Will Smoking Affect My Penis?

Smoking and Erectile Dysfunction

The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) highlights some of the effects smoking can have on male reproductive health:

Smoking might damage the DNA in men’s sperm that might lead to infertility

Smoking might damage the DNA in men’s sperm that might lead to miscarriage

Smoking may be associated with an increased risk of erectile dysfunction

Smoking may affect the amount of semen and sperm production

Smoking may affect sperm quality

Entrepreneurs Are Healthier, Report Finds

People who go into business for themselves may be healthier than other workers, according to a new report from Gallup.

The report shows that entrepreneurs are less likely to have chronic diseases like diabetes, high cholesterol, obesity and high blood pressure compared to other workers.

Entrepreneurs are also more likely to lead healthy lifestyles than other workers, such as eating produce at least four times a week and exercising on a regular basis, according to the findings.

Top 10 Health Threats for Men

These are the worst of the worst -- the 10 most dangerous diseases for men. Every man needs to know what he's up against. The good news? Many are preventable.

Heart Attack and Cardiac Arrest in Men

You've heard the terms a million times. But do you really know the difference between a heart attack and cardiac arrest? Here's what every guy needs to know.
Heart Attack and Cardiac Arrest in Men

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease COPD

By Bonnie Jenkins, Advanced Natural Medicine
My mother-in-law smoked for nearly 35 years before she finally gave it up more than 15 years ago. The problem is, however, that the damage to her lungs was already done – and now she’s living with a diagnosis of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, more commonly known as COPD.

The dog days of summer, with its thick and stagnant weather, can leave her literally gasping for air. She’s not alone. More than 30 million Americans live with a chronic lung disease and, for them, breathing can be a chore every day of the year.

3 Ways to Boost Your Lung Power

By David Blyweiss, M.D., Advanced Natural Medicine

Take a deep breath.
For most people, it’s not a big deal. But if you suffer from chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD), breathing may be one of the most difficult things you do.

COPD is a group of conditions that includes emphysema, chronic bronchitis and asthma. Smoking is the most common cause of COPD. But pollution and chemical fumes can also set you up for respiratory problems later in life.

Top Five Airborne Threats to Senior Health

Senior citizens have their share of concerns these days, but perhaps the single most important issue they face is health care. With the baby boomer generation reaching retirement age and sweeping changes being proposed for pensions, retirement funding, and health care services, now more than ever senior citizens need to educate themselves on the unique factors affecting their health. One such consideration is indoor air quality (IAQ). Although air quality sometimes takes a back seat to other potential health hazards, experts contend that seniors should be especially concerned about the air they breathe. This article will examine five of the biggest influences on indoor air quality for seniors.

The subjects discussed below are not ranked in order of importance. Some factors will affect seniors more than others depending on the specifics of each individual situation. In fact, smoking is commonly regarded as the number one air quality issue for seniors. The health effects of tobacco smoke are of course well documented. The five concerns below are air quality issues that may be less understood by seniors and the general public. Always contact your regular health care provider if you feel that you are experiencing symptoms from poor IAQ.

9 Common COPD Triggers and How to Avoid Them

Do you know about the many lung irritants that can set off COPD symptoms? Learn which culprits to avoid with this primer.

By Elizabeth Shimer Bowers

When you have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), exposure to certain lung irritants can mean the difference between huffing and puffing and easier breathing. The biggest COPD trigger by far — both in terms of the onset of the condition and managing it down the road — is smoking. But beyond this obvious culprit, there are a number of other lung irritants that can trigger or worsen your COPD symptoms. Make avoiding them a top priority in your efforts to stay healthy with COPD.

Stay Away From Tobacco Smoke
As many as 90 percent of COPD cases are tied to smoking. So one of the best ways to prevent COPD in the first place, as well as keep it from getting worse, is to steer clear of cigarettes. “Smoking causes oxidative stress, which stimulates inflammation in the airways,” says Michael W. Sims, MD, an assistant professor and director of clinical research for the Penn Medicine Airways Biology Initiative in Philadelphia. These damaging effects cause COPD, and they also cause the condition to decline faster by increasing the risk for acute symptoms. And avoiding secondhand smoke is just as important as quitting smoking.

