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Make Smoking Cessation Counseling a Routine Intervention
Make Smoking Cessation Counseling a Routine Intervention

Medscape

time09-07-2025

  • Health
  • Medscape

Make Smoking Cessation Counseling a Routine Intervention

This transcript has been edited for clarity. As we know, smoking can affect the lungs significantly by causing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung cancers. Most of our patients believe [smoking only] affects [the lungs]. However, smoking can affect our heart significantly, causing advanced atherosclerosis, early-onset hypertension, and early-onset heart attacks. Smoking not only causes cancer of the lungs but can also cause cancer of our esophagus, mouth, bladder, stomach, and pancreas. This leads to early-onset tooth decay and gum disease. This can impact infertility and can also cause a decreased immune system that can lead to continued chronic conditions and illnesses. Counseling our patients on smoking cessation is one of the best things we can do for them. Telling our patients about hotlines, apps, or counseling are ways to help them quit. Also, medications such as Chantix (varenicline) and bupropion have been FDA approved in addition to nicotine replacement therapy, whether it's in the form of gum, patches, lozenges, or inhalers. All of these, even combined together, can significantly help our patients quit. Other modalities such as hypnotherapy, and acupuncture, herbal remedies exist, and some people find great benefit with these. Helping our patients to quit is the number-one thing we can do for them.

World Bronchiectasis Day: American Lung Association Launches New Campaign to Support People Living with Chronic Lung Disease
World Bronchiectasis Day: American Lung Association Launches New Campaign to Support People Living with Chronic Lung Disease

Yahoo

time01-07-2025

  • Health
  • Yahoo

World Bronchiectasis Day: American Lung Association Launches New Campaign to Support People Living with Chronic Lung Disease

WASHINGTON, July 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, on World Bronchiectasis Day, the American Lung Association is launching a new campaign to support people living with bronchiectasis, which is a chronic and progressive lung condition that affects between 350,000 and 500,000 adults in the United States. The new campaign aims to educate people living with bronchiectasis about how to improve their disease management, help connect them with emotional support and ultimately improve their life. Bronchiectasis is a chronic lung disease in which the airways (bronchi) become widened and scarred due to repeated inflammation and infection. This damage makes it difficult to clear mucus from the lungs, leading to persistent cough, shortness of breath, frequent infections and decreased lung function. "While there is currently no cure for bronchiectasis, early diagnosis, effective management and a solid support system can help people with the disease lead heathy and active lives," said Harold Wimmer, President and CEO of the American Lung Association. "Through education, support and empowering individuals to communicate effectively with their healthcare providers, we can help patients better manage their symptoms and prevent serious complications." The American Lung Association's free bronchiectasis awareness campaign includes: Patient education on managing flare-ups, understanding disease progression, and exploring treatment options. Resources for newly diagnosed patients to help navigate the condition from the start. Support for emotional wellbeing, including access to the Lung HelpLine and guidance on coping with the psychological impact of chronic lung disease. Patient stories and insights to amplify the voices of those living with bronchiectasis. Use of social listening to identify community needs and shape future resources. Bronchiectasis is more common in women and older adults, and in 40% of cases, the underlying cause is unknown. Treatment often includes airway clearance techniques, inhaled medications, antibiotics to manage infections, and in some cases, oxygen therapy. Though the disease shares some symptoms with COPD, it is a distinct condition and must be treated as such—especially for those living with both diseases. To learn more about bronchiectasis and access educational materials, visit Support for this awareness campaign is provided by Boehringer Ingelheim. About the American Lung AssociationThe American Lung Association is the leading organization working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease through education, advocacy and research. The work of the American Lung Association is focused on four strategic imperatives: to defeat lung cancer; to champion clean air for all; to improve the quality of life for those with lung disease and their families; and to create a tobacco-free future. For more information about the American Lung Association, a holder of the coveted 4-star rating from Charity Navigator and a Platinum-Level GuideStar Member, or to support the work it does, call 1-800-LUNGUSA (1-800-586-4872) or visit: CONTACT: Jill Dale | American Lung Association P: 312-940-7001 C: 720-438-8289 E: View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE American Lung Association

What are the benefits of mullein tea?
What are the benefits of mullein tea?

Medical News Today

time01-07-2025

  • Health
  • Medical News Today

What are the benefits of mullein tea?

