Is vaping killing us slowly?

 

 

Is vaping killing us slowly?

The rise of e-cigarettes began in 2003 with an innovative product that promised a safer alternative to traditional cigarettes and a potential way to quit smoking. However, despite claims of safety, several Americans were confirmed dead earlier this year due to "e-cigarette illness," with more than 1,000 similar cases existing. Now reports of "popcorn lung" have arisen, also due to smoking e-cigs. This begs the question: how safe is vaping, really?

Marketing

Smokers could have the pleasure of smoking and get their nicotine fix, without the harmful chemicals of traditional cigarettes.

Marketing

Not only have e-cigarettes become a trendy alternative to smoking cigarettes, they have also introduced a whole new generation to nicotine.

Teen vaping epidemic

Vaping quickly became trendy, and with heavy marketing that it was not as harmful as smoking cigarettes, made it very popular among teenagers.

Lung disease

In August 2019, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services in the US reported 11 cases of teenagers and young adults hospitalized with lung disease. They've all reported vaping.

Hospitalized teens

But the number has increased this year as more teens have been hospitalized, reports the Illinois Department of Public Health.

Target audience

E-cigarette company Juul has been heavily criticized for allegedly advertising their products to teenagers. As a result, the US Senate launched an investigation.

New e-cig users

Two high school students testified that a Juul representative actually visited their school to promote their products and labeled them as "totally safe."

Juul's response to government

Juul Labs said they never intended their products to be adopted by teenagers and that "combating underage use" is the company's biggest priority.

How unhealthy is it?

But despite claims that e-cigarettes are not as harmful as regular cigarettes, there are still no studies available on the long-term effects of vaping.

Research

It might not be until decades later that studies will be able to conclude if vaping is really harmful or not.

What are people really consuming?

A handheld vaporizer is used to "smoke" a liquid, which may or may not contain nicotine. While in theory it might sound like a safer alternative to smoking, there are a few risks. Let's look at some of them.

Vaping might increase the risk of seizures

Vaping has been linked to nicotine-induced seizures. Some e-cigarettes deliver an extremely high quantity of nicotine, so people can potentially consume a dangerous amount of it.

Vaping might stress the cardiovascular system

Nicotine in e-cigarettes can make your heart rate go up, raise blood pressure, and raise adrenaline levels.

Toxic particles

But it's not just the nicotine in e-cigarettes that carries risks. Those vaping nicotine-free versions are also exposed to tiny toxic particles.

Toxic particles

Studies have shown that these polluting particles can be absorbed by those vaping.

Toxic products

Acetaldehyde, formaldehyde, and acrolein are other harmful toxic chemicals produced by e-cigarettes.

Vaping might irritate the lungs

The combustion process of regular cigarettes can be very damaging to our lungs, but vapor from e-cigarettes can also be potentially harmful.

Vaping might irritate the lungs

Vaping might make wheezing (the sound caused by narrowed airways) worse.

COPD

Vaping might increase the risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), according to studies done in mice.

E-cigarettes can explode

A teenage boy suffered injuries to his face when an e-cigarette exploded.

E-cigarettes can explode

The U.S. Food & Drug Administration even issued tips on how to stay safe from explosions.

E-cigarettes can explode

In the US alone, an estimated 2,035 e-cigarette explosion and burn injuries were registered in US hospital emergency departments between 2015 to 2017.

Can e-cigarettes help smokers quit?

A randomized trial published by the New England Journal of Medicines found that vaping was more effective than nicotine-replacement therapy when it came to quitting smoking.

Health authorities

In countries such as the United Kingdom, the government advocates the use of e-cigarettes as a tool to help smoking cessation.

Good and evil

While vaping might help regular smokers quit, it can introduce new users to nicotine, which is a highly addictive substance.

Regulation

The legal status of e-cigarettes varies depending on each country. These products are even illegal in some countries, such as Japan and parts of India. Cities such as San Francisco in the US have banned them as well.

