Commonly known as ‘sheesha’ or ‘huqqah,’ water pipes and smokeless tobacco including both snuff as well as chewing tobacco, pose health dangers that are little understood by users. Contrary to popular belief, water pipes and smokeless tobacco are not a safe alternative to cigarettes, and there is no proof that any device or accessory can make water pipe smoking safer.

States have slashed funding for programs to reduce tobacco use by 12% in the past year and by 36% over the past four years, according to a report released by a coalition of public health organizations including the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.

Women smokers, like men smokers, are at increased risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and pulmonary disease, but women smokers also experience unique risks related to menstrual and reproductive function.
Women who smoke have increased risk conception delay and for primary and secondary infertility.
Women who smoke may have a modest increase in risks for ectopic pregnancy and spontaneous abortion.

The event draws a meager turnout Thursday – about 10 people showing up for a mock funeral in Centennial Park. ‘Bury tobacco before it buries you’ is the theme of the American Cancer Society event.

Flu-like symptoms, difficulty concentrating, headaches, anxiety, depression and weight gain. Those withdrawal symptoms are just part of what makes quitting smoking so difficult — but do they outweigh the heart disease, lung disease, cancer and premature aging that can come with prolonged tobacco use?

Big Tobacco has joined forces with the breast cancer industry in the launch of its newest product aimed at raising money for breast cancer research: “Pink ribbon” SlimSmokes cigarettes for women. For every pack of cigarettes sold, the manufacturer pledges to donate two cents to breast cancer research. “We aim to raise money to help find a cure for breast cancer,” said Yin Hailing, spokesperson for Phillip Porous, the maker of pink ribbon SlimSmokes cigarettes. “Because the longer our best customers live, the more they can smoke!”

Separate studies on two continents have concluded smoking is associated with decreased productivity on the job, both in the civilian and military sectors. The studies were published in the April 2007 issue of the journal Tobacco Control.

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott may not support plain-packaged cigarettes as the tobacco industry threatens to slash the cost of cigarettes if the Gillard government pushes ahead with the anti-smoking legislation.Mr Abbott, who is yet to back the government’s proposal, says he is happy to support any policy that has been proven to curb smoking rates.”But my anxiety with this [plain packaging proposal] is that it may end up being counterproductive in practice,” he told reporters today.

It appears to be a myth that giving up smoking most likely makes you miserable. Brown University researchers found that those who were in the process of quitting smoking were never happier. Their study appears in an article in the journal Nicotine & Tobacco Research.The authors explained that giving up smoking is known to be good for our physical health; however, nobody really seems to know whether the process makes us happy or depressed.