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What’s the best age to stop smoking? Study offers clue
Researchers also quantified the benefit of quitting for those older than 35. The added risk of death associated with smoking was reduced by 90% for those who quit before age 45 and 66% for those who quit at ages 45 to 64.
“The distal nature of the health consequences for young smokers is a challenge for professionals trying to motivate quitting in younger age groups. Without a proximal goal, it is tempting for smokers to abandon a quit attempt with cognitions such as ‘I don’t really need to do it just now,’ ” John P. Pierce, PhD, director for Population Sciences at UC-San Diego’s Moores Cancer Center, wrote in a commentary.
Current smokers were twice as likely to die from any cause during the study, compared with the group researchers called “never smokers,” who were defined as smoking fewer than 100 lifetime cigarettes.
Published in JAMA Network Open, the study involved 551,388 U.S. participants using information collected by the CDC from 1997 to 2018. Researchers collected data for specific causes of death of participants through the end of 2019.
The results echo past findings but also established whether demographic factors such as a smoker’s race and gender impact the benefits of quitting. (In many areas of health research, a person’s race or gender is associated with varying risks.)
The researchers found that the benefits of quitting smoking in reducing risk of death are comparable across demographic groups.
“Among former smokers in each racial and ethnic group, whether male or female, quitting was associated with reductions of approximately 80% of the excess mortality associated with continued smoking,” the authors stated. “These associations were generally consistent for deaths from cancer, cardiovascular disease, and lower respiratory disease.”
The findings are also important for guiding stop-smoking efforts because while smoking nationwide has decreased, the reduction has varied across demographic groups.
“Monitoring the association of smoking with mortality by race, ethnicity, and sex is critical to understanding how the U.S. tobacco epidemic continues to evolve over time and who is most affected by the changes,” the authors stated. “Despite continued decreases in U.S. smoking prevalence in recent decades, progress has not been equal across demographic groups. Recent progress in raising the quit ratio among U.S. ever-smokers overall has been modest, and the quit ratio has been consistently lower among Black and Hispanic ever-smokers than among non-Hispanic White ever-smokers.”
A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.com.
This article was updated 10/27/22.
Researchers also quantified the benefit of quitting for those older than 35. The added risk of death associated with smoking was reduced by 90% for those who quit before age 45 and 66% for those who quit at ages 45 to 64.
“The distal nature of the health consequences for young smokers is a challenge for professionals trying to motivate quitting in younger age groups. Without a proximal goal, it is tempting for smokers to abandon a quit attempt with cognitions such as ‘I don’t really need to do it just now,’ ” John P. Pierce, PhD, director for Population Sciences at UC-San Diego’s Moores Cancer Center, wrote in a commentary.
Current smokers were twice as likely to die from any cause during the study, compared with the group researchers called “never smokers,” who were defined as smoking fewer than 100 lifetime cigarettes.
Published in JAMA Network Open, the study involved 551,388 U.S. participants using information collected by the CDC from 1997 to 2018. Researchers collected data for specific causes of death of participants through the end of 2019.
The results echo past findings but also established whether demographic factors such as a smoker’s race and gender impact the benefits of quitting. (In many areas of health research, a person’s race or gender is associated with varying risks.)
The researchers found that the benefits of quitting smoking in reducing risk of death are comparable across demographic groups.
“Among former smokers in each racial and ethnic group, whether male or female, quitting was associated with reductions of approximately 80% of the excess mortality associated with continued smoking,” the authors stated. “These associations were generally consistent for deaths from cancer, cardiovascular disease, and lower respiratory disease.”
The findings are also important for guiding stop-smoking efforts because while smoking nationwide has decreased, the reduction has varied across demographic groups.
“Monitoring the association of smoking with mortality by race, ethnicity, and sex is critical to understanding how the U.S. tobacco epidemic continues to evolve over time and who is most affected by the changes,” the authors stated. “Despite continued decreases in U.S. smoking prevalence in recent decades, progress has not been equal across demographic groups. Recent progress in raising the quit ratio among U.S. ever-smokers overall has been modest, and the quit ratio has been consistently lower among Black and Hispanic ever-smokers than among non-Hispanic White ever-smokers.”
A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.com.
This article was updated 10/27/22.