Eat yourself beautiful - how to 'feed' your hair, skin and nails

 

We all know that food really is the best medicine when it comes to strength and well-being. What we eat has a direct effect on how we feel and undoubtedly, how we look.

As we have all become privy to information about food and health, we are now more aware than ever that what we eat affects our outer shell too, particularly our hair, skin and nails.

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If you haven't heard of Emily English, we are almost certain you would know her by her Instagram handle, Em the Nutritionist. The BSC-qualified nutritionist is responsible for creating the most fabulous meals online, which include all of our favourite foods from halloumi to chocolate, but are still healthy and rich in goodness.

The renowned founder of gut health supplements, Epetōme, tells HELLO! exactly what we should be eating to look our most beautiful, naturally.

Emily, who looked luminous at her wedding last year, explains: "Skin, hair and nails are made from the nutrients in your food. If you are not eating enough protein, healthy fats or key vitamins and minerals, your body will prioritise other functions, and you’ll often see that in dull skin, breakouts, brittle nails or thinning hair. What we eat has a huge influence on how we feel and how we look."

What to eat to get glowing skin

When it comes to your skin, Emily quips: "Think colour and healthy fats. Antioxidant-rich foods like pomegranate seeds, red peppers, raspberries, spinach and tomatoes help protect skin from inflammation and oxidative stress. Red peppers are especially brilliant, just half a pepper contains over one hundred per cent of your recommended daily intake of vitamin C, which helps support collagen production and repair."

"Then add in fats like extra virgin olive oil, nuts, seeds and oily fish to strengthen the skin barrier and help keep moisture in (plus boost absorption of fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K). Fermented foods like kefir and live yoghurt also play a role by supporting a healthy gut microbiome, which can, in turn, support healthy skin.

"Gut health is also a big piece of the puzzle. When your gut is inflamed, stressed or imbalanced, it often shows up on the skin. So when you support the gut, you support everything else too.

"Your gut is involved in so much more than just digestion. It plays a central role in everything, so when it is not supported properly, you feel it. That’s why I created Epetōme. Each capsule contains 50 billion live bacteria from well-researched strains like Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, which are resilient enough to survive the stomach and reach the gut where they can actually do their job."

Anti-ageing food

Looking younger starts with what's on your plate. "Anti-ageing really comes down to reducing inflammation and protecting your cells," explains Emily. "Foods rich in vitamin C, like citrus fruits and peppers, support collagen production. Omega 3 fatty acids found in oily fish, flax and chia seeds help reduce inflammation and keep skin supple. I also include antioxidant-rich foods like dark leafy greens and pomegranate seeds, and make sure I am getting enough protein and zinc for skin repair and strength."

Drink more water

We all know that water is good for us, but getting that elusive two litres a day is imperative. "Hydration is key," Emily says. "When the body is dehydrated, the skin can become dull and more prone to breakouts. The pores aren’t as flexible, so oil gets trapped more easily by dead skin cells, which can lead to blemishes. Drinks that dehydrate you, like coffee, tea, alcohol, sugary drinks and energy drinks, can make this worse.

"Alongside water, I also focus on hydration from food. Cucumber, watermelon, tomatoes and soups all help top things up throughout the day."

Get thicker hair with food

We all want thicker hair. Maybe the answer isn't expensive hair products, but food! "Hair is made from protein, so that's the first place to start," advises Emily.

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 "Eggs, fish, lentils, Greek yoghurt and chicken all help provide the amino acids needed for healthy hair. I also think about iron and zinc, both important for growth and strength, which you can find in red meat, pumpkin seeds and dark green veg. Healthy fats like olive oil, nuts and avocado are also brilliant for shine and texture."

Food for longer nails

Don't forget your nails, people! 

Emily explains: "Protein supports the structure of nails, and biotin helps with strength and growth. You can find biotin in eggs, almonds, sweet potatoes and seeds. Vitamin C is also important for collagen production, and magnesium and zinc are essential for repair. A varied diet with plenty of colour, good fats and whole foods is always the best place to start."

