Tag

Smoking Cessation

All articles tagged with #smoking cessation

health9 days ago•4 min saved

Nicotine Vapes Shown More Effective Than Patches or Gum for Quitting Smoking, New Review Finds

An updated Cochrane review of 80 randomized trials (29,861 participants) finds nicotine-containing e-cigarettes more effective for six‑month smoking cessation than nicotine-replacement therapies (like patches or gum) and often outperform counselling. About 8–10% quit with nicotine vapes versus ~6% with NRT, with roughly 2 extra quitters per 100 compared with non-nicotine devices and about 5 per 100 more than counselling. Harms appear not greater, but long‑term outcomes are uncertain since most studies follow participants for six months and newer devices may be more effective. The review did not assess health benefits of switching or outcomes after quitting vaping. Policy notes: Australia restricts nicotine vapes to quitting schemes; New Zealand is more permissive in encouraging vaping to reduce smoking. Overall, vaping may be a valuable quit aid for those who fail other therapies.

via The Conversation|

#cochrane-review #health #nicotine-replacement-therapy

health10 days ago•6 min saved

Vaping May Help Quitting Smoking, But Safety Questions Persist

A living Cochrane review of around 80 randomized trials (nearly 30,000 smokers) finds regulated nicotine e-cigarettes boost quit rates more than nicotine replacement therapies and non-nicotine vapes, adding about 4 extra quitters per 100 versus NRT and about 2 per 100 versus non-nicotine options. The evidence is rated high certainty for vaping’s relative effectiveness, and experts say regulated devices are substantially less harmful than smoking. However, the review does not answer whether people stay off nicotine or vaping long term, and warns about unlicensed devices, potential long-term and cancer risks, and the need for more rigorous safety data. Funding came from Cancer Research UK, the NIH/NCI, and the FDA Center for Tobacco Products; published in Cochrane Database.

via ScienceAlert|

#cochrane-review #e-cigarettes #health

health10 days ago•3 min saved

Vaping Beats Traditional Aids for Quitting Smoking, Major Review Finds

A Cochrane review of 80 trials and nearly 30,000 participants finds nicotine e-cigarettes to be more effective than patches, gum, or support programs at helping smokers quit, boosting success rates from about 6% to around 10%. Non-nicotine vapes also help, and vaping may outpace the anti-smoking pill cytisine, though more research is needed. While long-term risks aren’t fully known, regulated vaping products are considered far safer than smoking; unregulated devices carry safety concerns and regulators warn against use by youths.

via BBC|

#cochrane-review #health #nicotine

health24 days ago•8 min saved

Lung Cancer Risk Isn’t Just Smoking: Hidden Hazards at Home, Work, and Air

A TOI Health piece explains that while smoking is the main preventable lung-cancer risk, other factors—indoor radon, air pollution, secondhand smoke, and workplace exposures—also raise risk. Quitting tobacco remains the strongest prevention, with risk decreasing over time; vaping is not risk-free, and switching to other forms of tobacco doesn’t eliminate danger. Prevention includes testing for radon, improving home ventilation, and reducing exposure at work, as well as maintaining a healthy lifestyle. For some high-risk adults, annual low-dose CT screening may help detect cancer earlier, but screening should be personalized by a clinician and follow country-specific guidelines.

via The Times of India|

#air-quality #health #lung-cancer

health1 month ago•5 min saved

Vaping Moves Into Smoking-Cessation Playbook for Adults

A JAMA guidance from the Society for Research on Nicotine & Tobacco Treatment Research Network recommends clinicians discuss nicotine e-cigarettes as an evidence-based option for adult smokers seeking to quit, alongside nicotine patches and gums. The recommendations cite evidence of modestly higher six-month quit rates with nicotine e-cigarettes and reduced exposure to toxicants compared with combustible cigarettes, while noting that long‑term health effects are not yet established and no vaping product has FDA approval as a cessation therapy. The guidance emphasizes shared decision-making, the use of FDA-authorized products when possible, and addresses youth-vaping concerns, with an accompanying editorial acknowledging remaining uncertainties and industry funding.

via Medscape|

#e-cigarettes #fda #health

health1 month ago•44 min saved

Quitting Smoking Linked to Fatal Clozapine Toxicity, Inquest Finds

A 29-year-old Worcester man with paranoid schizophrenia died from clozapine toxicity after stopping smoking; the inquest heard that cessation likely raised the medication’s levels in his blood. He was taking 525 mg nightly, and he should have informed his psychiatrist if he stopped smoking so the dose could be adjusted. The coroner urged clearer guidance for doctors on adjusting anti-psychotic dosages when patients quit smoking to prevent similar deaths.

via Yahoo|

#clozapine #coroner #health

health2 months ago•6 min saved

Switching to Vapes May Raise Eye Disease Risk, Major Study Finds

A large Korean study of 32,316 matched former smokers followed for about 4.6 years found that those who switched to electronic cigarettes or other smokeless nicotine products had a higher risk of major eye diseases than those who quit nicotine entirely. Specifically, switchers had a 24% higher risk of diabetic retinopathy and a 7% higher risk of refractive/accommodation disorders, with quitters showing 41.1 vs 44 cases per 1,000 person-years. The study observed 6,328 eye-disease events overall. Authors caution that the retrospective, self-reported data cannot prove causation, but the findings suggest substituting nicotine products may not eliminate eye-disease risk.