Researchers also quantified the benefit of quitting for those older than 35. The added risk of death associated with smoking was reduced by 90% for those who quit before age 45 and 66% for those who quit at ages 45 to 64.
“The distal nature of the health consequences for young smokers is a challenge for professionals trying to motivate quitting in younger age groups. Without a proximal goal, it is tempting for smokers to abandon a quit attempt with cognitions such as ‘I don’t really need to do it just now,’ ” John P. Pierce, PhD, director for Population Sciences at UC-San Diego’s Moores Cancer Center, wrote in a commentary.
Current smokers were twice as likely to die from any cause during the study, compared with the group researchers called “never smokers,” who were defined as smoking fewer than 100 lifetime cigarettes.
Published in JAMA Network Open, the study involved 551,388 U.S. participants using information collected by the CDC from 1997 to 2018. Researchers collected data for specific causes of death of participants through the end of 2019.
The results echo past findings but also established whether demographic factors such as a smoker’s race and gender impact the benefits of quitting. (In many areas of health research, a person’s race or gender is associated with varying risks.)
The researchers found that the benefits of quitting smoking in reducing risk of death are comparable across demographic groups.
“Among former smokers in each racial and ethnic group, whether male or female, quitting was associated with reductions of approximately 80% of the excess mortality associated with continued smoking,” the authors stated. “These associations were generally consistent for deaths from cancer, cardiovascular disease, and lower respiratory disease.”
The findings are also important for guiding stop-smoking efforts because while smoking nationwide has decreased, the reduction has varied across demographic groups.
“Monitoring the association of smoking with mortality by race, ethnicity, and sex is critical to understanding how the U.S. tobacco epidemic continues to evolve over time and who is most affected by the changes,” the authors stated. “Despite continued decreases in U.S. smoking prevalence in recent decades, progress has not been equal across demographic groups. Recent progress in raising the quit ratio among U.S. ever-smokers overall has been modest, and the quit ratio has been consistently lower among Black and Hispanic ever-smokers than among non-Hispanic White ever-smokers.”
A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.com.
This article was updated 10/27/22.
FROM JAMA NETWORK OPEN
Florida sees spike in deadly bacterial infections after Hurricane Ian
At least 4 people have died and 29 have been infected in Lee County after the hurricane, Florida health officials said in a news release.
Vibrio vulnificus bacteria is found in warm, brackish seawater, according to the Florida Department of Health. Anyone with open wounds or cuts should avoid standing water, floodwater, or seawater in the area, health officials said.
“Sewage spills in coastal waters, like those caused by Hurricane Ian, may increase bacteria levels,” the department advised in a news release. “People with open wounds, cuts, or scratches can be exposed to Vibrio vulnificus through direct contact with sea water or brackish water … Vibrio vulnificus can also cause disease in those who eat raw or undercooked oysters and shellfish.”
Infection can cause severe illness or death. Symptoms include fever, chills, decreased blood pressure, and blistering skin lesions. The bacteria does not spread person to person.
“If someone is concerned that they may have been exposed to Vibrio vulnificus and are experiencing the above symptoms, they should seek medical attention immediately,” officials said in the statement. “Individuals with wound infections should also seek care promptly.”
A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.com.
At least 4 people have died and 29 have been infected in Lee County after the hurricane, Florida health officials said in a news release.
Vibrio vulnificus bacteria is found in warm, brackish seawater, according to the Florida Department of Health. Anyone with open wounds or cuts should avoid standing water, floodwater, or seawater in the area, health officials said.
“Sewage spills in coastal waters, like those caused by Hurricane Ian, may increase bacteria levels,” the department advised in a news release. “People with open wounds, cuts, or scratches can be exposed to Vibrio vulnificus through direct contact with sea water or brackish water … Vibrio vulnificus can also cause disease in those who eat raw or undercooked oysters and shellfish.”
Infection can cause severe illness or death. Symptoms include fever, chills, decreased blood pressure, and blistering skin lesions. The bacteria does not spread person to person.
“If someone is concerned that they may have been exposed to Vibrio vulnificus and are experiencing the above symptoms, they should seek medical attention immediately,” officials said in the statement. “Individuals with wound infections should also seek care promptly.”
A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.com.
At least 4 people have died and 29 have been infected in Lee County after the hurricane, Florida health officials said in a news release.