Inside Emily's beauty cupboard

Alongside Emily's food must-haves, she has some beauty buys that get her glowing. "I keep it simple but consistent," the 29-year-old adds. "I love the NEOM magnesium body butter. I use it before bed on my calves and feet, and it helps me sleep so well. I go to Yue Float for an infrared sauna, which helps with lymphatic drainage and recovery, especially when I am feeling sluggish or low energy. My skin always looks brighter the next day."

Emily has been incredibly open with her followers about her mental health and food journey, which has come a long way over the years.

"Once I started fueling myself properly, eating enough, focusing on balance rather than restriction, everything shifted. My energy came back, my skin cleared, and I felt more grounded and connected to my body. It wasn’t about being perfect, just consistent and kind. Food stopped feeling like something to control and started feeling like something that supports me. That’s the mindset I try to share through my work now. Food should make you feel better, not stressed."

Friendly AI models become sycophantic and wrong, study warns

 

Training warm and friendly AI systems could also mean they become sycophantic and promote conspiracy theories, a new study has warned.

Large language models such as ChatGPT are being actively encouraged to be friendly to their users – in part because users have expressed a desire for such warm responses. When OpenAI tweaked its systems so that they would be less flattering, for instance, users rebelled and the company had to roll back its updates.

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That has led the companies that develop the systems to specifically focus on making their tools more warm. OpenAI says it explicitly makes its tools “helpful, honest and harmless”, while Anthropic aims to make its systems “empathetic” and “engaging”.

Other AI companies are specifically making their tools to behave like friends to their users. Sites such as Replika and Character.ai sell their chatbots as friendly or even potential romantic partners.

But those changes could also mean that the systems are more willing to promote inaccuracies, be overly sycophantic and even indulge in conspiracy theories, according to a new study from Oxford University.

In the test, researchers trained a series of large language models to be used in chatbots, similar to the way they are implemented in ChatGPT and Anthropic’s Claude.

They found that those who had been trained to be warmed in their responses were 30 per cent less accurate, and 40 per cent more likely to agree with users in their false beliefs.

The researchers also found that the chatbots were particularly keen to validate users’ false beliefs when they expressed feelings of sadness. An increasing number of people are turning to such systems to fill the role of counsellors and therapists, leading to increased concern.

”As these systems are deployed at an unprecedented scale and take on intimate roles in people’s lives, this trade-off warrants attention from developers, policymakers and users alike,” the researchers warn in the new paper, published in the journal Nature.

One daily fruit could reduce risk of osteoporosis, study finds

 

When it comes to bolstering bone health, most of us would instinctively reach for calcium-rich dairy products. However, research has uncovered an unlikely fruit that could be even more effective in safeguarding our bones and reducing the risk of osteoporosis.

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Osteoporosis is a condition characterised by a decrease in bone density, leading to increased fragility and a higher likelihood of fractures over time. It's a condition that affects more than three million people in the UK, predominantly women, but men can also be affected. Given the crucial role estrogen plays in maintaining bone health, post-menopausal women typically face a heightened risk of osteoporosis as their hormone levels decline.

While there are medications available to manage and potentially prevent the condition, dietary and lifestyle modifications can be equally significant, with prunes emerging as a potential natural alternative. A 2022 study discovered that consuming just one serving of prunes daily could boost your bone density and ward off fractures, according to The Mirror.

The study found that a daily intake of around five or six prunes, equivalent to a 50 gram serving, can help prevent the loss of bone mineral density in the hip area among post-menopausal women. The study also proposed that prunes could offer a natural, diet-based method to lower the risk of osteoporosis, although further research is required to substantiate these findings.

Occupational and environmental medicine physician, Dr Ashley Ennedy from San Diego, took to TikTok explaining these findings. She said: "This is especially significant for those women who are unable to take prescription medication.

"More studies need to be done but it could also reduce hip fracture risk. This is based on a 12-month randomised controlled trial that was recently published in the American Journal of Nutrition."

