TobACCo And HEALTH In EnGLAnd

Tobacco use remains one of our most significant public health challenges. While rates of smoking have continued to decline over the past decades, 21 per cent of adults in England still smoke. Smoking prevalence has fallen little since 2007 and we need to take new action to drive prevalence down further.

While in the past more men than women smoked, today the prevalence of smoking is about the same for men and women.ii Smoking rates vary considerably between different social groups and it is most common among people who earn the least, and least common among people who earn the most. In recent times, smoking has become one of the most significant causes of health inequalities.

Smoking is the primary cause of preventable morbidity and premature death, accounting for 81,400 deaths in England in 2009, some 18 per cent of all deaths of adults aged 35 and over.ii In 2009, a larger proportion of men than women died from smoking-related diseases, reflecting the higher rates of smoking by men in the past.

Important Health Precautions In Case Of Flooding

WHEELING -- As the water level continues to rise, so do concerns of area residents.

The Wheeling-Ohio County Health Department has released a number of tips to keep homes and families safe in the event of flooding.

Flood water is known to carry disease producing bacteria that can remain alive and dangerous for long periods of time on items covered or exposed to flooding.

The Health Departments wants to remind everyone to keep their hands away from their mouth and face if they do come in contact with flood waters. Also be sure to disinfect wounds and dress them immediately.

When dealing with flood cleanup, wear protective clothing, including rubber boots, gloves and eye protection.

It is also important to wash your hands with soap and hot water to disinfect them.

After the flood waters have receded and before beginning any kind of clean-up, make sure gas and electricity is turned off to your home.

Before entering any building that has been flooded, check the foundation for cracks or shifting.

Drain or pump water out of flooded basements, but be sure not to pump too soon after waters have receded as this could cause the collapse of basement walls.

Finally, hose down all floors, walls and ceilings with clean water, preferably before they dry.

New Zealand Encourages Smokers to Kick the Habit

The New Year became the best time to start with massive push to encourage many Kiwis to stop smoking.
The price of a pack of cigarettes has risen by 10%. Public Health Association (PHA) hopes that this increase in tobacco tax will make more people kick the habit this year.
“The tax increase will encourage those people who have made New Year stop smoking resolutions to quit as soon as possible,” national executive officer Gay Keating stated in the interview.
The last tax increase took place in April 2010, which practically doubled the numbers of people registering with Quitline and about two-thirds of callers interviewed stated that the tax raise was probably the main reasons to quit.
Within this year the prices on tobacco products will increase in total by 28 to 40 %.
The PHA is sure that 2010 was a banner year on the way toward smoke-free New Zealand, with raises in taxes on tobacco products and also the release of a report on Maori smoking and tobacco industry. It also requires government officials to remove all tobacco displays from all retail shop and various establishments.
“We hope that New Zealanders will change their lives in New Year 2011, and take advantage of the available stop-smoking programs,” Keating stated.
But some smokers were not disappointed by the tax increase and stated that they would continue smoking hereinafter, according to Auckland University's Centre for Tobacco Control Research
“We surveyed approximately 500 people after the GST increase and we didn’t find that people were disconcerted by the price. I suppose that they haven’t understood yet what is going on in fact,” Auckland University expert Dr. Marewa Glover declared.
“For example, if in a family there is one smoker, who smokes a pack per day, it constitutes $4,500 dollars a year, an average week's rent. It is really big money,” Paula Snowden, chief executive for The Quit Group, which governs Quitline stated.
Some smokers even switch to electronic cigarettes, where they inhale water vapor and not toxic fumes.
“We have saw a 200% increase in sales which came with the Smoke-free Day, when people began to look for a substitute for regular cigarettes and also trying to save their money,” Paul Medarov, CEO of Elusion Cigarette Company stated.
Quitline hopes that people will call for their help, as the tax increase takes effect.
“It is well known that those who apply for support are up to five times more likely to quit the habit than by their own forces. 80% of smokers wished that they had never begun smoking and we hope that the January tax increase will become a stimulus to stop smoking,” he said.
Smoking kills 13 Kiwis every day and about 1 in 5 smoke tobacco products.