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NZ Herald
5 days ago
- Health
- NZ Herald
Vaping has created a toxic monster: Here's what it does to your body and how to quit
He highlights the rise of vapes with a refillable pod which 'look exactly the same as the disposable [products] and maintain a lot of the features which are appealing to kids, including the different colours, crazy flavours, design and pricing'. He therefore believes the impact on youth vaping will be 'minimal' as many simply turn to the reusable products instead. Before the ban even began, researchers from University College London (UCL) believed disposable vape users were already switching to refillable and rechargeable devices in preparation, instead of giving up. Doctors and scientists are continuing to explore the long-term effects of vaping. 'There is growing evidence that e-cigarettes are harmful to health because some include carcinogens such as formaldehyde, [and] some have higher concentrations of nicotine than the cigarettes they are attempting to replace,' says Dr Cary Adams, the chief executive of the UICC. 'Nicotine is also highly addictive, which makes users more susceptible to dependency, and more likely to smoke throughout their lifetime.' What are the risks? People who vape as well as smoke have a greater risk of: Cardiovascular disease Stroke Chronic lung disease Asthma Oral disease While vaping is still significantly better for your health than smoking, charities are particularly concerned because research is suggesting that a significant proportion of people both smoke and vape. According to the Action on Smoking and Health organisation, 39% of current vapers in the UK also smoke. 'It's estimated that electronic cigarettes are 95% less harmful than conventional cigarettes,' says Dr Silvano Gallus, the head of the Laboratory of Lifestyle Epidemiology at the Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research in Milan. 'But studies are showing that a significant proportion of electronic cigarette users are dual users, and data suggests this leads to a greatly increased risk of disease.' Last year, a major study in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine called for a reassessment of the widely held assumption that vaping can prevent cigarette-related diseases, largely because of the risk of people becoming addicted to both. The study found that dual users had a greater risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, chronic lung disease, asthma and oral disease compared with people who just smoked. Gallus and others feel that because of this, there is a need for better strategies for helping people transition away from all forms of nicotine, including vapes. How can you quit? So how can you go about quitting vaping? Last week, the first ever Cochrane review – a systematic examination of randomised controlled trials – was published, looking at the evidence for helping people quit nicotine-containing vapes, which is admittedly rather limited. 'From the data, it seems that it's easier to stop vaping than it is to stop smoking, which is good,' says Sairah Salim-Sartoni, a health psychologist who spent 16 years working clinically in NHS stop smoking services. 'But we still don't have any official guidance. I'd love to be able to give a blueprint for how to help people quit vaping, but we don't have those studies yet.' However, from tapering and distraction to apps and drug treatments, there are a number of strategies which can be used to try and break a potent vaping addiction. 1. Tapering While many smokers use vaping as a way of transitioning away from conventional cigarettes, Salim-Sartoni says that it is possible to become completely nicotine-free. 'A lot of the smokers I know do want to get rid of their dependence on using anything, and it takes time to do that,' she says. 'The number one thing which people can try is to slowly reduce their nicotine strength.' She describes one particular patient who went from smoking to vaping and then eventually nicotine-free, through tapering down in steps, for example from 20mg/ml nicotine to 18mg/ml, 12mg/ml, 9mg/ml, 6mg/ml, 3mg/ml and then to zero. 'That is very feasible, and there's different ways you can do that,' she says. 'You could either vape less often, or go to a nicotine pouch or a nicotine replacement therapy gum, and then slowly reduce your intake.' However, she says that it's important to make sure that as you reduce your nicotine strength, for example through switching to lower strength vapes, you're not vaping more often. 'Unfortunately sometimes when people try and reduce their nicotine strength, they just vape more and more because they're [subconsciously] still trying to get to the level they had before, and they actually end up consuming more nicotine,' she says. 2. Identify your triggers Dr Sharon Levy is a Harvard Medical School associate professor who also heads the addiction medicine division at Boston Children's Hospital. She says the initial symptoms of nicotine withdrawal persist for somewhere between two and four weeks after completely stopping vaping. However the cravings last significantly longer, up to two months for most people, although they tend to fade over time. 'Making it through the first three months after quitting is a major milestone,' says Dr Levy. 'Though unfortunately people are not entirely out of the woods at that point because they are still at risk of being triggered if they are stressed, in a situation that they'd previously associated with nicotine use, or if they see other people using nicotine.' Because of this, Levy recommends meeting with a behavioural therapist to help identify triggers which you can recognise and avoid, as well as working on healthy stress management techniques. 'When someone becomes addicted to a substance, it's as if their brain mistakes the substance use as a behaviour that's critical for survival,' she says. 'So it takes a lot of money and energy for them to prevent themselves from defaulting to using it. Behavioural health counsellors can help people to unlearn this automatic defaulting.' Some vapes contain more nicotine than traditional cigarettes. Photo / 123RF 3. Set boundaries A key component of behavioural management is not only identifying your triggers but setting boundaries. 'They're very similar tactics you would use for stopping smoking that you can apply to vaping as well,' says Salim-Sartoni. 