Beware of Indoor Air Pollution
The second most predominant trigger of COPD symptoms is combustible smoke, "such as breathing in smoke while cooking over an open wood fire, or heating your home with a kerosene heater that is poorly ventilated,” Dr. Sims says. According to the World Health Organization, more than 1 million people each year die from COPD that develops as a result of indoor air pollution. These lung irritants are primarily an issue for people in developing countries, but they should be avoided in general to help prevent COPD. To minimize indoor air pollution, avoid using a fireplace or wood-burning stove, and keep your air filters clean.

Take Steps to Avoid Bacterial and Viral Respiratory Infections
“Respiratory viruses, including influenza and pneumonia, are among the most concerning triggers of COPD symptoms,” says Heath Latham, MD, medical director of pulmonary rehabilitation at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City. “These viruses cause a breakdown in the lining of the airways, creating inflammation and increasing the risk of secondary bacterial infections.” For good COPD management, annual flu and pneumonia vaccines are essential. These vaccinations protect against the viruses that can worsen COPD and develop into a fatal infection. In addition to a yearly flu shot, you can avoid viruses and bacterial infections by following good hand-washing hygiene and steering clear of situations where you’re more likely to be exposed to illnesses.

Consider Outdoor Air Pollution
Although it’s important to stay as active as you can with COPD, you do need to be aware of what’s going on outdoors: Traditional city air pollution can trigger COPD symptoms. Of particular concern are the solid chunks of pollution that come from products of combustion, such as car and truck exhaust. “Some of the particles in city air pollution are so small that they can’t be seen with the eye, but can be breathed deep into the small airways, where they deposit and cause inflammation,” Sims says. Translation for daily COPD management: Stay inside on days when ozone exposure is high. Check your local paper for daily air quality reports, or download the Everyday Health COPD Tracker for weather information plus treatment and condition tips.

Keep Your Home Clear of Indoor Allergens
In addition to monitoring the air quality outside, you’ll need to keep your indoor environment as allergen-free as possible, too. “Dust and dust mites, especially for people who also have asthma, can worsen COPD symptoms,” says Luz Fonacier, MD, an allergist at Winthrop University Hospital in Mineola, N.Y., and a fellow of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. To prevent COPD flare-ups at home, you may need to make changes to your surroundings. Dr. Fonacier recommends covering mattresses, box springs, and pillows with readily available dust mite-resistant covers, and washing sheets and pillowcases weekly in water that is at least 131 degrees Fahrenheit. To further prevent COPD symptoms, she also suggests removing dust-collecting décor, such as stuffed toys, from bedrooms, and replacing carpets with hard floors when practical.

Remember Your Seasonal Allergies
“Some studies show that people prone to allergies may have an increased risk of COPD in the first place, and COPD symptoms may worsen during allergy season,” Sims says. Expect COPD symptoms to get worse during the season you’re most prone to allergies, be it spring, summer, or fall. “Allergies may act as a lung irritant directly through allergic inflammation, or indirectly through allergic rhinitis and postnasal drip,” he says. “Postnasal drip may stimulate the nerves at the back of the nose, which can enhance cough and aggravate COPD symptoms.” For better COPD management, try antihistamines to help reduce allergic reactions and stay indoors when seasonal allergies strike. Talk to your doctor if you continue to experience allergy symptoms despite these efforts.

Stamp Out Strong Scents
Do you experience COPD symptoms around cleaning agents, air fresheners, diesel fumes, scented candles, paint fumes, and other products with strong odors? “If one of these items is a lung irritant for you, COPD symptoms such as chest tightness and shortness of breath will immediately set in,” Sims says. To better manage COPD, avoid any scents and fumes that cause symptoms for you.

Look Out for Weather Extremes
COPD symptoms often get worse when it’s very hot and humid or, for some, bitterly cold outside. You can’t control the weather, but you can create your home environment. “The majority of people with COPD have more symptoms in hot, humid conditions," Dr. Latham says. "For these people, the only way to prevent COPD symptoms is to stay in a cool, air-conditioned environment." For those whose COPD symptoms get worse in the cold, Latham suggests wearing a scarf over your face and breathing through your nose to warm and humidify the air when you’re outside.