Vibrio vulnificus bacteria is found in warm, brackish seawater, according to the Florida Department of Health. Anyone with open wounds or cuts should avoid standing water, floodwater, or seawater in the area, health officials said.
“Sewage spills in coastal waters, like those caused by Hurricane Ian, may increase bacteria levels,” the department advised in a news release. “People with open wounds, cuts, or scratches can be exposed to Vibrio vulnificus through direct contact with sea water or brackish water … Vibrio vulnificus can also cause disease in those who eat raw or undercooked oysters and shellfish.”
Infection can cause severe illness or death. Symptoms include fever, chills, decreased blood pressure, and blistering skin lesions. The bacteria does not spread person to person.
“If someone is concerned that they may have been exposed to Vibrio vulnificus and are experiencing the above symptoms, they should seek medical attention immediately,” officials said in the statement. “Individuals with wound infections should also seek care promptly.”
A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.com.
Doctor removes 23 contact lenses from woman’s eye
In a video posted on Instagram, ophthalmologist Katerina Kurteeva, MD, is shown removing contact lenses from a woman’s eye.
“Don’t sleep in your contact lenses!” she warned.
“They were essentially glued together after sitting under the eyelid for a month,” Dr. Kurteeva said in the post.
The patient is doing fine and wants to continue wearing contact lenses, the doctor told the Los Angeles ABC News affiliate, noting that the patient didn’t know how she could have forgotten to take her lenses out.
About 45 million Americans wear contact lenses, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Contact lens usage increases the risk of infections such as microbial keratitis. In severe cases, microbial keratitis can cause blindness or require corneal transplant.
Dr. Kurteeva told the Los Angeles TV station that the cornea becomes desensitized after years of contact lens wear.
“This is essentially a protective feature, because otherwise you’d be really bothered by everyday contact lens wear. After all, it is a foreign body in your eye,” she said. “So when the cornea loses sensitivity, it’s sort of an adjustment, but at the same time, you don’t feel when something is really wrong as acutely.”
A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.com.
In a video posted on Instagram, ophthalmologist Katerina Kurteeva, MD, is shown removing contact lenses from a woman’s eye.
“Don’t sleep in your contact lenses!” she warned.
“They were essentially glued together after sitting under the eyelid for a month,” Dr. Kurteeva said in the post.
The patient is doing fine and wants to continue wearing contact lenses, the doctor told the Los Angeles ABC News affiliate, noting that the patient didn’t know how she could have forgotten to take her lenses out.
About 45 million Americans wear contact lenses, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Contact lens usage increases the risk of infections such as microbial keratitis. In severe cases, microbial keratitis can cause blindness or require corneal transplant.
Dr. Kurteeva told the Los Angeles TV station that the cornea becomes desensitized after years of contact lens wear.
“This is essentially a protective feature, because otherwise you’d be really bothered by everyday contact lens wear. After all, it is a foreign body in your eye,” she said. “So when the cornea loses sensitivity, it’s sort of an adjustment, but at the same time, you don’t feel when something is really wrong as acutely.”
A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.com.
In a video posted on Instagram, ophthalmologist Katerina Kurteeva, MD, is shown removing contact lenses from a woman’s eye.
“Don’t sleep in your contact lenses!” she warned.
“They were essentially glued together after sitting under the eyelid for a month,” Dr. Kurteeva said in the post.
The patient is doing fine and wants to continue wearing contact lenses, the doctor told the Los Angeles ABC News affiliate, noting that the patient didn’t know how she could have forgotten to take her lenses out.
About 45 million Americans wear contact lenses, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Contact lens usage increases the risk of infections such as microbial keratitis. In severe cases, microbial keratitis can cause blindness or require corneal transplant.
Dr. Kurteeva told the Los Angeles TV station that the cornea becomes desensitized after years of contact lens wear.
“This is essentially a protective feature, because otherwise you’d be really bothered by everyday contact lens wear. After all, it is a foreign body in your eye,” she said. “So when the cornea loses sensitivity, it’s sort of an adjustment, but at the same time, you don’t feel when something is really wrong as acutely.”
A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.com.
New COVID variant gaining traction in U.S.
, according to the CDC’s latest data.
Just 1 month ago, the variant accounted for less than 1% of cases.
