Latest news with #smoking
Medical News Today
3 hours ago
- Health
- Medical News Today
Smoking and GERD: Effects, link, and more
Smoking can increase the risk of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and may increase the frequency and severity of symptoms. Quitting smoking may help to reduce GERD symptoms. Smoking tobacco or e-cigarettes will likely increase acid reflux, stomach acid production, and coughing, which can all contribute to the development of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). To reduce GERD symptoms, a healthcare professional may recommend quitting smoking. Smoking may increase the frequency of GERD symptoms. A 2025 study associated smoking e-cigarettes with a greater number of acidic refluxes than in non-smoking participants. Smoking may also worsen GERD symptoms. A 2024 study of 403 university students found that those who smoked tobacco or vaped had higher GERD symptom scores than non-smokers. Increased frequency of vaping linked to an increase in GERD symptoms. The study found that newer smokers experienced more severe symptoms than those who had been smoking for longer. This may be due to increased sensitivity to nicotine in new or light smokers, although further research is necessary to confirm findings. » Learn more:Vaping vs. smoking Smoking, including inhaling secondhand smoke, can weaken the LES. The LES is a muscle that sits between the esophagus and the stomach. The esophagus is a tube running from the throat to the stomach that transports food and liquids. The LES opens to allow food and liquids to pass from the esophagus to the stomach. It stays closed to prevent stomach contents traveling back up the esophagus. Weakening of the LES can lead to GERD. Smoking increases the amount of acid the stomach produces, which, in addition to the weakening of the LES, increases the risk of damage to the esophagus. According to a 2025 study, vaping may increase the risk of developing GERD. The study included 90 participants, and found vaping linked to increased acid reflux and may play a part in the development of GERD. This may be due to the effects of e-cigarettes on the LES. Other tobacco products may also increase the risk of GERD due to their nicotine content. Nicotine relaxes the LES, which increases reflux due to stomach acid flowing back up the esophagus. Quitting smoking may help to improve and reduce GERD symptoms. A 2024 study found that students who quit smoking and vaping had lower GERD symptom scores than current smokers. Quitting smoking may allow the LES to recover and regain its usual function, which can help reduce the severity and frequency of acid reflux. An older 2016 study tested the effects of smoking cessation on GERD. After one year, 141 participants achieved smoking cessation and 50 did not. The group of participants who quit smoking had 43.9% improvement in GERD symptoms and significantly less frequent symptoms, according to a self-report questionnaire. The group who did not quit only experienced 18.2% improvement. If people want to quit smoking or vaping, they can speak with a healthcare professional who can help them follow a quit plan. People can also find advice and support online through resources such as » Learn moreFive ways to quit smoking The following lifestyle changes can help improve and reduce GERD symptoms: maintain or achieve a moderate weight avoid foods and drinks that trigger or worsen GERD symptoms, which may include: spicy, acidic, or high fat foods caffeine alcohol use extra pillows or a soft wedge to raise the head and upper body by 6 to 8 inches when sleeping avoid eating at least 3 hours before lying down Managing other health issues, including asthma and diabetes, may also help reduce GERD symptoms. Exposure to secondhand smoke can be harmful for people with GERD, as it can have similar effects to smoking. Inhaling secondhand smoke can weaken the lower esophageal sphincter, which may worsen acid reflux. Nicotine, a key component in tobacco products, relaxes the LES and can lead to acid reflux. Research suggests exposure to nicotine from any source may harm the digestive system and increase the frequency and severity of GERD symptoms. Some smoking cessation products, such as nicotine replacement therapy, may interact with some GERD medications. Nicotine may interact with cimetidine (Tagamet). Cimetidine is an antacid that reduces stomach acid, which may help manage GERD symptoms. It may increase nicotine levels in the blood, which may lead to toxicity. It is important to speak with a doctor before taking any GERD medications alongside smoking cessation products. Smoking is a risk factor for GERD, largely due to its effects on the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). Smoking weakens the LES, which allows stomach acid to flow back up the esophagus. Vaping, smoking other substances such as cannabis, consuming other tobacco products, and exposure to secondhand smoke may also increase the risk of GERD. Smoking may also increase the frequency and severity of GERD symptoms. Quitting smoking can help the LES to recover, which may reduce and improve GERD symptoms. Acid Reflux / GERD Smoking / Quit Smoking Preventive Medicine Medical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.
