Smoking – A Big Turn Off

A recent survey, conducted by the Department of Health (DoH), shows that people who smoke could potentially be limiting their romantic chances of meeting someone, because the majority of the population find smoking off putting.


The DoH says to boost your chances of dating success this Valentine’s Day (February 14^th) quit smoking!

The poll surveyed 1,700 people, of which, half claimed that they would think twice about starting a serious relationship with a smoker.   Three-quarters of people aged between 18 and 24 said they would not kiss someone who had just smoked and agreed that smoking makes people less attractive.

The BBC news also pointed out that anecdotal reports from dating agencies appear to support the evidence reported by the DoH that people, in search of a partner, really did prefer non-smokers.

Popular relationship websites such as eHarmony.co.uk states that eighty-one percent of its members would not partner with a heavy smoker.  Similarly, at Match.com seventy-two percent of male members and seventy-three percent of female members, specified that they wanted a “non-smoking” partner.  At Mysinglefriend.com over half of its members (sixty-seven percent) said that smoking would put them off dating someone.

Sarah Beeny, founder of Mysinglefriend.com said; "It's particularly obvious that non-smokers find it harder to live with a smoker, so by giving up you not only increase your dating market, but protect the years you have together when you do settle down."

Statistics complied by Action on Smoking and Health (ASH.org.uk) shows that currently in the United Kingdom, more than ten million people smoke and it is estimated that half of these are likely to die from smoking-related diseases if they do not stop.  Every year, over 100,000 smokers die from smoking related diseases.

The DoH suggests that by quitting smoking, people could increase their life expectancy by 16 years.

We are all aware of the harmful affects of smoking to our health, and although the evidence suggests that in our quest for love, people do prefer partners who are non-smokers, the bottom line is that people need to make positive health changes for themselves. 

For advice on stopping smoking visit the NHS Choices website and see the benefits you can make to your help

Raising Awareness for Lung Cancer

This November in the UK is Lung Cancer Awareness Month aimed at raising awareness of the signs and symptoms of the disease, to encourage people at risk to visit their GP’s and seek medical help.

The Facts

Worldwide, lung cancer is the most common cancer in the world with an estimated 1.61 million new cases diagnosed in 2008.  With the highest rates of lung cancer for men in Central and Eastern Europe, and for women in Northern America.

In the UK, lung cancer is the second most common cancer diagnosed after breast cancer.  Around 41, 000 people were diagnosed with lung cancer in 2008, that is, 112 people every day.

The Survival Rates

As with most cancers, the earlier the diagnosis, the higher the chance of survival.  Currently however, more than two-thirds of lung cancers are diagnosed at a late stage and so survival rates for these patients remain lower.

Overall, the statistics show that less than 10 percent of lung cancer patients survive the disease for at least five years after diagnosis.

Death From Lung Cancer

Worldwide around 1.38 million people died from lung cancer in 2008 and in the European Union more than a quarter of a million people died in the same year.

In the UK, lung cancer has been identified as the most common cause of cancer death, resulting in more than 1 in 5 deaths.

The latest figures from 2008, highlight that around 35,260 people died from lung cancer, that is 95 people every day. 

Causes of Lung Cancer

It has long been established that tobacco and cancer are strongly linked.  Evidence has revealed that smoking causes 90 percent of lung cancer deaths.  The recent figures show that in Britain 1 in 5 adults smoke cigarettes, that is 9.5 million people.

Living with someone who smokes, also increases the risk of lung cancer in non smokers by a quarter and it is estimated that exposure to passive smoke in the home causes around 11,000 deaths every year in the UK.

It has also been recognised that lung cancer can also be caused by heavy exposure to industrial carcinogens and numerous air pollutants, but this accounts for a small proportion of cases.

Despite the known facts and the strong correlation between lung cancer and tobacco, why is it that so many people continue to smoke?  Why do people ignore the health signs and fail to seek medical support? 

We can all help to reduce the risk of lung cancer and potentially save ourselves, a loved one or someone we know.  This month is dedicated to raising awareness about lung cancer and ensuring that people are educated about the disease and know where to find and access help.

For further information on supporting the campaign and raising awareness on lung cancer please click here 

For information on symptoms and lung cancer please visit the NHS Choices website by clicking here  

For information on quitting smoking click here

Tanning Salons and the Risk of Cancer

As summer becomes a distant memory and winter begins to creep in, people in attempt to keep their “summer/healthy glow” conventionally resort to using sunbeds to top up their tans.  But are they taking into account the harm they are doing to their skin and health?

Currently, it is estimated that around three million Britons use sunbeds on a regular basis.  The statistics reveal that 12,000 Britons develop malignant melanoma a year and the disease claims more than 2,000 lives.  This figure has more than doubled over the past twenty years.  
  

Recent news articles from the Daily Mail  and the Daily Telegraph have highlighted that sunbeds are even more dangerous than originally thought.  It was reported that UVA rays, the main type of ultraviolet light emitted from tanning devices and previously regarded as relatively "safer" than UVB, has actually been found to cause the type of DNA damage that can lead to cancer.