Seek Relief for Psychological Stress
Stress can impair even your best efforts at COPD management by dampening the immune system and leaving you more vulnerable to infections that can worsen your symptoms. “Stress can also enhance the sensation of shortness of breath in people with COPD,” Sims says. He adds that former smokers are more likely to turn back to cigarettes when they’re stressed, further worsening COPD. Make stress relief part of your daily plan. Ask your family and friends for help when you need it, and consider joining a support group to talk to others with COPD

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COPD Triggers: How to Prevent a Flare

Host: Carolynn Delany

Guest: Robert T. Schreiber, MD
February 27, 2012

Carolynn Delany:

Welcome to this Everyday Health podcast, “COPD Triggers: How to Prevent a Flare.” I'm your host, Carolynn Delany. Anyone coping with chronic illness knows there are good days and bad days. We're here today to become more aware and hopefully prevent those bad days from happening as often. Joining us today is Dr. Robert Schreiber, a pulmonary medicine specialist at Nassau Chest Physicians and director of the surgical ICU at St. Francis Hospital in Roslyn, New York. Dr. Schreiber and Nassau Chest Physicians are also actively involved with the American Lung Association in New York. Thanks for being with us today, Dr. Schreiber.

Dr. Schreiber:

I'm very glad to be here with you today, Carolynn.

Carolynn Delany:

Dr. Schreiber, we hear the terms "trigger" and "flare" quite often. Can you please help us understand what they mean and why certain elements cause COPD symptoms to flare?

Dr. Schreiber:

Carolynn, we use the words "flare" and "exacerbation" interchangeably for our patients with COPD, and what this really refers to is a temporary worsening of their emphysema [or chronic bronchitis]. Patients will have increased shortness of breath, wheezing, and coughing, and frequently we'll see increased sputum production. The sputum may change and be increased in terms of amount, thickness, color, going from clear to gray or yellow, and even sometimes bloody.

Carolynn Delany:

Dr. Schreiber, what are some common COPD triggers that can actually cause the flare‑up to happen?

Dr. Schreiber:

Carolynn, I think the number one trigger that we see would be infections. This can be anything from a cold to more serious things like bronchitis or pneumonia. Other things that we commonly see causing flare‑ups can be exposure to smoke, whether primary smoke from the patient smoking themselves or inhalation of secondhand smoke if they are out in a restaurant or some other venue where other people are smoking and they inhale other people's smoke.

Of course, other things like weather, whether it be hot or cold or humid or dry air, can also affect many people. Air pollution is a common trigger for many of our patients, particularly in those hot, humid days during the summer when the air quality gets very bad. That's a frequent cause of triggers during those air polluted days. And just general stress sometimes can bring on an exacerbation.

Carolynn Delany:

Well, you know, you mentioned avoiding smoking and being around others who are smoking. Is it also important to stay away from chimney smoke and stovetop smoke?

Dr. Schreiber:

Certainly for some people this can also be an irritant and trigger for a COPD exacerbation. Smoke is composed of a variety of chemicals, including particulates of carbon and all sorts of chemicals, and may have carbon monoxide sometimes, so our patients with COPD have to be careful around any type of smoke. Usually chimney smoke and stovetop smoke aren't toxic, but they can act as irritants.

Carolynn Delany:

Well, a flare‑up can happen at any time and all of the triggers you've mentioned are good ones to look out for, but are there others that only affect some people? If so, how should they learn to identify, watch out for, and deal with them?

Dr. Schreiber:

Different people will flare up from different triggers. The most important thing that I can do as a doctor is not sit down and say to someone, “you have to avoid,” and then give them a list of things. You have to tell them, “Listen, you have to pay attention to what bothers you.”

