Quitting smoking provides immediate benefit to heart

September 16th, 2009 LONDON - Scientists claim to have pointed the reason why people who are actively trying to stop smoking often itch uncontrollably. Belgian researchers, who studied the effect of nicotine in mice, found that it activates a molecular pathway in membranes in the skin, nose and mouth known to play a role in inflammation.

July 15th, 2009 Pentagon won't ban war zone smoking, despite studyWASHINGTON — The Pentagon says it won't ban smoking by troops in war zones despite a recent study recommending a tobacco-free military. Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell says troops already are under enough stress and making enough sacrifices from fighting the two wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

July 10th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Smokers wishing to kick the butt can double their success rates by using nicotine patch before quitting smoking, say researchers at Duke University Medical Center. The researchers say that, according to the latest data, changes should be made to nicotine patch labelling.

June 23rd, 2009 Obama admits occasional cigaretteWASHINGTON — One day after signing legislation giving the government unprecedented power to regulate tobacco, President Barack Obama is admitting that he's sometimes "fallen off the wagon" in his own effort to stop smoking. Obama told reporters Tuesday that he's "95 percent cured." But he added that "there are times where I mess up." He said he's not a "daily" or "constant" smoker, and that he doesn't smoke in front of his kids.

June 23rd, 2009 Get a whiff: Obama admits occasional cigaretteWASHINGTON — It fell to President Barack Obama to confirm the gossip that his aides had spent weeks trying to snuff out: He still sneaks an occasional cigarette. "There are times where I mess up," Obama said at a White House news conference on Tuesday.

June 22nd, 2009 Obama lauds anti-smoking billWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama has signed the strongest anti-smoking measure ever, calling it an extraordinary accomplishment that will help keep children from getting hooked on cigarettes. Standing in the Rose Garden with a number of lawmakers and other guests, Obama declared: "It is a law that will save American lives." The legislation gives the Food and Drug Administration unprecedented authority to regulate tobacco and cigarette marketing.

June 22nd, 2009 Obama signs strongest anti-smoking measure everWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama has signed the strongest anti-smoking measure ever, calling it an extraordinary accomplishment that will help keep children from getting hooked on cigarettes. Standing in the Rose Garden with a number of lawmakers and other guests, Obama declared: "It is a law that will save American lives." The legislation gives the Food and Drug Administration unprecedented authority to regulate tobacco and cigarette marketing.

April 30th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Hollywood actress Christina Applegate has admitted that she was devastated when photographers caught her smoking just months after she won her cancer battle. Applegate, who underwent a double mastectomy and was given the all-clear last August (08), revealed that she has stayed way from smoking since her diagnosis and it was a 'rare slip up'.

April 29th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Smokers interested in quitting the habit can now get some serious help from their iPhones - a new free application of the smart phone provides a live quitline coach and uses live text to advice on how to kick the butt. Developed by The George Washington University's School of Public Health and Health Services (SPHHS) and the National Tobacco Cessation Collaborative (NTCC), "My QuitLine" app also provides evidence-based treatment for quitting.

April 24th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Previous smokers easily outpaced current smokers in physical activity, suggesting that giving up such bad habits can positively impact a senior's health later in life. These findings were based on a study of more than 2,000 seniors who were current smokers, past smokers and had never smoked.

April 10th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Hollywood actress Christina Applegate, who was recently cured of breast cancer after a year-long battle, left her fans shocked when she was caught smoking. She had quit the habit before undergoing a double mascetomy in a bid to get rid of cancer.

April 3rd, 2009 WASHINGTON - Singer Lily Allen has revealed that she's considering quitting the music industry. The 23-year-old popstar is working on a top-secret project, which may lure her away from singing.

March 12th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Health problems like smoking or weight gain may sometimes persist because they preserve stability in a vital close relationship, according to a new study. Michael J. Rohrbaugh and Varda Shoham, of the University of Arizona, say that close relationships can perpetuate individual health problems because one person's behaviour can set the stage for what another does.

March 10th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Severe depression among relatively healthy women can trigger heart attacks, often with a fatal outcome, according to a new study. 'It's important for women with depression to be aware of the possible association between depression and heart disease, and work with their healthcare providers to manage their risk for coronary heart disease,' said William Whang, cardiologist at Columbia University Medical Centre (CUMC) and lead investigator of the study.

January 5th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Just seeing someone smoke aborts the smoker's resolve to kick the habit, according to new research. Brain scans taken during normal smoking activity and 24 hours after quitting show there is a marked increase in a particular kind of brain activity when quitters see photographs of people smoking.