Forbes
6 hours ago
- Health
- Forbes
Why Smoking Is Making A Comeback — And What It Means For Your Health
Gen Z is picking up where past generations left off—with a cigarette in hand. A cigarette lit on screen once symbolized noir, danger and cool detachment — think Bogart or David Lynch. Then came the lawsuits, anti-smoking campaigns, bans and the rise of vaping. For a while, it seemed America had finally kicked the habit. But now, a smoking comeback is underway. Zendaya lights up in 'Euphoria'; Jacob Elordi does the same in 'Saltburn.' Celebrities like Dua Lipa, Charli XCX, Timothée Chalamet and Anya Taylor-Joy have been spotted puffing away, becoming modern-day "cigfluencers." In 2020, cigarette sales rose for the first time in decades — though still far below the 1981 peak of 636.5 billion. Even among teens, nicotine use is shifting from vapes back to traditional cigarettes. A recent report by Truth Initiative found that tobacco depictions in top films have increased for the first time since tracking began in 2002. So what can we do? From Trend to Relapse We've been here before. In the early 20th century, cigarette smoking was glamorized in Hollywood, normalized by doctors and deeply embedded in American life. By the 1960s, nearly half of U.S. adults smoked. Then came the fallout: emphysema, heart disease, stroke, lung cancer. The medical evidence caught up with the image. Public health campaigns, warning labels, advertising bans and billions in legal settlements helped turn the tide. Not to mention, the astronomical price for a pack of cigarettes and the fact that there's no longer any places to smoke in public. The 2020 Surgeon General's report marked a historic milestone: adult cigarette smoking in the U.S. had fallen to just 14% — the lowest rate ever recorded. It was one of the greatest public health wins of the modern era. But smoking never truly disappeared. It shape-shifted. First into cigars and hookahs, then into sleek USB-like vape devices. Vaping was marketed as a safer alternative — a harm-reduction strategy. But the reality is more complicated. Juul didn't kill the cigarette. It trained a new generation to inhale nicotine. Now, we're seeing a strange reversal: from vape to smoke. From digital detox to vintage, Instagrammable vice. And once again, public health is playing catch-up to pop culture. A Healthcare Advisor's Take: Why This Matters Now In my work advising families, executives and individuals navigating complex health decisions, I've learned one truth: the greatest threats aren't the ones making headlines. They're the silent resurgences — the risks we assumed were relegated to history. Like measles. For over 20 years, we nearly eradicated it. Vaccines turned a once-common childhood illness into a relic. But now, declining vaccination rates and global travel have breathed life back into this preventable disease. Outbreaks are flaring in communities we thought were protected. Same goes for whooping cough. The resurgence of smoking may look like an edgy accessory for Gen Z. But it has real consequences, especially for anyone with a family history of heart or lung disease. What makes this moment so dangerous is the normalization. When something taboo gets rebranded as a choice — even a form of rebellion — it catches many with their guard down. People start saying things like: 'I'm just a social smoker.' 'At least it's not vaping.' 'I don't inhale.' These are the same rationalizations we heard in the 1980s. We already know where they lead. Why the Anti-Smoking Playbook of the '90s Worked — and Why It's Not Enough Now Remember those visceral commercials from the Truth Initiative? Or the public testimonies from people with tracheostomies begging kids not to smoke? Those campaigns worked because they made the consequences impossible to ignore. They also had something else: funding, legislation and social momentum. Today, the cultural winds are different. Social media algorithms reward aesthetics, not public health. TikTok doesn't run public service announcements. And with vaping muddying the waters, many young people don't even understand what they're inhaling — or how much. Legislating Against the Cigarette Comeback Even as smoking regains cultural cachet, some states are pushing back with unprecedented measures. Nevada could soon make history by becoming the first U.S. state to outlaw cigarette sales to entire generations. A proposed law (AB 279) would permanently ban sales to anyone born after 2004 — a rising age restriction designed to phase out cigarettes entirely. What's Actually in a Cigarette For all the romanticization, cigarettes remain one of the deadliest consumer products ever marketed. A single cigarette contains more than 7,000 chemicals — 69 of which are known to cause cancer. Smoking contributes to 1 in 5 deaths in the U.S. each year. And it doesn't just affect the lungs. The one question I'll guarantee your doctor will ask for your next annual checkup is this: do you smoke? Smoking increases your risk of: It also accelerates aging, damages skin elasticity and reduces stamina — none of which pairs particularly well with the image of glamour it's trying to recapture. So Why Is Gen Z Smoking? There's no one answer. But here are a few forces at play: So What Can You Do? If you're a parent, provider or simply trying to keep yourself on a healthier path, here's what I advise: In healthcare, it's easy to focus only on diagnoses and prescriptions. But as advisors, we have to stay attuned to the cultural cues — the smoke signals — that precede behavior. When the smoking comeback starts trending again, it's not just an aesthetic choice. It's a public health flare. And if we don't speak up early, we may find ourselves fighting an old war with new casualties. So the next time someone says, 'It's just one,' don't ignore it. Intervene with empathy, context, and truth. Because this time, we know better.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Botani Introduces Premium Tea Leaf Wrappers