I don't play ice hockey, but I love to watch it, and there's a phrase that you have to skate with your head up, which really means that you have to look around you and be aware of your environment and see what's going on all the time, and that's really what it's about for our patients. You have to tell them, “Pay attention to what's going on, see what bothers you, and then, of course over time, you can learn what you can and cannot be around so that you can breathe more easily.”

Carolynn Delany:

That's a good point. I mean, some people might be more sensitive to extra dust in their home or scented laundry detergents, but it may not bother anybody else.

Dr. Schreiber:

That's exactly correct. I think in general, most people need fresh, circulating air so that nothing particularly settles or irritates their lungs. Other triggers, though, you have to kind of learn about those things, as you mentioned, like the scented laundry or fragrances and stuff, and see what really bothers you or not.

Carolynn Delany:

Well, why is it important for someone with COPD to maintain his or her overall health?

Dr. Schreiber:

The current state of the art in pulmonary medicine suggests that COPD exacerbations can gradually cause further loss of lung function, and clearly as healthcare professionals we all want to preserve our patients' lung function so that they can stay healthy, remain independent, and continue to perform their activities of daily living as best as possible. I think everyone feels that that should be a goal for themselves, and we as physicians want to try to do that for our patients.

Trying to stay healthy is really the most important thing here. As I said, infections are probably the number one cause of triggers, so hand washing and sanitizers will help prevent picking up colds. Obviously, if you know somebody is sick it's best to stay away from them. And immunizations are important to try to help prevent people catching influenza and pneumonia.

Carolynn Delany:

I see. I see. All great tips. Well, if you do find yourself in a flare what's the first and perhaps best thing you can do to help treat it and get you back to feeling normal?

Dr. Schreiber:

I think we all have to think of having a plan and that life is not just full of surprises, so patients with COPD have to recognize that things are going to happen, and what am I going to do when it happens. So the first thing to do is to remove yourself from the trigger if it's possible.

There is a way of breathing we call pursed-lip breathing where you breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth with your lips together when you exhale, and this helps to control the breathing pattern. It helps you breathe more efficiently. If you do it slowly, you get actually more oxygen in with less work of breathing, and that's a very helpful technique that your healthcare provider could probably teach you to do.

When the trigger happens, I tell my patients to drink extra fluids and try to get some extra rest. I almost always will have them have available a quick‑acting medication. Usually it's an inhaler, although sometimes it's a nebulized medicine that they can inhale that should help to open up the bronchial tubes.

And of course, if these things don't help they should really get in touch with their healthcare provider to see if there can be an adjustment of their medicines, see if they need a stronger bronchodilator or an antibiotic or possibly a course of prednisone. If those things fail, sometimes emergency room treatment or hospitalization even is required, but hopefully we can cut that off at the pass and try to keep people away from the hospitals.

Carolynn Delany:

Right. Well, Dr. Schreiber, thank you for sharing great information about how to recognize and prevent a flare when you're living with COPD.

Dr. Schreiber:

Well, Carolynn, as always it's my pleasure to speak with you and help our patients. And don't forget our patients should also contact their local chapter of the American Lung Association for further tips because they're a great resource for more information, too.

Carolynn Delany:

They certainly are. You've been listening to an Everyday Health podcast, “COPD Triggers: How to Prevent a Flare.” For more information on COPD, visit EverydayHealth.com. I'm Carolynn Delany for Everyday Health. Thanks for joining us.

http://www.everydayhealth.com/copd/podcasts/how-to-prevent-a-copd-flare-transcript.aspx

COPD Myths and Truths

COPD is often misunderstood because symptoms can be caused by three different diseases. Separating fact from fiction will help you live better and better manage COPD.

By Chris Iliades, MD

Medically reviewed by Lindsey Marcellin, MD, MPH

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can be confusing because it isn’t a single condition — it actually refers to a group of lung diseases that makes it difficult to breathe.

"COPD is an umbrella term for three different diseases," says Timothy R. Wu, MD, director of the COPD Center at Lahey Clinic in Burlington, Mass. Emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and chronic asthmatic bronchitis can all cause COPD symptoms. What these diseases have in common is obstructed air flow through the lungs.

