Is Chronic Pain Linked to Cigarettes?

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The best health advice is to stop smoking if you smoke. Easier said than done, of course. But resilience, commitment and motivation can help anyone get over the hump. This story is about new findings that smoking cigarettes can really have a negative effect on your pain levels. Just another reason to quit.

Researchers found that women who smoke heavily may experience more chronic musculoskeletal pain. This comes from a survey of over 6,000 Kentucky women over 18 asked about smoking habits and symptoms of chronic pain. This included cases of fibromyalgia, sciatica, chronic neck pain, chronic back pain, joint pain, chronic head pain, nerve problems, and pain all over the body.

Results showed that women who smoke, or who were former smokers, had a greater chance of reporting at least one chronic pain syndrome in comparison to nonsmokers. Former smokers showed a 20% higher risk, occasional smokers a 68% higher risk, and for regular smokers — a 104% higher risk.

Daily smoking was also more strongly linked with chronic pain than other issues such as older age and obesity.

While the link here is definite, the “direction” is less clear. For instance: does smoking cause more chronic pain, or do more women take up smoking as a coping mechanism for experiencing chronic pain?

One theory is that women smokers experience acute pain that then develops into chronic pain because their normal protection and mechanisms are damaged by exposure to smoke.

It’s possible that patients experiencing chronic pain could benefit from smoking cessation treatment in addition to pain relief. As well, treating chronic pain could increase a smoker’s chances of successfully quitting.

Tags: best health advice, fibromyalgia, pain relief

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Obesity Linked to Worse Outcomes With Early Breast Cancer

WEDNESDAY, Dec. 7 (HealthDay News) -- Obese women with early stage breast cancer are less likely to survive than other women who are of normal weight, new research suggests.

Researchers from Baylor College of Medicine are slated to present their findings Wednesday at the 2011 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.

"The findings add to the body of evidence indicating that obesity, in general, increases a patient's chance for having a worse prognosis," lead researcher Dr. Sao Jiralerspong, an assistant professor of medicine at Baylor, said in a symposium news release. "Obesity is a probable risk factor for worse breast cancer outcomes, and ours is the latest study to suggest it has an effect on treatment outcome as well."

In conducting the study, researchers analyzed the link between weight and treatment of 4,368 women with early-stage breast cancer over the course of 25 years. The investigators found that the participants who were overweight had survival rates that were similar to the women of normal weight, but those who were obese had an increased risk for shorter time to recurrence, and worse disease-free and overall survival.

Although the obese women who received no additional chemotherapy or endocrine therapy had worse outcomes, the study noted that obese patients who received chemotherapy fared significantly worse than normal-weight patients.

Jiralerspong suggested that biological factors linked to extra weight -- such as higher blood insulin and estrogen levels, inflammation and growth factors secreted by fat cells -- could help explain these findings.

The researchers also revealed, however, that obese women treated with endocrine therapy, primarily tamoxifen, had significantly better survival rates than women who were of normal weight.

"Finding that overweight patients have a better outcome than normal-weight patients after tamoxifen treatment is surprising. We are examining the possible reasons for this," noted Jiralerspong.

Because this study was presented at a medical meeting, the data and conclusions should be viewed as preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.

In addition, more research is needed to understand how obesity affects treatment for breast cancer, particular since new treatments have been introduced since the study was conducted, the researchers added.

More information

The U.S. National Cancer Institute has more about the link between obesity and cancer.

Obesity Linked to Higher Esophageal Cancer Death Rates

FRIDAY, Dec. 23 (HealthDay News) -- Obese people who have had surgery to treat esophageal cancer are twice as likely to have a recurrence of the disease or die from cancer within five years as patients of normal weight, according to a new study.

In the study, published in the Dec. 1 issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology, researchers from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., suggested their findings could change the way some doctors treat obese patients with this type of cancer.

The investigators followed 778 people who had surgery for esophageal cancer and found that those who were classified as obese (a body mass index of 30 or higher) had a five-year survival rate of 18 percent. That survival rate jumped to 36 percent among people who were not overweight.