via Fox News|

#diabetic-retinopathy #eye-health #health

health3 months ago•6 min saved

Quitting Smoking Could Cut Dementia Risk by 16%, But Weight Gain Might Undermine the Benefit

A 32,000-plus US study of dementia-free adults followed for 25 years found that quitting smoking in later life is linked to a 16% lower dementia risk and slower cognitive decline, with the benefit strongest when weight gain after quitting is minimal. Gaining more than 10 kg tended to negate the dementia risk reduction, suggesting weight management should accompany smoking cessation to maximize brain health.

via ScienceAlert|

#cognitive-decline #dementia #health

health4 months ago•15 min saved

Psilocybin-assisted therapy shows potential to help people quit smoking

A BBC Health report describes a randomized trial where a single high dose of psilocybin (about 30 mg, with 10 CBT sessions) plus talk therapy led to significantly higher smoking cessation than nicotine patches: 52% abstinent at six months in 82 participants vs 25% in the patch group. These findings, echoing earlier smaller studies, suggest psychedelics can trigger neuroplastic changes and a shift in priorities that support quitting, and are driving a larger NIH-funded, multi-site follow-up study to confirm efficacy and understand mechanisms. However, experts caution the sample was small and not highly diverse, so results may not generalize, and long-term safety and durability remain to be seen.

via BBC|

#clinical-trials #health #neuroplasticity

health4 months ago•3 min saved

Vaping as a Quit Tool: The Power Lies in a Full Switch, Not Dual Use

Vaping can aid quitting, but its real payoff comes when it fully replaces cigarettes rather than being used in addition. Randomized trials show e-cigarettes can outperform single-form NRT with behavioral support, yet population data reveal widespread dual use that limits benefits. Successful quitting is strongest when smokers adopt a complete switch, paired with tailored nicotine strength, behavioral support, and ongoing device adjustments; partial switching sustains nicotine dependence and keeps health risks elevated.

via Iowa Park Leader|

#dual-use #harm-reduction #health

health5 months ago•5 min saved

Vaping Emerges as Top Tool for Quitting Smoking in Global Evidence Review

A global overview of 14 systematic reviews (2014–2023) finds nicotine-containing e-cigarettes more effective for long-term smoking cessation than nicotine replacement therapy, non-nicotine e-cigarettes, or behavioral support, with higher-quality evidence showing consistent benefits. However, safety data remain inconclusive and there are gaps, notably a lack of high-quality trials comparing e-cigarettes with cytisine, bupropion, nicotine pouches, or varenicline and limited data from low- and middle-income countries. The authors call for more primary research, including adverse-event monitoring across diverse settings, to fully understand risks and global applicability.

via Neuroscience News|

#evidence-gap-map #health #nicotine-e-cigarettes

health5 months ago•4 min saved

Psilocybin shows promise to beat nicotine patches for quitting smoking

A Johns Hopkins study found that a single high dose of psilocybin paired with cognitive behavioral therapy helped more smokers quit after six months than nicotine patches, with 17 abstinent in the psilocybin group versus 4 in the patch group and roughly 50% fewer cigarettes on average between the quit date and six-month follow-up. The study notes limitations (no placebo, participants were mostly educated and not racially diverse, and many had prior psychedelic experience) and plans a larger trial to confirm efficacy and explore scalability and cost-efficiency.

via New York Post|

#cognitive-behavioral-therapy #health #johns-hopkins

health6 months ago•55 min saved

COPD relief hinges on one step: quitting smoking, says GP

GP Dr Philippa Kaye explains COPD is a chronic, incurable lung condition often linked to smoking; while not curable, symptoms can be markedly improved by quitting smoking (the single most important step), engaging in supervised exercise via a pulmonary rehabilitation program, using inhalers correctly, maintaining a healthy weight, and staying up to date with vaccines (flu, pneumococcal, RSV). Seek GP help if breathlessness or coughing worsens.

via Daily Mail|

#copd #health #inhalers

health6 months ago•263 min saved

Five Simple Habits Cardiologists Say Can Boost Your Heart Health

Cardiologists say small, sustainable changes can meaningfully lower cardiovascular risk: eat more plant foods, sit less and move more, strengthen social connections, choose unsweetened beverages, and quit smoking. Start with easy steps like adding a handful of plant foods to meals or taking brief post‑dinner walks, and gradually build these habits over time for lasting heart health.

via AOL.com|

#health #plant-foods #sedentary-lifestyle

health8 months ago•7 min saved

Challenges in Quitting E-Cigarettes Despite Safer Perception

Vaping is considered safer than smoking due to the absence of combustion, but it remains addictive and challenging to quit, especially for young people. While evidence supports vaping as a less harmful alternative, many users struggle to stop due to behavioral and psychological factors, with various support strategies like gradual reduction, professional help, and behavioral therapies showing promise. Public misconceptions about vaping's risks persist, complicating efforts to reduce its use, particularly among youth.

via The Guardian|

#harm-reduction #health #nicotine-addiction