The Research

Light from the sun contains two types of ultraviolet (UV) rays, UVA and UVB.  UVB has generally been considered as the major carcinogen in sunlight.  However, scientists now argue that the effects of UVA needs further consideration as there are more UVA than UVB rays in sunlight.

In a recent study carried out by researchers from King’s College London and published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, compared the DNA damage caused by UVA rays to that from UVB rays.

Previously, UVA has been perceived as safer, compared to UVB which has been linked to burning and cancer.  However, the research, which builds on further studies, suggests that UVA is not harmless, and like UVB, can lead to changes in the cell that increase the risk of developing skin cancer. 

A total of 12 volunteers with healthy and similar skin tone were recruited for the research.  A small area of the volunteers’ skin was exposed to UVA and UVB, which was then later examined to assess the degree of skin redness.  The researchers also took pinch biopsies, which extracted skin from the exposed area, to evaluate the chemical changes to the DNA.   

They found that both UVA and UVB could cause similar types of DNA damage, but that UVA was recognised as affecting cells deeper in the skin, while UVB affected cells at the surface of the skin more.

Prof Antony Young, one of the researchers from King's College London, said:

"In the past UVA has been written off as not very serious to the skin...What we are saying is that UVA does cause significant damage to DNA in the skin especially in the base layer, and that is where the damage is important”

The World Health Organisation says “sunbeds – which emit a small amount of UVB as well as the UVA – are as great a cancer risk as cigarettes”. 

The Outcome

UVB has been identified as causing changes to our DNA and where our body’s natural mechanisms cannot repair the damaged DNA, such as in skin cancers, these chemical changes can lead to harmful mutations in the DNA sequence.  The recent evidence suggests that UVA may cause mutations in a similar way to UVB and is therefore not “safer” as previously believed and can thus lead to skin cancer. 

Sunbeds have a particularly high UVA output and evidence claims that these rays can be ten to fifteen times higher than the midday sun.  As such, people using sunbeds should take into account that there is currently no regulation to govern the type or strength of UV rays that is emitted from them.  Consequently, it is essential that whenever we expose our skin to UVA or UVB light, we use the correct factor sunscreen to protect us from ultraviolet rays.

Cancer Research UK have highlighted some recommendations to ensure you keep your skin safe and protected.  Click here for further information and for more information on sunbeds and their safety please click here. 

Rises in Cancer Rates: 17,000 more middle-aged people are diagnosed with cancer every year, compared to a generation ago

Yesterday's news articles reported the subsequent rises in cancer rates over the past two decades.  The Daily Telegraph, the Daily Mail and the Sun, pointed out that cancer rates in the middle-aged have increased “by almost a fifth in a generation”.  The articles highlighted that the rise was mainly a result of better detection of cancer, but also the rise in obesity and unhealthy lifestyles.

Cancer Research UK (CRUK) – The Findings

Figures from Cancer Research UK compared the rates of cancer in Great Britain in 1979 and 2008.  The statistics found that new cancer diagnoses increased by 16 percent in men and 34 percent in women in Great Britain between the 1977-1979 and 2006-2008 reporting periods.  This equated to a rise from 368.3 to 416.7 cases per 100,000 men and from 273.9 to 365.7 cases per 100,000 women.

The increases in cancer rates between 1979 and 2008 varied across age groups, however, the main focus was the rates of cancer in middle-aged individuals (40-59 years old) which saw new diagnoses rise from 329.1 per 100,000 in 1979 to 388.1 per 100,000 in 2008.  It was reported that in 1979 44,000 people in this age group were diagnosed with cancer in Britain and this figure rose to 61,000 in 2008.

The statistics revealed that among 40-59 year olds, prostate cancer rates have risen six fold in 30 years and breast cancer rates have increased by 50 percent.  In comparison, cases of lung cancer in men of this age have dropped from 6,300 to around 2,700 in the same period.  For a break down of all the cancer figures, please visit the Cancer Research UK website by clicking here.

Despite the upward trend, CRUK say that the number of people surviving cancer has almost doubled since the 1970s.  In 1979 in Great Britain there were 215.2 deaths from cancer per 100,000 people, which decreased to 174.4 deaths from cancer per 100,000 people in 2008. 

Why the Increase?  

Although the exact causes for the increases were not directly investigated, CRUK claim that the rises could be contributed to higher detection due to the NHS breast cancer screening programme and the PSA test for prostate cancer.  However, it has also been suggested that these rises are due to modern changes in lifestyle, with people eating more unhealthily and living a sedentary lifestyle, compared to people in the past decades.

Evidence demonstrates that certain lifestyle factors do influence risk of cancer and that smoking, obesity, poor diet, alcohol consumption can be hazardous for our health and may increase the possibility of cancer. 

Therefore, by taking responsibility for our health, by exercising, maintaining a healthy weight and diet, not smoking and reducing our alcohol consumption we can help to limit the risk of cancer.  For further information on cancer prevention, please visit the NHS Choices website by clicking here.