Prunes contain a range of essential nutrients like Vitamin K and potassium, which can support the bone-building process. They also help to reduce inflammation which plays a crucial role in bone loss.

Declining bone density is a natural part of getting older that nearly everyone will go through. This happens because bones are living tissue that constantly regenerate, but this process becomes slower as we age.

When it slows down to the point where existing bone breaks down faster than new bone can form, this leads to osteoporosis. The condition develops gradually over many years and is typically only identified after a fracture occurs.

The NHS points out that with osteoporosis, sometimes even a simple cough or sneeze can break a rib or cause a bone in the spine to partially collapse. Regular exercise, avoiding smoking, and getting sufficient sunshine can also help lower your chances of developing the condition.

Why do the children of elderly patients stay away? Loneliness makes them get sicker and stay sicker for longer

 

Of the many patients over age 75 on my medical unit, half are what providers describe as “young old” and the remainder as “old old”. Admittedly, this delineation is somewhat arbitrary and the subsequent assessment provides more nuance, but it helps us triage patient needs.

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Before the actual round, my team does a paper round. We run through the bread-and-butter issues of any internal medicine ward: heart failure, bad emphysema, rampant diabetes, cognitive decline, frequent falls, frailty.

Besides the medical details, we scrutinise the social circumstances. Does the patient live alone? (about 35% of people over 85 do).

Is there any home help? (the waitlist for services is painfully long).

Who takes them out and how often? From the time patients enter the hospital, we need to know what it will take to get them safely out of hospital.

The first of five nonagenarians is sitting expressionless in his room. He is cognitively impaired and has had a fall. To help him, I need more history.

“Sir, do you have any family?”

“My children.”

“Where are they?”

“I don’t know.”

It will be three full days before we manage to contact someone.

An 87-year-old lady complains bitterly about “rattling” from all the pills but can’t name even one. For safe prescribing, we ask if someone might bring in her medications. She starts crying that her children are too busy to care for her, and we hastily say we will call her pharmacy.

We weave our way through patients, all elderly and almost all alone, even though it is the weekend. Some are too sick to talk or sound asleep from exhaustion. Most of those awake look forlorn and trapped. A patient asks if we can rub her feet like her husband used to. Another asks who can trim his toenails. The best we can do is nudge their food closer or stick a straw into an array of unopened drinks.

One patient looks especially dire on paper. Age 90, lungs decimated by years of smoking. A respiratory episode that may just spell the end of his life.

But we are astonished to see the man sitting up brightly, no oxygen in sight. Three amicable men flank him, dressed in attire ranging from a suit to paint-stained overalls, laughing and joking with him.

One son provides a history, the other furnishes his medications, the third serves up mouth-watering Turkish fare to put the hospital food to shame.

They all confirm that their dad feels fine and jump at the thought of taking him home. One son will spend the night with his parents, and the others will take turns. Their confidence is infectious. When he understands what’s happening, the patient attacks his food with gusto and gives us a high five – the sickest patient has the best outcome!

This happy scene on an otherwise sombre round feels like a gift. We see how the most useful “intervention” was the physical presence and moral support of the patient’s children.

In the empty stairwell, out of earshot, a young doctor sighs, “It’s so sad to see all these lonely people with no visitors.” Another observes that this treatment of elderly people seems a particular feature of western culture, recounting that our elderly Vietnamese patient has been attended day and night by his two children and the Greek lady had so many concerned nephews and nieces that we had to beg for space.

Then, as if discomfited by our observations and not wanting to “be judgy”, we reach for reasons why the children of our patients might stay away. They are working, raising children and grandchildren and grappling with competing demands of their own. Some children can’t face a parent’s vulnerability. Others are tired of caring, and the hospitalisation is their break. Conflict and estrangement also fray family ties.

But what we also know for sure is that loneliness makes elderly patients get sicker and stay sicker for longer: doctors can’t medicate the way out of this societal malady.