"Obesity is considered a risk factor in the development of this cancer, which is known to be both highly lethal and increasingly common," the study's lead investigator, Dr. Harry Yoon, an oncologist at the Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center, said in a Mayo news release. "But prior to this study, we did not really understand the impact of obesity in this upper gastrointestinal cancer."

The study authors pointed out that their findings applied only to nonsmokers who had their esophagus removed. Yoon added that previous research has linked obesity to greater risk for cancer as well as increased risk of death from other types of tumors because extra weight results in a chronic inflammatory state.

The researchers noted their findings could change the approach they take with obese patients with esophageal cancer.

"As an oncologist, I did not typically speak to my patients about excess body weight as part of their care, because we are more often concerned about weight loss and maintaining proper nutrition, but that may change," said Yoon. "It would be helpful to be able to offer patients some measures that they can take to possibly impact their prognosis."

More information

The U.S. National Cancer Institute has more about obesity and cancer.

Abortion Not Linked To Mental Health Risk

Editor's Choice
Main Category: Abortion
Also Included In: Mental Health;  Psychology / Psychiatry;  Women's Health / Gynecology
Article Date: 11 Dec 2011 - 4:00 PST

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Having an induced abortion in itself does not raise a female's chances of developing mental health problems, says a report, claimed to be the largest and most comprehensive ever, published by the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (AOMRC), UK. The authors added that whether the pregnant woman decides to have an abortion or proceed with her pregnancy has no impact on health subsequent mental health.

The review, carried out by the NCCMH (National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health, part of the Royal College of Psychiatrists), was commissioned by the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges.

The Steering Group sifted through 180 potential published studies from 1990 to 2011 and eventually included 44.

The Review concluded that: When a woman has an unwanted pregnancy, her chances of developing mental health problems are increased.Terminating an unwanted pregnancy with abortion does not result in a higher risk of mental health problems, compared to seeing that (unwanted) pregnancy to full term.What does have an impact on whether a woman who has an induced abortion subsequently might have mental health problems is her mental health history, i.e. a woman with a history of mental health problems has a greater risk of developing mental health problems after an abortion compared to a woman with no history of mental health problems who has an abortion.If a woman has a negative overall attitude to abortions, and then has one, there is a greater risk of her having mental health problems afterwards.Women who are under pressure from their partners to have an abortion are more likely to have mental health problems, compared to women who abort without such pressure.The review added that some other stressful life events may increase a woman's risk of having mental health problems after an abortion.The authors stressed that it is not the abortion itself that is the predictor of mental health problems, but rather, other factors.

The authors say future practice and research should concentrate on providing support for all females who have an unplanned or unwanted pregnancy.

Chair of the Steering Group, Dr Roch Cantwell, a consultant perinatal psychiatrist, said:

"Our review shows that abortion is not associated with an increase in mental health problems. Women who are carrying an unwanted pregnancy should be reassured that current evidence shows they are no more likely to experience mental health problems if they decide to have an abortion than if they decide to give birth."

NCCMH Director, Professor Tim Kendall, who is also a member of the Steering Group, said:

"This review has attempted to address the limitations of previous reviews of the relationship between abortion and mental health. We believe that we have used the best quality evidence available, and that this is the most comprehensive and detailed review of the mental health outcomes of induced abortion to date worldwide."

AOMRC Chairman, Professor Sir Neil Douglas, said:

"The Academy recognizes that this is a complex and controversial area, where there have been many conflicting research findings. We welcome this extremely high-quality review from the NCCMH, and endorse its findings."

The Family Planning Association (FPA) and Brook said they welcomed the review. They both stated that there is now compelling evidence that when a woman has had, or is wondering whether to have an abortion, that the procedure is safe and does not have a direct impact on her mental health.

They went on to say that forcing women who are having an abortion to have counseling is both "unnecessary" and "patronizing".

The FPA and Brook jointly wrote:

"Giving women accurate and honest information about abortion is essential and is something that FPA and Brook take extremely seriously. However, we know that misinformation about mental health can be used as a scare tactic by third parties, to try and deter women from considering abortion.

"We hope this new report will prevent this type of scaremongering and ensure women receive the non-judgemental support and information they need."