Common misunderstandings about COPD include that it only occurs in older smokers and that nothing can be done about it. However, that’s not necessarily the case. To better understand COPD and how to live with it, start by learning how to separate the myths from the facts.

Myth or Truth: Only Smokers Get COPD

COPD symptoms such as cough, shortness of breath, and frequent lung infections are among the most common symptoms experienced by long-term smokers. While emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and asthmatic bronchitis are usually caused by smoking, there are other causes as well. "Smoking is almost always the cause of COPD in the United States, but in many parts of the world, COPD may be more commonly caused by wood smoke from cooking fires," says Dr. Wu. Other non-smoking causes include:

• Some progressive forms of asthma
• Being born without a protein called alpha-1 antitrypsin
• Workplace exposures to gases and fumes
• Heavy exposure to secondhand smoke or air pollution

Myth or Truth: COPD Only Occurs in Older People

COPD is more common in older people who have smoked for many years, but a simple test called spirometry may detect early changes from COPD in younger people. Spirometry is a lung function test that involves blowing into a small machine that measures lung capacity. This test can be read immediately, and it is a reliable way to make a diagnosis.

"Even before COPD symptoms develop, the early changes of emphysema or bronchitis may be present," says Wu. "If younger smokers are screened with spirometry, COPD may be diagnosed in people as young as 30 or 40."

Myth or Truth: People With COPD Need to Slow Down

COPD symptoms may make some types of activity difficult, but slowing down is not good for those with COPD. Physical therapy, including breathing exercises and exercises to strengthen the arms and shoulders, can be an important part of treatment. Regular exercise along with a healthy diet helps muscles stay strong, and that reduces the demand placed on the lungs.

People with COPD should also try to stay active socially. Isolating yourself at home can lead to depression, which can make symptoms worse. It is important to stay in touch with friends and family and maintain a good support network. Many people with COPD also benefit from participating in support groups.

Myth or Truth: There Is No Treatment for COPD

The biggest myth about COPD is that you can't do anything about it. Although there is no cure for COPD, it can be treated and managed in many people. "How well COPD can be treated depends on how advanced it is and what other diseases may be present, such as hypertension and heart disease," says Wu. You can slow down the progression of COPD by:

• Taking medication as directed
• Getting pulmonary rehabilitation
• Using oxygen as needed
• Stopping smoking

With these changes, many people are able to manage their COPD symptoms well. If you smoke, even if you are still in your 30s, ask your doctor to check your lung capacity. Many of the irreversible effects of chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and chronic asthmatic bronchitis can be avoided with early diagnosis and treatment.

"It is never too late to stop smoking. As soon as you quit, your lung function starts to improve," says Wu, although lung function will never get back to normal once COPD starts. COPD symptoms develop over time, and changes in your lungs may have already started without you knowing it. The best time to stop smoking is right now.

http://www.everydayhealth.com/health-report/chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease/copd-myths-and-truths.aspx

Living With COPD

With ongoing care and preventive strategies, you can manage your COPD symptoms and keep them under control.

By the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

COPD has no cure yet. However, you can take steps to manage your symptoms and slow the progress of the disease. You can:

• Avoid lung irritants
• Get ongoing care
• Manage the disease and its symptoms
• Prepare for emergencies

Avoid Lung Irritants

If you smoke, quit. Smoking is the leading cause of COPD. Talk to your doctor about programs and products that can help you quit. Many hospitals have programs that help people quit smoking, or hospital staff can refer you to a program.

Try to avoid secondhand smoke and other lung irritants that can contribute to COPD, such as air pollution, chemical fumes, and dust. Keep these irritants out of your home. If your home is painted or sprayed for insects, have it done when you can stay away for awhile.

Keep your windows closed and stay at home (if possible) when there's a lot of air pollution or dust outside.

Get Ongoing Care

If you have COPD, it's important to get ongoing medical care. Take all of your medicines as your doctor prescribes. Make sure to refill your prescriptions before they run out. Bring all of the medicines you're taking when you have medical checkups.

Talk with your doctor about whether and when you should get flu and pneumonia vaccines. Also, ask him or her about other diseases for which COPD may increase your risk, such as heart disease, lung cancer, and pneumonia.