I treat this issue with added interest, the product of an Indian tradition that has observed filial piety without necessarily stating such a notion.

When my grandparents were ill, the men did the earning and the women (all) the caring.

By the time illness visited my parents’ generation, the responsibility was spread across their sons and daughters, although not always evenly.

My extended family is like any other modern family, pressed with the usual obligations, but we will crisscross continents to be at the side of parents without being asked or told. In this, we are not unique.

But there is a sense that, in this age, only the economically privileged, flexibly employed or uncommonly devoted can afford to take time off to help their ageing parents. I question this when I see some of the most personally tested and socially disadvantaged adults being the most selfless providers to their parents.

No one I know finds attending to the needs of ageing parents convenient or necessarily desirable. After all, it is surely a rite of passage to drive your parents nuts and then be driven nuts by your parents. But it seems to me that those who show up don’t frame it as a matter of choice but, rather, priority. And if you consider something or someone your priority, you are more likely to make the time.

I don’t know the answer but I see the dilemma. Hospitals packed with elderly people whose every problem is magnified by loneliness and a dearth of love and attention. Our costliest medicines don’t touch them and the fleeting kindness of strangers is unfortunately just that.

I have begun to think that one of the greatest acts of love is simply bearing witness to the vicissitudes of ageing.

Experts link widely taken medicine to faster decline in old age

 

A new study suggests that frequent consumption of anticholinergic drugs, prescribed for conditions including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and Parkinson’s, may lead to faster ageing in older adults.

Published in JAMA Open Network, the research indicates that high exposure to these medications is linked to an “accelerated decline” in physical performance.

The study, which monitored over 4,000 older adults, found a significant association between higher anticholinergic exposure and a greater reduction in walking speed.

Anticholinergic drugs block the action of acetylcholine, a key nerve-to-nerve signalling molecule, affecting various bodily functions.

Researchers are calling for the minimisation of anticholinergic drug prescriptions to promote healthy ageing, advising clinicians to avoid their use when possible and to re-evaluate patients regularly.

Frequent consumption of a common drug that acts on the nervous system and treats a range of ailments may lead to faster ageing in older adults, a new study says.

The study, published in JAMA Open Network, concludes that high exposure to anticholinergic drugs used for treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bladder illnesses and Parkinson’s is associated with a faster decline in physical performance in older age.

Anticholinergic drugs block the action of the nerve-to-nerve signalling molecule acetylcholine, which plays a key role in the functioning of the nervous system. By inhibiting acetylcholine, these drugs affect several key bodily functions controlled by the nervous system. Theirsedative and cognitive adverse effects, though, can be reversed with discontinuation.

It is not completely clear if their prolonged use is linked to sustained reduced physical function, researchers say.

Previous studies indicate that regular consumption of anticholinergics may have a constant effect over time, meaning all past exposure may show the same effect on the current risk of physical decline.

The latest study assesses the effects of cumulative exposure to the drugs over a decade, accounting for varying intensity, duration and timing of past intake.

Researchers monitored changes in walking speed and grip strength of over 4,000 older adults over time and compared this with their exposure to anticholinergic medications based on data collected from February 1994 to March 2020. While grip strength appeared unaffected, a higher exposure to anticholinergics was linked to a greater decline in walking speed.

“Higher anticholinergic exposure was associated with accelerated decline in physical performance,” scientists wrote.

“The accumulation of loss over time can become clinically meaningful.”

These findings are significant as frailty and changes in balance and gait are increasingly linked to multiple measures of poor health outcomes, including disability and mortality.

Researchers call for minimising the prescription of anticholinergic medication to promote healthy ageing.

“We provide novel findings by considering time-varying anticholinergic exposure and examining the annual change rate of physical performance,” they wrote in the study. “Anticholinergics are associated with numerous adverse outcomes in older adults. Therefore, it is essential for clinicians to avoid their use whenever possible, prescribe the lowest effective dose and periodically reevaluate patients to identify de-prescribing opportunities to minimise potential harms.”

