Smoking Just One Cigarette Can Damage Arteries in Young Adults
October 28, 2009 by Nancy
Filed under Featured Story, News Talk
A new study says smoking just one cigarette stiffens the arteries of young adults by 25 percent!
Dr. Stella Daskalopoulou, an internal medicine and vascular medicine specialist at McGill University Health Center in Montreal, measured arterial stiffness in smokers and non smokers at rest and after exercise. The participants ranged in age from 18 to 30.
Arterial stiffness in non smokers decreased 3.6 percent after exercise but the smokers’ arterial stiffness increased 2.2 percent after exercise. Arterial stiffness increased 12.6 percent in smokers after they chewed nicotine gum and 23.5 percent after they had just one cigarette.
Daskalopoulou said, “Our results are significant because they suggest that smoking just a few cigarettes a day impacts the health of the arteries. This was revealed very clearly when these young people were place under physical stress, such as exercise.”
“In effect, this means that even light smoking in otherwise young healthy people can damage the arteries, compromising the ability of their bodies to cope with physical stress, such as climbing a set of stairs or running to catch a bus”, she said. “It seems that this compromise to respond to physical stress occurs first, before the damage of the arteries becomes evident at rest.”
Dr. Daskalopoulou also noted the stiffer a person’s arteries, the greater their risk for heart disease or stroke.
If you smoke, perhaps now is the time to quit. As an ex smoker myself, I know it is a tough challenge but there are many new and effective aids to help you fight your nicotine addiction. If you have smoked for years and consider that smoking just one cigarette can damage arteries in young adults, just imagine what you are doing to your own arteries!
When Daylight Savings Time Ends It is Time to __?
October 25, 2009 by Nancy
Filed under Featured Story, Random Thoughts
How does your life change when the long days of summer are over and daylight savings time ends? Do you gripe about the shorter days or are there actually a few things you look forward to when the chillier, darker days arrive?
Personally, I prefer the longer, lighter days but there are a few things I do enjoy when it’s time to ”fall back.”
1. Grilling days are gone and it’s time to start baking again!
2. It is cool enough to start crocheting winter hats and scarves!
3. It’s time to start my Christmas list!
4. There’s more time to read!
5. The churches host their fall bazaars!
How about you? I’d love to hear your answer to the question – When day light savings time ends there is more time to ___?
Precautionary Recall of Plum Organics Baby Food Pouches Due to Possible Botulism
October 20, 2009 by Nancy
Filed under Featured Story, News Talk
A precautionary recall of Plum Organics baby food pouches due to possible botulism has been issued by the California based company.
The products involved in the recall are the Apple & Carrot Baby Food in Portable Pouches. The baby food was sold throughout the country at Toy-R-Us and Babies-R-Us stores.
If you purchased this recall product, do not use it even if it looks safe because of the possible risk of botulism. The comapny says the product did not meet the FDA guidelines for proper acidity level, leaving it vulnerable to botulism contamination. No illnesses have yet been reported.
The recalled product is sold in 4.22-ounce pouches with a “best buy” date of May 21, 2010. The UPC code is 890180001221. The products can be returned to Toys-R-Us or Babies-R-Us for a full refund.
Gigi Lee Chang, founder, posted the precautionary recall on Plum Organics baby food pouches due to possible botulism on their website with her apologies.