Manage COPD and Its Symptoms

You can do things to help manage your disease and its symptoms. Depending on how severe your disease is, you may ask your family and friends for help with daily tasks. Do activities slowly. Put items that you need often in one place that's easy to reach.

Find very simple ways to cook, clean, and do other chores. Some people find it helpful to use a small table or cart with wheels to move things around and a pole or tongs with long handles to reach things. Ask for help moving things around in your house so that you will not need to climb stairs as often.

Keep your clothes loose, and wear clothes and shoes that are easy to put on and take off.

Prepare for Emergencies

If you have COPD, knowing when and where to seek help for your symptoms is important. You should seek emergency care if you have severe symptoms, such as trouble catching your breath or talking.

Call your doctor if you notice that your symptoms are worsening or if you have signs of an infection, such as a fever. Your doctor may change or adjust your treatments to relieve and treat symptoms.

Keep phone numbers handy for your doctor, hospital, and someone who can take you for medical care. You also should have on hand directions to the doctor's office and hospital and a list of all the medicines you're taking.

Source: The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI). The NHLBI does not recommend or endorse any company advertised on this site.

http://www.everydayhealth.com/health-report/chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease/living-with-copd.aspx

How to Prevent a COPD Flare-Up

Find out how to prevent a COPD exacerbation and what to do if you experience one.

By Madeline Vann, MPH

Medically reviewed by Cynthia Haines, MD

In most cases, patients who have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can keep symptoms such as cough, shortness of breath, or sputum under control. But there are times when COPD patients can experience exacerbations, a worsening of symptoms that is also called a flare-up.

"An exacerbation is when a chronic disease gets worse for some reason. With COPD, this is usually because of infection,” explains Richard Castriotta, MD, professor at the University of Texas Medical School at Houston.

COPD exacerbations result in about 1.5 million emergency room visits every year in the United States. The risk of an exacerbation varies according to the severity of your COPD. People with severe COPD have about 3.43 exacerbations a year compared with 2.68 on average for people with moderate COPD.

COPD Exacerbations: Signs and Causes

The COPD symptoms that you will recognize as an exacerbation are:

• Worsening cough
• Worsening feeling of being short of breath (dyspnea)
• Changes in sputum, such as changing color (clear to yellow, green, brown, or red) or quantity (either more or less than usual)

Many COPD flare-ups occur without any known cause. However, the most commonly understood causes of COPD exacerbations are respiratory infections such as colds or the flu.

If you have increased COPD symptoms such as a fever, chills, and "purulent" sputum (yellow in color), you should call your doctor immediately. You may need a prescription for antibiotics to help fight the infection.

COPD Exacerbations: How to Handle an Occurrence

How you handle a COPD flare-up will depend on how well you have your symptoms under control under normal circumstances and how severe the exacerbation is. If your symptoms are usually under control and your exacerbation is not severe, you should talk to your doctor about how to treat an increase in symptoms at home. You may be able to use your bronchodilator or steroids to address some symptoms under a doctor's supervision.

If you have followed your doctor's instructions and your efforts to control symptoms at home have not worked, do not take more medication. Instead, call your doctor's office or go to the ER.

If you're having trouble breathing, you should go to the ER immediately. At the hospital you may receive ventilator treatments or medication to help you breathe. In some instances, you may be hospitalized until you get better.

COPD Exacerbations: Prevention Strategies

There are several ways that you can prevent exacerbations or reduce their severity:

• Stop smoking. The more years you smoke, the worse your exacerbations are likely to be. Chronic and heavy smokers are at increased risk for severe exacerbations.
• Take antibiotics as prescribed. If your doctor gives you antibiotics to treat an infection that might lead to an flare-up, make sure you take all the medication as your doctor instructs, even if you feel better before you have finished every dose.
• Get your flu shot. Get a flu vaccine every year when flu season begins and make sure that you are up-to-date with your pneumococcal vaccine.
• Find a primary care doctor you can stick with. Data from a study of 388 COPD patients showed that those who did not have a regular doctor were more likely to need to go to the ER. The researchers estimate that 10 percent of visits could be prevented if more people with COPD had regular doctors. You also can reduce the risk of having to go back to the ER with a relapse if you have a doctor you can visit about a week after you go to the hospital with an exacerbation.

