Cigarette Smoking, Lung Cancer, and Statistics

It's well-known that cigarette smoking increases risk for lung cancer.  Cigarette smoking is responsible for approximately 90% of all cases of lung cancer.  The risk of a current smoker with a 40 pack-year smoking history is about 20 times that of someone who has never smoked. 

Several other factors increase the risk for lung cancer.  The combination of smoking history and asbestos exposure escalates the risk to as high as 50 to 90 times that of a never-smoker.  The presence of airway obstruction on pulmonary function testing increases the risk to a four- to sixfold.




Sigmund Freud, whose doctor assisted his suicide because of cancer caused by smoking



The most effective method for reducing current smokers' risk is to quit.  After a current smoker quits smoking, the risk for lung cancer falls steadily for about 15 years before the risk levels off.  The risk, however, remains twice that of a never-smoker.  In other words, a 15-year smoking cessation reduces the risk from 20 to 2.

California Dreaming by The Papas and The Mamas

Hereditary Nonpolyposis Colorectal Cancer

Hereditary Nonpolyposis Colorectal Cancer (HNPCC, also known as Lynch syndrome) is the most common of the hereditary colon syndromes and runs in families which are affected. 



HNPCC occurs when there are mutations of MLH1 and MLH2, which are mismatch repair genes.  This type of colon cancer may occur at unusually young age and tends to occur in the right side of the colon.  Many families with HPNCC have high risk of other cancers, especially endometrial carcinoma and ovarian cancer.

To detect this type of colon cancer at early age, annual colonoscopy is recommended to begin at age 20 to 25, or 10 years prior to the earliest age of colon cancer diagnosed in the family.  Annual screening for endometrial cancer and ovarian cancer is also recommended.

Dassin's L'Ete Indien

12 dangerous supplements

Many Americans love taking dietary supplements, hoping to stay healthy. What many consumers might not know is that supplement manufacturers do not have to prove to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that their products are safe and effective. As a matter of facts, many supplements can be outright dangerous to your health. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, an independent research group that evaluates the safety and effectiveness of nutritional supplements, recently found following 12 supplements harmful to your health.

1. Aconite: This is the most common cause of herbal poisoning in Asia, especially in Hong Kong
2. Yohimbe: This can cause high blood pressure, rapid heart rate, even death that were warned by FDA
3. Bitter Orange: This can cause arrhythmia, heart attacks and was banned by FDA in 2004
4. Lobelia: Its overdose can cause tachycardia, low blood pressure and was warned by FDA in 1993
5. Chaparral: This can cause damage to liver, kidneys
6. Kava: It can cause liver damage and was warned by FDA in 2002 and banned in Canada
7. Colloidal Silver: This can not only cause skin discoloration but also neurological damage
8. Greater Celandine: This can cause liver damage
9. Coltsfoot: This can cause liver damage
10. Germanium: This can cause severe kidney damage and was warned by FDA in 1993
11. Comfrey: This can cause liver damage, cancer and FDA advised to remove it from the market
12. Country Mallow: This can cause heart attack, arrhythmia, stroke

What to do to avoid potentially dangerous supplements?

You should look for the "USP verified" mark that indicates that manufacturers have asked U.S. Pharmacopeia to verify the quality of their products.
You should look at FDA website www.fda.gov/food/dietarysupplements for alerts and avisories.
Lastly but not the least, do not forget to consult your doctors or pharmacists who can help you stay away from supplements that may not be neccessary or may even be harmful to your specific health conditions.