Smoke or not, women are still at higher risk of serious lung disease than men
Women are about 50% more likely than men to develop chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a serious lung condition, even if they have never smoked or smoked less than men, according to new research published in BMJ Open Respiratory Research.COPD is a group of chronic lung diseases, including emphysema and bronchitis, often caused by long-term smoking, air pollution and lung irritants. The condition makes a person hard to breathe.advertisementHowever, the large US-based study challenges the long-held belief that smoking alone explains why more women now suffer from COPD.
Researchers analysed data from the 2020 National Health Interview Survey, which included over 23,000 adults aged 40 and above. The survey looked at smoking habits, use of tobacco products, and whether participants had been diagnosed with COPD.Interestingly, women reported smoking less than men. They smoked fewer cigarettes per day (18 vs. 22), were less likely to have started smoking before age 15 (19% vs. 28%), and were also less likely to have used other tobacco products like cigars or smokeless tobacco. Yet, COPD was more common among women (nearly 8%) than men (6.5%).Even among those who had never smoked, women were still twice as likely to have COPD compared to men - 3% vs. 1.5%. Among people who had ever smoked, 16% of women had COPD, compared to 11.5% of men.advertisementAfter adjusting for other factors such as age and smoking exposure, researchers found that women had a 47% higher risk of developing COPD. Among non-smokers, women were 62% more likely to be diagnosed with COPD than male non-smokers.The study relied on self-reported information and didn't include possible influences like hormonal changes, environmental pollution, or workplace exposure, which may affect COPD risk. However, the authors argue that the findings suggest smoking alone doesn't fully explain the higher rates of COPD in women.'If women were simply more sensitive to tobacco smoke, we wouldn't see such high COPD rates among those who never smoked,' the researchers noted.They conclude that the burden of COPD in women has been underestimated and call for better efforts to prevent, diagnose, and treat the disease in women, regardless of smoking history.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Initiative appointed as Media Agency on Record for Sensodent
Initiative has been appointed as the media agency on record for Sensodent , a specialised oral care brand from Indoco Remedies , a Mumbai-based pharmaceutical company. As Sensodent gears up to strengthen its leadership in the oral sensitivity segment, Initiative will lead the brand's media strategy, planning, and deployment across platforms—focusing on driving awareness, trials, and brand relevance at scale. The media mandate was awarded following a multi-agency pitch process . Commenting on this development, Aditi Panandikar, managing director, Indoco Remedies said, 'Our brand Sensodent is the first to go OTC and over the year has evolved into the next orbit. We are thrilled to work together with Initiative and are looking forward to see our brand soaring newer heights.' Dhirendra Singh, executive vice president and head – Mumbai, Initiative, said, "Sensodent K is a high-potential brand in a growing yet underpenetrated category. We're excited to partner with Indoco Remedies to architect a media approach that drives performance, builds cultural relevance, and connects meaningfully with consumers across India." Speaking on the partnership, Vaishali Verma, chief executive officer, Initiative India, said, "We welcome Sensodent into the Initiative family. We look forward to a strong partnership focused on driving brand success and creating meaningful work."
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
Neuralink competitor Paradromics successfully completes first brain implant in human
Neurotech startup Paradromics has completed its first brain implant after nearly three years of preclinical studies. The company, which is developing a brain-computer interface (BCI) platform, successfully inserted its brain implant into a patient and safely removed it after about 10 minutes. The successful insertion of the company's brain-computer interface, dubbed Connexus, was led by Dr. Matthew Willsey of the University of Michigan, alongside Dr. Oren Sagher and a multidisciplinary team of clinicians and engineers, on May 14. It's a major milestone for the brain-computer interface startup, which is only a decade old. Paradromics was founded in 2015 by CEO Matt Angle, who believes that his company is on a mission to transform untreatable brain health conditions into solvable technology problems. Austin-based Paradromics is aiming to restore speech and communication in people with spinal cord injuries, strokes, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The device was implanted during epilepsy resection surgery—when the area of the brain causing seizures is disconnected or removed—to study how epilepsy influences brain signaling. The device is designed to translate neural signals into synthesized speech, text, and cursor control. Paradromics has been testing its implant in sheep for the past few years. This is the first time the company has used the device in a human patient. The compant expects the devices will retail for $100,000. A brain-computer interface (BCI) is a system that provides a direct communication pathway between the brain and an external device. The term 'brain-computer interface' was coined in 1973 by Jacques Vidal, a computer scientist at the University of California, Los Angeles, who proposed that electrical signals in the brain might one day be used to control prosthetic devices. Since then, researchers have been studying BCIs, continuously improving and designing systems that connect neurons to the digital world. In 2003, a team at Duke University demonstrated that monkeys implanted with microelectrode arrays could consciously control robotic arms. A year later, a young athlete named Matt Nagle became the first paralyzed person to benefit from BCI technology. Using a BCI, he was able to control a computer cursor and move a prosthetic hand. Paradromics' successful trial implant of its brain-computer interface in a human for the first time sends positive signals, as the race to lead the brain-computer interface space heats up. It's a sign that Paradromics is moving closer to the commercial development of its BCI system. Elon Musk's Neuralink, perhaps the most well-known name in the field, is also working to connect human brains directly to computers. As of April, three patients have received Neuralink's brain implant. Once regulators give the go-ahead, Paradromics plans to launch a clinical trial later this year to study the long-term safety and effectiveness of its technology in humans. Last year, Paradromics CEO told CNBC that the company expects to receive commercial approval to sell the product before the end of the decade.
NDTV
3 hours ago
- NDTV
Researchers Eyeing Options Beyond US Can Look To This Country
With former US President Donald Trump back in power, the American research community is facing renewed uncertainty. Visa cancellations, abrupt funding cuts, and restrictive policies are pushing scientists and researchers to seek opportunities elsewhere. Amid this exodus, Germany has stepped in as a welcoming alternative-especially through its Max Planck Society. The Max Planck Society, one of the world's leading research networks, has seen a huge surge in applications from US-based researchers for its Spring 2025 intake. Notably, 81 women scientists from the US have applied this year, up from just 25 last year. The rise in applications from the US contrasts with stable numbers from other parts of the world, signalling a significant shift in researcher sentiment. Max Planck Society President Patrick Cramer revealed that nearly half of these new applicants are affiliated with leading US institutions such as Harvard University, Stanford University, MIT, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the University of California system. Funded by the German government, the society comprises 84 research institutes and operates on an annual budget of 2 billion euros. It currently hosts 39 Nobel laureates, and 20 new researcher positions are now open. The exodus of researchers is largely linked to the Trump administration's crackdown on international scholars. A controversial directive sought to ban institutions like Harvard from admitting foreign students. Although a federal court has temporarily blocked this move, the uncertainty has already triggered panic in academic circles. The broader global education and research community has taken notice. High-profile scholars such as Yale historian Timothy Snyder have resigned in protest and relocated to institutions abroad. Anticipating this wave of displaced researchers, Germany has launched a national initiative called "1000 Brains" to expand its research infrastructure and absorb global talent.