If you understand which COPD symptoms to watch out for, you will be able to respond to COPD exacerbations quickly and learn how to prevent them in the future.

http://www.everydayhealth.com/health-report/chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease/prevent-copd-flare.aspx

Smoking deaths triple over decade - tobacco report

A man lights a 'bidi' at a wood logging mill on the outskirts of Jammu


By Kate Kelland | Reuters

LONDON (Reuters) - Tobacco-related deaths have nearly tripled in the past decade and big tobacco firms are undermining public efforts that could save millions, a report led by the health campaign group the World Lung Foundation (WLF) said on Wednesday.

In the report, marking the tenth anniversary of its first Tobacco Atlas, the WLF and the American Cancer Society said if current trends continue, a billion people will die from tobacco use and exposure this century - one person every six seconds.

Tobacco has killed 50 million people in the last 10 years, and tobacco is responsible for more than 15 percent of all male deaths and 7 percent of female deaths, the new Tobacco Atlas report found. (www.tobaccoatlas.org)

In China, tobacco is already the number one killer - causing 1.2 million deaths a year - and that number is expected to rise to 3.5 million a year by 2030, the report said.

That is part of a broader shift, with smoking rates in the developed world declining but numbers growing in poorer regions, said Michael Eriksen, one of the report's authors and director of the Institute of Public Health at Georgia State University.

"If we don't act, the projections for the future are even more morbid. And the burden of death caused by tobacco is increasingly one of the developing world, particularly Asia, the Middle East and Africa," he said in an interview.

Almost 80 percent of people who die from tobacco-related illnesses now come from low- and middle-income countries. In Turkey, 38 percent of male deaths are from smoking-related illnesses, though smoking also remains the biggest killer of American women too.

WLF's chief executive Peter Baldini accused the tobacco industry of thriving on ignorance about the true effect of smoking and "misinformation to subvert health policies that could save millions".

The report said the industry had stepped up its fight against anti-tobacco policies, launching legal challenges and seeking to delay or stop the introduction of plain packaging, legislation banning smoking in public places, advertising bans and health warnings on packets.

The world's six biggest tobacco firms made $35.1 billion in profits in 2010 - equal to the combined earnings of Coca-Cola, Microsoft and McDonald's, the report said.

Smoking causes lung cancer as well as several other chronic pulmonary diseases and is a major risk factor in heart disease, the world's number one killer.

More than 170 countries have signed up to a World Health Organisation-led convention committing them to cut smoking rates, limiting exposure to second-hand smoke, and curbing tobacco advertising and promotion.

WHO director general Margaret Chan said thanks in part to that convention, 1.1 billion people have in the past two years become covered by at least one measure designed to curb tobacco use. She added, however, that the battle was far from over and urged more countries to fight the industry.

"We must never allow the tobacco industry to get the upper hand," she said in a foreword to the report. "Tobacco is a killer. It should not be advertised, subsidised or glamorised."

(Reporting by Kate Kelland; Editing by Ben Harding)

http://ph.news.yahoo.com/smoking-deaths-triple-over-decade-tobacco-report-075004760.html

Why do young, fit men die playing sports?

By Health Xchange | Fit to Post Health

An underlying heart condition may be the cause of sudden deaths in sport events. (Health Xchange)

Just four days after English Premier League midfielder Fabrice Muamba suffered cardiac arrest during an English FA Cup match, Indian footballer Venkatesh suffered a similar fate during a match in Bangalore, India.

The 27-year-old Venkatesh, who was playing in a district level league match on March 21, collapsed on the field during the back end of the match.

While 23-year-old Muamba is in hospital in London recovering from his mid-match cardiac arrest, Venkatesh did not survive.

In a similar incident in Singapore a week earlier, 19-year-old Temasek Polytechnic student Muhammad Khairil Muhamad Nizam suddenly collapsed halfway through a friendly football match.