“When you get variants like that, you look at what their rate of increase is as a relative proportion of the variants, and this has a pretty troublesome doubling time,” Anthony Fauci, MD, said in an interview with CBS News. Dr. Fauci is the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and also the chief medical adviser to President Joe Biden.
There are also concerning features of the BQ.1 variant, which include mutations that could potentially escape vaccines and treatments for COVID-19.
Currently, the most widespread variant in the U.S. is the Omicron subvariant known as BA.5, which accounts for 68% of all infections. One of the go-to treatments for BA.5 infections is monoclonal antibodies, which may not be as effective when fighting the up-and-coming strains of BQ.1 and its descendant BQ.1.1, according to experts.
“That’s the reason why people are concerned about BQ.1.1, for the double reason of its doubling time and the fact that it seems to elude important monoclonal antibodies,” Dr. Fauci told CBS News.
Currently, BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 appear most widespread in the New York and New Jersey region, accounting for nearly 20% of infections there, according to the CDC.
But because the new variant is a descendant of Omicron, Dr. Fauci said the currently available booster shots are still the best first line of protection against this up-and-coming threat.
“The bad news is that there’s a new variant that’s emerging and that has qualities or characteristics that could evade some of the interventions we have. But, the somewhat encouraging news is that it’s a BA.5 sub-lineage, so there is almost certainly going to be some cross-protection that you can boost up,” he said.
A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.com.
, according to the CDC’s latest data.
Just 1 month ago, the variant accounted for less than 1% of cases.
“When you get variants like that, you look at what their rate of increase is as a relative proportion of the variants, and this has a pretty troublesome doubling time,” Anthony Fauci, MD, said in an interview with CBS News. Dr. Fauci is the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and also the chief medical adviser to President Joe Biden.
There are also concerning features of the BQ.1 variant, which include mutations that could potentially escape vaccines and treatments for COVID-19.
Currently, the most widespread variant in the U.S. is the Omicron subvariant known as BA.5, which accounts for 68% of all infections. One of the go-to treatments for BA.5 infections is monoclonal antibodies, which may not be as effective when fighting the up-and-coming strains of BQ.1 and its descendant BQ.1.1, according to experts.
“That’s the reason why people are concerned about BQ.1.1, for the double reason of its doubling time and the fact that it seems to elude important monoclonal antibodies,” Dr. Fauci told CBS News.
Currently, BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 appear most widespread in the New York and New Jersey region, accounting for nearly 20% of infections there, according to the CDC.
But because the new variant is a descendant of Omicron, Dr. Fauci said the currently available booster shots are still the best first line of protection against this up-and-coming threat.
“The bad news is that there’s a new variant that’s emerging and that has qualities or characteristics that could evade some of the interventions we have. But, the somewhat encouraging news is that it’s a BA.5 sub-lineage, so there is almost certainly going to be some cross-protection that you can boost up,” he said.
A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.com.
, according to the CDC’s latest data.
Just 1 month ago, the variant accounted for less than 1% of cases.
“When you get variants like that, you look at what their rate of increase is as a relative proportion of the variants, and this has a pretty troublesome doubling time,” Anthony Fauci, MD, said in an interview with CBS News. Dr. Fauci is the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and also the chief medical adviser to President Joe Biden.
There are also concerning features of the BQ.1 variant, which include mutations that could potentially escape vaccines and treatments for COVID-19.
Currently, the most widespread variant in the U.S. is the Omicron subvariant known as BA.5, which accounts for 68% of all infections. One of the go-to treatments for BA.5 infections is monoclonal antibodies, which may not be as effective when fighting the up-and-coming strains of BQ.1 and its descendant BQ.1.1, according to experts.
“That’s the reason why people are concerned about BQ.1.1, for the double reason of its doubling time and the fact that it seems to elude important monoclonal antibodies,” Dr. Fauci told CBS News.
Currently, BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 appear most widespread in the New York and New Jersey region, accounting for nearly 20% of infections there, according to the CDC.
But because the new variant is a descendant of Omicron, Dr. Fauci said the currently available booster shots are still the best first line of protection against this up-and-coming threat.
“The bad news is that there’s a new variant that’s emerging and that has qualities or characteristics that could evade some of the interventions we have. But, the somewhat encouraging news is that it’s a BA.5 sub-lineage, so there is almost certainly going to be some cross-protection that you can boost up,” he said.
A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.com.