What Really Helps With Insomnia During Menopause?

 “Insomnia around menopause is a very distressing symptom that also occurs very frequently,” says Dr. Judith Bildau, gynecologist and author of “Out of the Hormone Carousel.” A great many women from premenopause onward suffer from difficulties falling and staying asleep. But what helps against sleep disturbances during menopause?

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Sleep Disturbances During Menopause? The Consequences of Sleep Deprivation

As with all symptoms in and around menopause, hormones play a central role, including in sleep problems. Dr. Judith Bildau explains: “The reason for restless nights is the hormonal changes, especially the female sex hormones estrogen and progesterone. Estrogen improves deep and REM sleep, while the breakdown products of progesterone have a calming and sleep-promoting effect. When the levels of these hormones drop, it can naturally have a direct impact on sleep.”

Problems falling or staying asleep can have far-reaching consequences beyond restless nights, which can also be noticeable during the day. Laureen Erichson-Kirst (a doctor in training in gynecology) explains that “sleep deprivation can lead to other symptoms such as concentration difficulties, irritability, and even depressive moods.” Sleep deprivation or sleep problems have a significant impact on women’s daily well-being and work ability.

Treatment of Sleep Problems

“Even though sleep problems in pre-/peri- and postmenopause are one of the most common symptoms of an imbalanced hormone system, this deficiency cannot always be detected in lab values,” explains expert Erichson-Kirst. Before treating hormonally induced sleep problems, other possible causes must be ruled out, such as emotional issues or any pre-existing conditions of the patient that may be robbing her of sleep.

For sleep disturbances, especially in premenopause, Erichson-Kirst recommends “high doses of chaste tree. The plant-based active ingredient helps stabilize hormones. If necessary, melatonin is also a good option to help you fall asleep again. In postmenopause, however, a progesterone preparation can help alleviate sleep problems.” Erichson-Kirst also notes that hormone replacement therapy, which today primarily uses bioidentical hormones, is intended not only to alleviate menopause symptoms but also to reduce secondary diseases caused by hormone deficiency, such as osteoporosis and vascular diseases.

Healthy Sleep Hygiene

It is not only women in menopause who benefit from sleep hygiene. Adequate and healthy sleep is essential for health and quality of life. Above all, a sustainable evening routine, stress-reducing behavior patterns, and herbal remedies help.

Turn off electronic devices with artificial light in the evening, such as tablets, smartphones, computers, TVs, e-readers, or video game consoles. The screens of these devices produce blue light, which in turn disrupts the production of the sleep hormone melatonin and can delay the natural sleep time by up to three hours.

Avoid evening workouts and instead ensure sufficient physical activity during the day, preferably outdoors, gynecologist Judith Bildau also recommends. Strenuous training should take place at least four hours before bedtime—not later. Intense exercise stimulates the cardiovascular system, releases stress hormones like adrenaline, and makes it harder to fall asleep. If time doesn’t allow otherwise, opt for relaxing, gentle workouts like yoga, Pilates, or Tai Chi in the evening, which also reduce stress and thus even promote sleep.

Effectively Combat Sleep Disturbances During Menopause

Try meditation or muscle relaxation exercises to help you fall asleep as part of an evening routine. By sticking to the routine, you send signals to your body to “wind down.” Your body automatically knows that the nightly rest phase is beginning. Help your body by starting the routine at about the same time every evening and getting roughly the same amount of sleep each night (seven to nine hours). Also, avoid heavy meals in the evening, skip high-fat meals, and opt for Mediterranean cuisine instead.

If you suffer from sleep problems, you should avoid consuming caffeine from the afternoon onward. Caffeine can also inhibit melatonin production. According to Dr. Bildau, in addition to herbal preparations from valerian, lemon balm, hops, or passionflower, strategies from cognitive behavioral therapy can also help against chronic sleep problems. This involves analyzing individual sleep disturbances, creating sleep-wake logs, and regulating sleep behavior with timed sleep restrictions.

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