to Puff Away Sadness
Ask a smoker what they get out of cigarettes and they are likely to talk about pleasure, contentment, and an overall good feeling. Nicotine, the active ingredient in cigarettes, is a stimulant. Used in low doses like those delivered by combustible cigarettes, stimulants activate the nervous system, resulting in enhanced arousal and alertness. Nicotine binding […]
Dangers of Vaping Include Addictive Nicotine, Toxic Chemicals
Had another day passed without medical intervention, 18-year-old Piper Johnson might have been unresponsive on a ventilator, her lungs under attack from a vaping-related illness. It was an event her parents, Ruby and Tim Johnson of New Lenox, won’t easily forget. Piper spent a week in a Greeley, Colorado, hospital this past August, including a […]
Toxic chemicals from cigarettes remain toxic in secondhand smoke
Mayo Clinic Q&A DEAR MAYO CLINIC: Is secondhand cigarette smoke dangerous to my health? ANSWER: The short answer to your question is yes, secondhand smoke is dangerous. Secondhand smoke — also known as environmental tobacco smoke — is a combination of the smoke coming from a burning cigarette and the smoke exhaled by the smoker, […]
Ask the Harvard Experts: Prevent COPD flare-ups to improve quality of life
Q: My father’s doctor recently diagnosed him with a COPD exacerbation. What is this? How can it be prevented from happening again? A: Smokers and ex-smokers worry most about lung cancer. But another smoking-related disease causes more disability, more days in the hospital and almost as many deaths as lung cancer. The disease is COPD, […]
Doctors shouldn’t routinely recommend e-cigarettes to smokers
The health benefits of quitting smoking are widely accepted, but researchers from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have taken issue with the suggestion that doctors should routinely recommend e-cigarettes as an alternative to cigarettes for their patients who smoke. The researchers point out in a commentary published in the Annals of Family […]
Teen smoking on the rise as e-cigarettes become readily available
The Kid’s Doctor E-cigarettes, which were a relatively obscure curiosity only a few years ago, are now available at not only “vape shops” but are also easy found at gas stations and pharmacies. The e-cigarette market has exploded. Unfortunately, with the increased availability, there has been a steady rise in adolescent e-cigarette use (vaping). The […]
A few easy steps keep kidneys healthy
The Medicine Cabinet: Ask the Harvard Experts By Howard LeWine, M.D. Q: I recently had a blood test that showed my kidneys are not working like they used to. I have high blood pressure, but otherwise consider myself healthy. What can I do to help preserve my kidney function? A: Great question! Your situation is […]
Lung disease in smokers who don’t have COPD
By Wynne Armand, M.D. Harvard Health Blog Smoking cigarettes damages your health in a number of ways. The top three smoking-related causes of death are cardiovascular disease, lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In addition to these “top three,” smoking is also linked to a number of other cancers, getting more colds and […]
Quitting smoking doesn’t have to mean big weight gain
By Howard LeWine, M.D. Harvard Health Blog Many people put off quitting smoking because they’re worried about gaining weight. Not only do they want to avoid having to buy bigger pants, they also might believe that the extra pounds would be worse for their health than smoking. The good news is that kicking the habit […]
Electronic Cigarettes: Vapor and Mirrors
By Morgan Lord Electronic cigarettes have been marketed as the safer, cleaner way to smoke. However, without Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulation and oversight, the long- and short-term health effects of these en vogue e-cigarettes remain unknown. In the sea of e-cigarette advocates and critics, there is one thing that everyone can agree on—e-cigarettes […]
Thursday’s Great American Smokeout
Tomorrow (November 15), marks the American Cancer Society’s 37th annual Great American Smokeout. This nationwide event occurs every year on the third Thursday of November. It challenges people to stop smoking by providing tools, education and support for smokers to help them quit. On the day of the Great American Smokeout, local volunteers throughout the […]