'You can set rules for where you do and do not vape, so basically saying I'm only using my vape when I'm outside, but the home and car, I do not vape. Lower the nicotine, extend the time between vaping and set rules for where you do and don't vape.' Because this isn't always easy, Salim-Sartoni says that finding 'a buddy' who is also attempting to quit vaping can provide a vital support network which can make the whole process of setting boundaries much easier. 4. Distraction Finding a way to distract the brain is a key aspect of breaking any substance addiction. Salim-Sartoni says that there are all kinds of methods you can use to disengage your brain from the nicotine cravings, such as going to drink water, going to the toilet, playing a game on your phone or going for a walk. One surprisingly effective means of distraction is having a boiled sweet. 'The glucose receptor is very close to the nicotine receptor,' says Salim-Sartoni. 'And so the nicotine receptor feels that it's had something. The science steadily emerged to show this, but in our stop smoking clinics, we realised early on that people were eating a lot of sweet stuff when they were trying to quit, and this is why.' 5. Try apps or text message interventions According to the recent Cochrane review, some trials have found that text message-based interventions, which provide regular support and advice on quitting vaping can be effective. One study which examined a text message-based quit-vaping programme showed that users who used the programme were 35% more likely to quit vaping nicotine within seven months. As well as text message services, Levy says that there are a number of freely available apps and chatbots such as This is Quitting, which provide regular tips and encouragement, which have been shown to be effective in increasing quit rates. 6. Drug therapies For more powerful nicotine addictions, there are also pharmacological therapies such as the prescription drugs varenicline and cytisine. Varenicline binds to the nicotine receptors in the brain and blocks them, preventing the nicotine in vapes from binding to them, and so reducing withdrawal symptoms and cravings. Cytisine mimics the effects of nicotine and so tricks the brain into thinking it has ingested nicotine, which also reduces cravings. Finally, Salim-Sartoni emphasises that the most important thing of all for people looking to quit vaping, particularly ex-smokers, is that they don't return to smoking cigarettes again. 'Smoking is uniquely deadly, and some people can't stop nicotine or don't want to,' she says. 'If that's the case, then it is much better that they switch to e-cigarettes, particularly with the Government's ambition to reduce smoking rates in the UK to 5% or less by 2030.'
Associated Press
06-02-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
Jazz Pharmaceuticals Joins the Movement for Awareness and Support on World Cancer Day with The Upside Down Challenge
It is estimated that about 1 in 5 people will develop cancer in their lifetime. Receiving a cancer diagnosis can feel like your life, and the lives of those around you, have been flipped upside down. In honor of #WorldCancerDay, we're participating in the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) 's Upside Down Challenge to rally behind the unique voices of every patient and family member impacted by cancer and help bring much-needed awareness to this challenging disease. Learn how you can get involved today and use the hashtag #UnitedByUnique About Jazz Pharmaceuticals Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc (Nasdaq: JAZZ) is a global biopharma company whose purpose is to innovate to transform the lives of patients and their families. We are dedicated to developing potentially life-changing medicines for people with serious diseases — often with limited or no therapeutic options. We have a diverse portfolio of marketed medicines, including leading therapies for sleep disorders and epilepsy, and a growing portfolio of cancer treatments. Our patient-focused and science-driven approach powers pioneering research and development advancements across our robust pipeline of innovative therapeutics in oncology and neuroscience. Jazz is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland with research and development laboratories, manufacturing facilities and employees in multiple countries committed to serving patients worldwide. Please visit for more information.
Yahoo
04-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
World Cancer Day 'United By Unique' reflects on personal stories
CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP)- Tuesday is World Cancer Day, an effort to raise awareness of prevention, detection, and treatment. The day was established in the year 2000 and led by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC). They launched a new theme this year called 'United By Unique' which reflects on the change in cancer care and health systems for an individual-focused approach to treatment. The organization plans to keep this theme going through 2027 looking beyond the disease and seeing the person before the patient. Counties with the highest cancer rates in Massachusetts In Massachusetts, women have the highest risk for breast cancer and men, prostate cancer, according to statistics by the National Cancer Institute from 2027-2021. The data also states that more people have died from lung and bronchus cancer in Massachusetts than any other form. Lung cancer also remains the deadliest cancer worldwide. Highest cancer risks in Massachusetts: Breast (female) Prostate (male) Lung & Bronchus Breast (in situ) (female) Colon & Rectum Uterus (Corpus & Uterus, NOS) (Female) Bladder Cancer is a leading cause of death across the globe, the American Cancer Society predicts over two million new cancer cases are expected to be diagnosed this year in the U.S., with more than 618,000 deaths from the disease. In Massachusetts, 44,000 cases are predicted this year with 7,240 women diagnosed with breast cancer, 6,680 men diagnosed with prostate cancer, and 5,300 cases of lung and bronchus cancer. Unfortunately, they also predict an estimated number of deaths, 12,390 people diagnosed with cancer in Massachusetts. However, new data shows overall cancer mortality has continued to decline with early detection offering the best possible outcome for any cancer diagnosis. Support from loved ones, community, and healthcare providers ensures cancer patients do not feel alone during their journey. There are programs, resources, and help for those on the road to recovery. Cancer Helpline: 1-800-227-2345 Educational materials Reduce the risk of cancer Share your story Cancer research Cancer Survivors Network Reach to Recovery Road to Recovery Hope Lodge Support for caregivers WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
