Tobacco Summit

Alright then - back home and ready to give a brief update. The points below regard the subjects I mentioned yesterday and are related to the presentations of the following persons, in the order listed. Danny McGoldrick from the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, Michael Campos, pulmonary physician and researcher with the University of Miami, Tracey Barnett, researcher and professor at the University of Florida and Victor DeNoble, scientist who formerly worked for Philip Morris.

FDA Regulation of Tobacco: I have mentioned the new law in many past posts, today I just want to add that the changes that are mandated in the Act are occurring over a period of time, not all at once. The first change was the ban on flavored cigarettes. On June 22, the changes related to smokeless tobacco labels and the words light and low tar on cigarette labels goes into effect. I did not realize that the law that mandates a cigarette warning label that takes up 50% of the package was to include graphic images and that it would be required on both the front and back of the top half of the package. Cool beans. But the law provides two years to create the warning and another 18 months to institute it - so it may be 2012 before that happens. Bear in mind that regardless of where the cigarettes or smokeless tobacco products are made - when they enter this country and are sold here - the rules apply.

COPD Dr. Campos was pretty true to everything that I had read and described in my recent postings on this disease. I do not remember reading about the alpha1 antitripson deficiency but learned today that it is a condition in which the body does not make or make enough of a certain protein released from the liver. This protein protects the lungs from damage. People who have this condition and who smoke, will have COPD. The test for the condition is just a finger stick and it is available for free in Florida. The treatment is an injection of the protein and it is VERY costly. From Dr. Campos also comes these words - the number one thing to do for COPD is to quit smoking and to undergo pulmonary rehab. The recommendation for rehab was not news to me, but what is taught in rehab was new AND important. The patient is taught to breathe differently. Usually the COPD patient breathes in but has difficulty breathing out, so some air is trapped in the lungs - this is the hyperinflation that increases lung volume. In rehab the patient is taught to take small breaths in and to exhale longer. This can increase their exercise capacity which is crucial in reducing mortality rates.

Hookah If I have not mentioned it before - the Hookah is a water pipe that is commonly used in middle eastern countries - if you watched the movie Sex In The City 2 - you saw a Hookah pipe. They are used to smoke tobacco - sometimes flavored tobacco - or sometimes flavored water is used. The pipe has coal on top and a bowl underneath which contains the tobacco which is most often imported. The pipe looks a little like the I Dream of Genie bottle and has water on the bottom. A tube comes from the bottom and people take turns inhaling tobacco smoke from this shared tube or hose. Hookah bars or cafes are showing up in the USA, especially near colleges. The clientele is usually aged 18-24 and most often white. Dr. Barnett shared fascinating research on the amount of carbon monoxide people in these bars absorbed - whether using the Hookah or not. (since it is heated with coal, it is a little like barbecuing indoors) Most disconcerting are the ads - either on the store fronts or in college newsletters for things such as "All You Can Smoke" nite or "Smoke Till You Choke." Hookah smoke contains tar and carbon monoxide and cancer causing nitrosamines - it is not a safe alternative to cigarette smoking. (this presenter also talked about Snus - American vs Swedish, Orbs and the other smokeless products I have mentioned to you.) Oh with regard to the Orbs, strips and sticks - they are for sale in limited cities and they appear to be displayed with the candies or mints. No one seems to understand how this is happening. The label states that it is a dissolvable tobacco product. There has been concern about toxicity with the products because they seem to attract children and children have gotten sick on the Orbs. For that reason, a study was done and it was determined that nicotine, at least in this form, is toxic at 1mg/kg body weight. Well that sounds off but I still have my slides here and that is what it says. It also suggests that 16-27 Orbs is likely a fatal dose for a 4 year old. I do not know if they mean our overweight 4 year olds or normal weight ones!

Now I am glad to be home and wish you a good night!