Recently, controversy had surrounded mentholated cigarettes. Menthol, a minty-tasting additive, may anesthetize nerve endings slightly, making cigarettes seem less harsh and bitter. Mentholated cigarettes seem to appeal more to African American smokers: 79% of African American smokers preferred mentholated cigarettes, compared to between 13 and... Read more
Now that we are in the “dog days” of summer, many of us hear
reports on TV or the radio regarding air quality. Because these warnings are
usually directed towards people with lung disease or heart disease, I think
it’s important to understand what’s behind the “air quality” ratings.
In general, the... Read more
In my last post, I began to discuss how the medical expert David Katz, MD, sees smoking as part of a bigger picture of problems, including dependence on other substances, depression, anxiety, and trouble with weight. I wrote about how the presence of these other factors makes quitting smoking harder, but also sheds light on how to maximize a... Read more
I attended a conference the other day given by Dr. David L.
Katz, a well-known primary care doctor who regularly works with Oprah, ABC
news, as well as other major news organizations (www.davidkatzmd.com). He is well known
for his advice on helping people lose weight by identifying which elements of
their lifestyles need change to encourage... Read more
I am currently at the annual congress of the American Thoracic Society, the largest international professional society dedicated to respiratory science and medicine. The Society’s motto is “we help the world breathe,” and the congress consists of 6 days of lectures, presentations and meetings all dedicated to improving lung... Read more