A new study led by UCLA researchers suggests that a personalized counseling program can significantly help women who have survived cervical precancer or cervical cancer to quit smoking – and does so at a cost that researchers say represents good value for healthcare systems. The findings, published in JAMA Network Open, show that the specialized … Read more
A new randomized controlled trial has found promising evidence that the smoking cessation medication varenicline (Chantix/Champix) can help people with cannabis use disorder (CUD) to reduce cannabis use. CUD is a rising problem globally, partly due to recent legalization in several countries and US states, and until now no medications have been found to treat … Read more
Everyone agrees primary care physicians (PCPs) need to work together with cardiologists when caring for patients with heart disease, diabetes, and sometimes both conditions. Medscape Medical News asked for examples of PCP-to-cardiologist referrals that were successful — or not. Here are three success stories and one that could have turned out better. Diabetes, Hypertension, New-Onset Raynaud’s…at … Read more
TOPLINE: In 2022, nearly one third of young adults in the United States used electronic nicotine products, and almost one third of the young adults who used them attempted to quit, with social support being the most commonly used cessation method. METHODOLOGY: Researchers performed a secondary analysis and analyzed Wave 7 data, collected between January … Read more
Five classic risk factors for cardiovascular disease — high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, diabetes, and smoking — at age 50 can reduce life expectancy by more than 10 years. This is the conclusion of an international study led by German researchers and presented at the 2025 American College of Cardiology Scientific Session. “These five … Read more
The use of smoking cessation medications during the first trimester of pregnancy posed no greater risk for major congenital malformations (MCMs) in infants than smoking, based on a meta-analysis of approximately 400,000 infants. “Maternal smoking during pregnancy is the leading cause of harms to both mother and baby, contributing to outcomes such as preterm birth, … Read more
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Researchers have developed and internally validated a simple score using clinical factors that can help estimate the likelihood of advanced colorectal neoplasia in adults younger than age 45 years. While colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence has declined overall due to screening, early-onset CRC is on the rise, particularly in individuals younger than 45 years — an … Read more
Research from the University of Bath, funded by Cancer Research UK, published on No Smoking Day 2025, shows that integrating smoking cessation support into NHS Talking Therapies for depression and anxiety increases quit rates. This is an important step in addressing the high rates of smoking in this population. Led by Dr Gemma Taylor at … Read more
TOPLINE: Smoking was associated with a doubling in risk for cryptogenic ischemic stroke (CIS), with the strongest association in men and those aged 45-49 years in a new study. METHODOLOGY: In a prospective case-control study, 546 patients with CIS (47% women) aged 18-49 years from 19 European stroke centers were assessed between 2013 and 2022. … Read more