He was rushed to the hospital in an unconscious state but didn't survive. While investigations are underway into his death, initial reports indicated that he had died of heart failure.

There have been other previous sudden death incidences related to sports in Singapore. Last year, a 22-year-old Singaporean runner, Malcolm Sng Wei Ren, collapsed and died during the Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore.

What can explain such unexpected deaths?According to doctors, these sudden deaths in otherwise healthy and fit sportsmen may be explained by an underlying heart problem, compounded by vigorous physical exertion.

Dr Reginald Liew, consultant at the Department of Cardiology and deputy director of the research and development unit at the National Heart Centre Singapore (NHCS) said an underlying heart problem could include:

• a heart muscle disorder (e.g. abnormal thickening of heart muscles)
• an electrical problem (e.g. abnormal heart rhythm)
• an infection weakening the heart muscle
• a congenital abnormality of the coronary arteries

"The first two of these causes often have a genetic predisposition, meaning they may be related to certain mutations," Liew said. Given the appropriate stimuli and triggers, all four scenarios, he explained, could result in ventricular fibrillation: the heart ventricles don't contract properly, which may cause the heart to stop suddenly.

Related article: Sudden cardiac arrest — not so random as it looks

Who's at risk?Sometimes, the victim is found to have a family history of sudden death. But sudden cardiac arrest can also occur in healthy individuals without any known pre-existing heart issues and with no known family history of sudden death.

Liew added that there are screening tests available for the detection of heart muscle diseases and heart electrical disorders. For example, an echocardiogram can detect the former, and 12-lead ECG, the latter.

Related article: What heart disease symptoms should you look out for?

What can you do to lessen your risk of heart disease?

• Have your cholesterol levels checked once a year. Excess cholesterol can cause the blood flow to the heart to become blocked or reduced.
• Get your blood pressure checked yearly. If your blood pressure is persistently above 140/90mmHg and left untreated, it can result in damage to the heart and blood vessels.
• Control your diabetes and monitor your blood sugar levels.
• Lose excess body fat, especially around the waist.
• Exercise regularly to help prevent heart and blood vessel disease. Just check with your doctor first if you have known coronary artery disease or if you're above 40 years of age and have been inactive.
• Quit smoking. Smokers have two to three times the risk of non-smokers of sudden cardiac death. In fact, smokers account for about 40 per cent of deaths caused by heart disease in patients who are younger than 65 years.
• Manage your stress. Prolonged stress may contribute to a heart attack. Emotional stress and tension also cause the body to produce adrenaline, which makes the heart pump faster and harder, and may also cause the blood vessels to narrow down.

This article was written by the Health Xchange Editor, with expert input from the Department ofCardiology and Research and Development Unit at the National Heart Centre Singapore (NHCS).

Find more health-related tips and articles on HealthXchange.com.sg, Singapore's trusted health and lifestyle portal. Health Xchange's articles are meant for informational purposes only and cannot replace professional surgical, medical or health advice, examination, diagnosis, or treatment.

Marlon  •  Manila, National Capital Region

All the junkfoods and chemically-laced preserved food stuck in the guts for years and mutated into toxins and re-introduce to the blood via the intestinal villi - this is a more probable cause of most of the diseases including sudden death as the "toxins" can mutate into so many possibilities ie: cholesterol, uric acid, assorted bad bacteria: some of these that are cancer-forming. So clean your guts and plugged your mouth from junks (creation of men) and seafoods and eat natural (boiled, raw juiced, natural fruits, veggies, rootcrops) and you will never go wrong. Take it from God - (1Timothy 4:4) "For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving.."

A Yahoo! User  •  Singapore, Singapore 

Cardiac Doctors always have the last say!? Why not specialists in Lung illnesses and weak conditions? I know of a young man who died because of a torn lung? Due to disconnected or poorly co-ordinated growth which implicates hormonal effects in genetically modified food?
Come out with the truth for all our young people.

http://ph.sports.yahoo.com/blogs/fit-to-post-health/why-young-fit-men-die-playing-sports-063444317.html