Mullein tea may possess many benefits. This can potentially include supporting lung health, and having an antimicrobial effect. However, there is limited evidence supporting this and more research is still tea is a beverage that has played a role in traditional medicine for hundreds of years. People have used tea made from the leaves of the common mullein plant (Verbascum thapsus) as a herbal remedy for persistent coughs, asthma, and refers to a genus of plants, containing over 2,500 species, native to Europe, Asia, and Africa. V. thapsus is a single species of mullein. People worldwide have tried it for its aromatic flavor and potential medicinal benefits and uses of mullein teaMullein tea may offer health benefits, but more research is necessary to demonstrate its potential health benefits in humans. At present, most research involves parts or elements of mullein in test tubes. As such, the possible benefits from these studies may not reflect what happens in humans. Further research could help people understand the effects of mullein on healthA 2021 review notes that people may consume mullein to help relieve respiratory problems, such as colds, coughs, hoarseness, asthma, and bronchitis. This may be due to its potential to relieve coughs and loosen mucus, although researchers are yet to understand how it achieves these tea's potential effect on respiratory symptoms may be due to the presence of anti-inflammatory plant compounds, including flavonoids, iridoids, glycosides, saponins, vitamin C, and various minerals. This could help with conditions involving inflammation of the airways, such as asthma. However, further research needs to assess the effects of mullein tea in treating asthma and other respiratory conditions, as many studies use a fluid extract or individual chemical components. The concentration of plant compounds that pass from the leaves into the infused beverage remains propertiesSome test-tube studies suggest that mullein extract can reduce the growth of certain bacteria. For example, a 2020 study found that a common bacterium in soil called Bacillus cereus was most sensitive to the effects of V. to a 2021 review, research has also found the plant fluid extract to be effective against bacteria that cause respiratory infections. However, a more recent study found that while previous authors have identified antibacterial properties in V. thapsus, it showed no effects on Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus).Again, these have studied extracts in test tubes. They do not give a reliable indication of mullein tea's effects on have other health effectsAlthough test-tube studies have not directly demonstrated mullein tea's effects on human health, the plant contains multiple compounds that could provide potential health benefits. Aside from potential anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects, these might include:antiviral action, with some evidence suggesting it may possess potent antiviral activity against some virusesanticancer effects, according to a 2022 study involving alcohol-derived extracts combined with extracts from other plantsprotective effects on brain cells, per a 2022 study on mice who had Alzheimer's diseaseHowever, more research is still necessary to confirm the effects of mullein tea on human side effects of mullein teaGenerally, health experts consider mullein tea to be safe with no known side tiny hairs sit on the surface of its leaves, and they have natural irritant properties to ward off cattle and other grazing animals. In some individuals, these hairs may trigger a contact dermatitis reaction when handling the plant.A 2019 case report found that a 12-year-old girl experienced contact dermatitis after exposure to a combination of V. thapsus and another plant family called Asteraceae. Although the researchers could not directly link the reaction to V. thapsus alone, they also could not rule it safety data is available to confirm whether mullein tea is safe for consumption during pregnancy or to prepare mullein teaMullein is available in various forms, including teabags, extracts, dried leaves, capsules, and tinctures. The packaging will provide instructions for preparing each specific Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates supplements and herbal products differently than it does medications. This means that the ingredient lists may be misleading, and the packaging may suggest benefits that evidence does not who have foraged and dried wild mullein leaves can submerge a handful of leaves in around 8 ounces (oz) of boiling water for thirty minutes or more. For a clump-free tea, place the leaves in a strainer or infuser and remove them after finishing the tea. Adding honey can make it into a cough thapsus (V. thapsus) is a species of mullein plant that people may use in herbal remedies. Mullein tea is one of the possible preparations that people derive from the evidence suggest that mullein may reduce coughing and loosen mucus in people with asthma and other respiratory conditions. It may also reduce bacterial growth and has a range of plant compounds that could have beneficial current evidence has only looked at the effects of mullein on cells in tubes or animals. As such, more research is humans is still necessary.

Counsel Patients on Vaping's Irreversible Lung Risks
Counsel Patients on Vaping's Irreversible Lung Risks

Medscape

time26-06-2025

  • Health
  • Medscape

Counsel Patients on Vaping's Irreversible Lung Risks

This transcript has been edited for clarity. Hi, everyone. My name is Dr Chandrasekaran. I'm here today to talk to you about vaping. Vaping has become a global health epidemic affecting everyone from high schoolers all the way to adults. This has gained popularity in recent years, butwhat people don't know is that vaping has now been shown to be linked to irreversible lung damage. It has been linked to conditions such as bronchiolitis obliterans, which is narrowing and scarring of the small airways due to diacetyl, which is found in nicotine liquid in vapes. Also, vaping has been linked to lung collapse,which can then cause hospitalizations and require patients to have chest tubes, or EVALI, which is a significant, life-threatening disease that can leave patients on a ventilator. It's important for us to counsel our patients and to advise our patients that these risk factors do exist when using their vapes every day or even socially on only takes one time to try it to end up with any of these irreversible lung conditions.

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