Smoking Early in Pregnancy Increase Heart Risks for Infants
Posted by on February 28, 2011 - 10:52am

Maternal cigarette smoking in the first trimester was associated with a 20 to 70 percent greater likelihood that a baby would be born with certain types of congenital heart defects, according to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Congenital heart defects are the most common type of birth defects, contributing to approximately 30 percent of infant deaths from birth defects annually.

The study found an association between tobacco exposure and certain types of defects such as those that obstruct the flow of blood from the right side of the heart into the lungs (right ventricular outflow tract obstructions) and openings between the upper chambers of the heart (atrial septal defects). The study is in the Feb. 28 issue of the journal Pediatrics.

"Women who smoke and are thinking about becoming pregnant need to quit smoking and, if they're already pregnant, they need to stop," said CDC Director Thomas R. Frieden, M.D., M.P.H. "Quitting is the single most important thing a woman can do to improve her health as well as the health of her baby."

Based on the findings of this and other studies, eliminating smoking before or very early in pregnancy could prevent as many as 100 cases of right ventricular outflow tract obstructions and 700 cases of atrial septal defects each year in the United States. For atrial septal defects alone, that could potentially save $16 million in hospital costs.

"Successfully stopping smoking during pregnancy also lowers the chances of pregnancy complications such as preterm delivery and that an infant will have other complications such as low birth weight," said Adolfo Correa, M.D., Ph.D., medical officer in CDC's National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities.

The findings from the study are based on a large population-based case-control study of congenital heart defects conducted in the United States.

Congenital heart defects are conditions present at birth that decrease the ability of the heart to work well, which can result in an increased likelihood of death or long-term disabilities. They affect nearly 40,000 infants in the United States every year.

Click HERE to view the publication.

Today is the Great American Smokeout
Posted by on November 18, 2010 - 3:42pm

Today Is the Great American Smokeout--November 18--time to Quit!

Quitting smoking is not easy, but it can be done.

An estimated 69.7 million Americans age 12 or older use tobacco products. Smokers are urged by federal agencies to become nonsmokers during the 35th annual Great American Smokeout. The Great American Smokeout is dedicated to reducing the risk of cancer by helping those who struggle with smoking develop a plan to quit and lead a healthier lifestyle. On November 18, smokers nationwide will make the choice to either quit on this date or set in motion a plan that leads to cutting back and subsequently quitting.

Support the Great American Smokeout and help support the fight against cancer each year by making your commitment to quit smoking today. If you know someone who uses tobacco, support their efforts to quit by telling them about the Great American Smokeout.

Here are some related resources for our readers!

SmokeFree Women

Tips for Teens: The Truth About Tobacco

Free materials from the FDA Office on Women's Health

"Light" cigarettes and cancer risk.

Women, Smoking and Weight Gain

FDA Want Public Input on New Tobacco Labels
Posted by on November 12, 2010 - 10:56am

Federal regulators are testing the waters with the first proposed changes to cigarette packaging and advertisements in more than 25 years—bold health warnings with color images that show the tragic consequences of smoking.

On Nov. 10, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) posted on the Internet 36 images showing the dangers of smoking. Federal health agencies hope the new warnings will discourage Americans from smoking by bringing them face-to-face with the cancers that plague smokers.

Under 2009’s Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, cigarette packages and advertisements must carry more pointed health warnings with color images after Sept. 12, 2012. FDA is beginning the process by publishing a proposal in the Federal Register that outlines new packaging and advertising requirements for cigarette makers.

FDA Invites Public Comment

FDA is asking the public to weigh-in on the images. When the public comment period ends on Jan. 9, 2011, FDA will use the comments, research results, and scientific research to pare the list to nine. The final set of images and the congressionally mandated health warnings will rotate on all cigarette packaging and in advertisements by fall 2012.

By law, the nine warnings that must appear on cigarette advertisements and packaging are:

  • WARNING: Cigarettes are addictive
  • WARNING: Tobacco smoke can harm your children
  • WARNING: Cigarettes cause fatal lung disease
  • WARNING: Cigarettes cause cancer
  • WARNING: Cigarettes cause strokes and heart disease
  • WARNING: Smoking during pregnancy can harm your baby
  • WARNING: Smoking can kill you
  • WARNING: Tobacco smoke causes fatal lung disease in nonsmokers
  • WARNING: Quitting smoking now greatly reduces serious risks to your health

Once in place, each warning will accompany a color image, and they’ll be splashed over 50 percent of the front and rear panels of all cigarette packages and at least 20 percent of each advertisement.

Preventable Deaths

If the requirements seem tough, they’re intended to be. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says tobacco use is the single biggest cause of preventable death in the United States—killing more than 443,000 users and victims of secondhand smoke and causing serious illness in 8.6 million Americans.

The new warnings will be required on cigarette packages no later than Sept. 22, 2012

Where to See the Warnings and Where to Comment

Flickr LOGOTo view the warning labels, go to: www.flickr.com/photos/fdaphotos/collections/72157625232230587/

To submit comments on the warning labels and the proposed rule—between Friday, Nov. 12, 2010, through Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2011:

  • Go to www.regulations.gov and insert docket number FDA-2010-N-0568 into the “search” box and follow the prompts.
  • Send a fax, with your comments, to 301-827-6870.
  • Mail/Hand delivery/Courier (for paper, disk, or CD-ROM submissions) to the Division of Dockets Management (HFA-305), Food and Drug Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, Room 1061, Rockville, MD 20852.

All comments should be identified by Docket ID No. FDA-2010-N-0568. It is only necessary to send one set of comments.

Tobacco Smoke Exposure Increases Chronic Disease in Children
Posted by on August 10, 2010 - 2:45pm

In July, a commentary in the journal Pediatrics discussed several new studies that have increased our knowledge of the  association between tobacco smoke exposure and childhood morbidity and mortality.  Collectively, these new reports demonstrate that in several categories of chronic childhood illness (asthma, obesity, and mental health disorders) there are small-to-moderate independent associations with tobacco smoke exposure either during pregnancy or in the postnatal period.   A moderate association with tobacco smoke and dental caries (cavities) in children was also reported.   One study found an association between smoke exposure of pregnant women and subsequent childhood overweight in offspring.   What was especially significant about the latter study was the fact that it was conducted in pregnant women who did NOT smoke but were exposed to smoke from the father.  Studies looking at mothers who smoke continue to show an association to their children's mental health status that affects their children's  ability to participate in social activities and make friends.