Health Expert Carol Southard shares health management news and commentary at HealthCentral.com. HealthCentral.com is one of the top health destinations on the Web, with more than 35 condition-specific, wellness and general health Web properties. http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/89783/index http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/89783/rss self application/xml en-us 15 120 19 http://www.healthcentral.com/images/hc_logo_sm.gif http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/89783/index http://www.healthcentral.com/copd/c/89783/35789/pharmacies Fri, 01 Aug 2008 10:22:00 -0400 Carol Southard As of October 1, 2008, San Francisco will be the first city in the nation to ban the sale of tobacco products at most pharmacies.  (The law bans the sale of all tobacco products at pharmacies in the city, but big-box stores like Costco and supermarkets like Safeway will still be allowed to sell tobacco.)  Nearby Marin County officials are already crafting similar legislation and are carefully watching the implementation of San... http://www.healthcentral.com/copd/c/89783/35789/pharmacies http://www.healthcentral.com/copd/c/89783/35565/personal Wed, 30 Jul 2008 10:44:00 -0400 Carol Southard The majority of Americans say the fact that a person smokes or is significantly overweight does not affect their opinion of that person, although 40% say they have a more negative opinion of smokers, and 29% have a more negative opinion of someone who is significantly overweight.The impact of a person's habits or external appearance on his or her image is a significant factor in today's society, given that groups of people claim they are... http://www.healthcentral.com/copd/c/89783/35565/personal http://www.healthcentral.com/copd/c/89783/34920/bloomberg Thu, 24 Jul 2008 10:54:00 -0400 Carol Southard Bill Gates and Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg are to be congratulated on joining forces in funding such comprehensive tobacco control efforts in areas of the world with the largest percentage of smokers.  Even though most research on smoke-free policies has been conducted in more affluent countries that have already implemented tobacco control policies, it has been convincingly demonstrated that tobacco control policies are extremely effective... http://www.healthcentral.com/copd/c/89783/34920/bloomberg http://www.healthcentral.com/copd/c/89783/34522/marajuana Mon, 21 Jul 2008 11:10:00 -0400 Carol Southard A very common question from people trying to quit smoking is: “Will smoking marijuana help or hurt as I try to quit smoking cigarettes?”  Whether marijuana will relieve side effects or withdrawal symptoms is dubious.  But the risks of using any tobacco product and of smoking pot are unmistakable.  Marijuana has been used as a medical treatment for thousands of years.  Marijuana was listed as an approved drug in... http://www.healthcentral.com/copd/c/89783/34522/marajuana http://www.healthcentral.com/copd/c/89783/32100/benefits Thu, 26 Jun 2008 17:45:00 -0400 Carol Southard Until two years ago, only two classes of smoking cessation drugs were available: nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) with multiple delivery methods (gum, patch, inhaler, spray, lozenge) and the mild antidepressant bupropion. All approximately double the rate of cessation when compared to placebo. Chantix (Varenicline) is the first new agent for smoking cessation approved in almost a decade and represents a third class of drug with a different... http://www.healthcentral.com/copd/c/89783/32100/benefits http://www.healthcentral.com/copd/c/89783/29019/replacement Tue, 27 May 2008 10:09:00 -0400 Carol Southard Many smokers have misperceptions about nicotine, which often result in not using evidence-based treatments when quitting. Misperceptions about nicotine are often derived from how the harmful effects of tobacco are presented in cessation materials.  The following are key points to keep in mind when considering the use of Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT):   NRT can double a smoker’s chances of permanently quitting... http://www.healthcentral.com/copd/c/89783/29019/replacement http://www.healthcentral.com/copd/c/89783/26683/cessation Thu, 01 May 2008 13:50:00 -0400 Carol Southard The existing smoking prevalence has not significantly decreased in this country since 2004, demonstrating a stall in the previous seven-year decline. That so many are still smoking given the known dangers and the efficacious treatments available is a testament to the power of tobacco addiction and a strong signal that tobacco cessation services should be accessible and affordable for all tobacco users!  That being said, I was... http://www.healthcentral.com/copd/c/89783/26683/cessation http://www.healthcentral.com/copd/c/89783/25617/introduction Sun, 20 Apr 2008 19:44:15 -0400 Carol Southard It was with immense pleasure that I recently accepted the invitation to join HealthCentral as a Tobacco Treatment expert.  As a nurse who has specialized in tobacco cessation for over 20 years, I am extremely passionate about doing all that is humanly possible to ensure that efficacious, evidence based cessation intervention for all tobacco users becomes a priority.  It has long been a frustration to me that cessation counseling has... http://www.healthcentral.com/copd/c/89783/25617/introduction