All articles tagged with #smoking
The piece explores a rising counterculture in Silicon Valley where founders, engineers, and investors smoke cigarettes as a social ritual that accelerates deal-making and networking, despite a broad decline in smoking and the tech community’s wellness trend.
A BMJ Open analysis across 46 countries shows that while about 92% of smokers know smoking can cause lung cancer, knowledge of cardiovascular risks (heart disease, heart attack, stroke) is notably lower, with secondhand smoke awareness even weaker. The study highlights that smoking damages blood vessels, promotes plaque, and increases clotting, contributing to heart attacks and strokes, and that risks begin even at low levels of smoking. Quitting yields rapid cardiovascular benefits, and combining nicotine replacement or medications with counseling improves success. Public health messaging should emphasize heart-related harms just as it does lung cancer, and smokers should protect others from secondhand smoke by avoiding indoor exposure.
A European study of more than 50,000 participants found current smokers report greater loneliness than non-smokers, with loneliness increasing over time; researchers say smoking may harm psychosocial health in addition to physical risks.
A US cardiologist with ~8,000 heart surgeries, Dr. Jeremy London, shares five everyday avoidances for heart health: don’t smoke (including vaping and cannabis), steer clear of ultra-processed foods, stay physically active instead of sitting all day, nurture social connections to fight loneliness, and manage chronic stress; these practical steps, aligned with WHO guidance, can lower cardiovascular risk and improve resilience, though they don’t guarantee perfect health.
Dr. Jeremy London, a cardiovascular surgeon with 25 years and over 8,000 surgeries, outlines five daily habits to avoid that can quietly raise heart-disease risk: smoking of any kind, ultraprocessed foods, sedentary living, loneliness, and chronic stress. He stresses that avoiding these does not guarantee immunity from heart attack or stroke but can improve long-term heart health.
Kidney health can be silently harmed by daily choices: frequent NSAID painkillers, hidden salt in processed foods, a diet dominated by ultra-processed products, mismanaged hydration (not too little or too much), and smoking; plus not regularly checking blood pressure, blood sugar, or kidney function can delay detection of problems—so use painkillers cautiously, watch sodium, opt for minimally processed meals, stay appropriately hydrated, quit smoking, and discuss routine kidney screening with a clinician.
A 26-year study of 12,409 adults found that avoiding midlife vascular risk factors—diabetes, high blood pressure, and smoking—was associated with about 12 more years of dementia-free life, with women showing longer dementia-free years than men; however, the observational design means causality can’t be established.
Neurologist Dr. Arun Shah explains that dementia risk is linked to vascular and metabolic health—factors like high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, obesity, and high cholesterol can impair brain blood flow and cognitive function. He recommends three modifiable steps: quit smoking, control blood pressure, and live a balanced lifestyle that includes regular physical activity, a nutritious diet, sufficient sleep, and proper management of chronic conditions to protect brain health as we age.
In a long-term study of 12,409 adults (average age ~56), those with no history of high blood pressure, diabetes, or smoking lived about 30.1 years dementia-free, compared with ~17.5 years for those with all three risk factors—roughly 13 fewer dementia-free years. The findings varied by sex and race (women and White participants fared better). The study shows association, not causation, but suggests midlife prevention of vascular risks may delay dementia and help preserve brain health, alongside other healthy habits; risk factors were only measured once.
A Prevention article highlights a Neurology study of about 12,000 participants followed for ~26 years, showing that midlife diabetes, high blood pressure, and smoking collectively increase dementia risk and shorten dementia-free years. Those with none of these risk factors gained roughly 12.6 extra dementia-free years, while having all three raised risk substantially. Experts emphasize that reducing these vascular risks through regular exercise, restorative sleep, social connections, a fiber-rich diet, and not smoking can help lower dementia risk, though the study is observational and cannot prove causation.
New long-term study of over 12,000 adults from the ARIC cohort links avoiding three midlife vascular risk factors—high blood pressure, diabetes, and smoking—from ages 48 to 68 with a roughly 13-year extension of dementia-free life. Among participants, 3,008 developed dementia and 5,238 died without it; women and White participants showed more dementia-free years. The study, observational and based on one-time risk assessments, suggests vascular risk reduction could benefit brain health and help curb rising dementia cases as the population ages, though it cannot prove causation.
A long-running NYU Langone study of more than 12,000 dementia-free adults (average age ~56) over 26 years links maintaining normal blood pressure, avoiding diabetes, and not smoking between ages 48–68 with roughly 13 more dementia-free years; those with none of the three risks averaged about 30 dementia-free years after baseline, while those with all three risks averaged around 17. The work emphasizes midlife vascular risk reduction to preserve brain health across populations, though observational design cannot prove causation.
A study of 12,000+ people finds that maintaining normal blood pressure, not smoking, and not having diabetes in midlife (ages 48–68) adds about 13 dementia-free years; dementia-free years decline with each risk factor (0 factors ~30 years vs 3 factors ~17), with women generally living more years free of dementia than men.
A NYU Langone Health study followed 12,409 people for about 26 years and found that keeping blood pressure in check, avoiding diabetes, and not smoking between ages 48 and 68 could delay dementia onset by up to 13 years. Those with none of the three risk factors lived roughly 13 years dementia-free longer than those with all three, though the work shows associations rather than proven causation. The study also noted that women lived longer without dementia than men, and Black participants developed dementia sooner, suggesting vascular risk reduction benefits across groups with potential targeted prevention needs.
A study published in Neurology Open Access followed more than 12,000 people for about 26 years. Starting in midlife (ages 45–65), researchers found that keeping blood pressure normal, remaining diabetes-free, and not smoking were each associated with more years lived without dementia; those with all three healthy factors lived roughly 13 years longer dementia-free than smokers with high blood pressure and diabetes. The study shows association, not causation, but supports the idea that midlife vascular health and lifestyle choices can influence dementia risk, alongside other factors like activity and social engagement. The World Health Organization has guidelines emphasizing multiple modifiable risk factors to reduce dementia risk overall.