The new botanical papers are a coveted natural alternative to hemp, offering superior sensory attributes and smoke-ability for an elevated consumer experience Botani Tea Wrapper LUXEMBOURG, June 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Botani, the B2B market brand of SWM International and a leader in premium hemp and botanical solutions, today announced the expansion of its botanical wrapper portfolio with the introduction of Botani Tea Wrappers. Meticulously crafted from real tea leaves, these new wrappers deliver an unparalleled smoking experience that complements Botani's existing line of hemp-based papers. "Our new Botani Tea Wrappers showcase the intersection of flower-based materials and artisanal papermaking," said Alex Boone, Managing Director at Botani and VP/GM at SWM International. "Building on our legacy of transforming hemp into superior smoking accessories, we've harnessed the unique properties of tea to develop a wrapper that excels in aroma, flavor, visual appeal and overall smoke-ability." Botani Tea Wrappers provide a versatile option for multiple end-use applications, including cones, blunts, cannagars, and booklets. Like Botani's hemp papers, the tea wrappers are fully customizable, with a wide array of flavor infusions and branding options available. This allows cannabis brands to create highly differentiated products to stand out in an increasingly competitive marketplace. 'Hemp has always been at the heart of our business, and we're constantly innovating to offer versatile solutions for our customers,' said Thomas Kraker, Product Manager at Botani. 'Our tea leaf papers provide a unique and high-quality option that allows brands to expand their product lines while maintaining Botani's renowned commitment to excellence.' Botani's foray into tea wrappers is a natural progression, leveraging SWM International's centuries of expertise in reconstituting botanical materials into specialty papers. The proprietary process results in wrappers that are not only smooth-burning and flavorful, but also easy to package, store and ship. This empowers brands to seamlessly integrate tea wrappers into their existing production lines for maximum efficiency and scalability. About BotaniBotani is the cannabis-specific arm of SWM International, a papermaking pioneer with over 400 years of experience in innovation. The company embodies SWM International's unwavering innovative spirit and dedication to technical progression, embracing cutting-edge papermaking advancements to nurture customer growth with every step. From natural leaf and botanicals to colorful, scented, premium, one-of-a-kind papers, Botani redefines premium natural fibers product manufacturing with customizable and scalable offerings for businesses looking to deliver an elevated consumer experience. For more information, visit For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact Bree DeVita at bree@ or 303-513-1244 A photo accompanying this announcement is available at in to access your portfolio
Health Line
3 days ago
- Health
- Health Line
Can IVF Cause Early Menopause?
No, in vitro fertilization (IVF) cannot cause early menopause. It is a common misconception that IVF can quicken the transition to menopause by causing you to 'run out of eggs' at a faster rate. However, there is no evidence to suggest that this is true. Menopause that occurs before the age of 45 is considered early. There are various factors that may contribute to early menopause, including: having a family history of early menopause smoking, which may also lead to more severe menopause symptoms having or having had chemotherapy having a bilateral oophorectomy, which is the surgical removal of the ovaries having a hysterectomy, which is the surgical removal of the uterus having autoimmune conditions, like thyroid disease and rheumatoid arthritis It's also important to note that early menopause may not be linked to a condition or treatment and occur with no clear reason. How do I know if I'm going through early menopause? The most common sign of early menopause is having irregular periods or periods that stop completely before the age of 45. You may also experience the following symptoms: hot flashes difficulty sleeping night sweats vaginal dryness low mood anxiety reduced sex drive If you think you may be experiencing early menopause, consider speaking with a healthcare professional. They can run blood tests to confirm this and suggest treatment options to help you manage symptoms.
News.com.au
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Wiz Khalifa admits he smokes 30 joints a day
One of the faces of 'weed rap' since his debut on the scene in 2005, the Payphone singer confessed his daily habit in a new interview with late night TV host Jimmy Kimmel Khalifa appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, where he confirmed that he smokes about 30 joints a day to keep his head in the clouds. He explained that he views it as a "mental exercise" as he attempts to navigate life's daily obstacles while high. "Somebody put it a really good way the other day," Khalifa said when asked about his daily routine.