Dr Kate Guthrie, a spokesperson from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) said that this latest Review is welcomed. They have revised their own guidelines regarding the care for females seeking induced abortion according to its findings, which include informing the women of what possible emotional responses are possible during and after an abortion.

Dr. Guthrie said:

"It is important that all women, and particularly those with a history of previous mental health problems, are offered appropriate support and if needed follow-up.

It is essential that healthcare workers identify women that are vulnerable in any way and offer the appropriate aftercare.

Abortion including aftercare is an essential part of women's healthcare services, alongside access to contraception and family planning information."

In a published response placed on its website, SPUC mentioned the following points, which are from stories told by a large number of women. The charity adds that several studies with empirical findings demonstrate that there are psychological consequences from having an abortion: After an abortion, a woman experiences a wide range of negative emotions, such as shame, regret, doubt, grief, guilt, loneliness and sadness.Some women who experience relief after undergoing an abortion, subsequently experience negative emotions.Some females may experience PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), triggered by an abortion.Even though a history of mental health problems may impact on the risk of having mental health problems following an abortion - it in no way accounts for all of the effect.The following risk factors increase the chances of a woman suffering psychological harm after an abortion: no social and emotional support, uncertainty and ambivalence about whether to have an abortion, partner violence, and a history of mental health problems.Abortion raises the risk of developing bipolar disorder, depressive psychosis, schizophrenia, neurotic depression, anxiety, and depression.Abortion raises the risk of subsequent substance abuse and self harm, especially when a woman who had an abortion gets pregnant again.Women who have an abortion because of a fetal disability are especially susceptible to psychological damage.A list of studies supporting the negative consequences of abortion for the woman are listed on this page.

Written by Christian Nordqvist
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

Visit our abortion section for the latest news on this subject. Induced Abortion and Mental Health
"A Systematic Review of the Mental Health Outcomes of Induced Abortion, Including Their Prevalence and Associated Factors. December 2011" (PDF, 252 pages)
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posted by Dr. Spock on 11 Dec 2011 at 5:09 am

This is about the dumbest study out there. Honestly, you people should be shot!

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posted by Amanda Gonzalez on 11 Dec 2011 at 5:31 am

I am American and have lived in the UK. I am grateful for this study. In my country, the land of polarized views, knee-jerk sound-bites, extreme atheists and bible-bashers, and niche politics, such a study would never be done. If if it were, I would doubt its impartiality.

Thank you.

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posted by John Ambery on 11 Dec 2011 at 5:32 am

In the eyes of God, abortion is a sin. The focus should not be on the mother, she is the vehicle for new life. The new life needs a chance, everything else is irrelevant.

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posted by Father of Two on 11 Dec 2011 at 5:56 am

Based on what I read here, this was less a "study" than a selective survey of other studies. While the article calls this a "review," other commenters and the media are undoubtedly giving this headline more due than it's worth.

And it seems difficult to imagine that deciding to terminate a pregnancy does not carry with it significant prospects for future emotional turmoil. The pro-abortion groups' use of such "data" to promote these procedures soft-pedals what is and should be an extremely grave moral decision to terminate another life.

This fundamental, ethical decision should be the focus of concern. If people can be desensitized to its magnitude, as this review suggests, it says something quite tragic about our world and its throwaway and convenience-based priorities.

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posted by kww on 11 Dec 2011 at 6:03 am

Their are studies that show a link between women that have had abortions and higher rates of certain cancers like breast.

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posted by Dave on 11 Dec 2011 at 6:11 am

That's a great and hopefully healthy attitude / belief for you. However, not everyone believes as you do and as I'm sure you wouldn't want other people or cultures or religions expecting you to adopt their personal beliefs I hope ask that you don't push your personal or religious beliefs on others.

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posted by Ranger on 11 Dec 2011 at 6:11 am

I know two women personally that have suffered depression and years long guilt as a result of abortion. Perhaps some do not. But I am witness to the problems it can cause.

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posted by One Opinion on 11 Dec 2011 at 7:31 am

The review (as I understand it) looked at many of the studies you refer to (but do not cite) and concluded that either the study was flawed or the results did not follow from the data.

In any case the one thing I think we can all agree on is that fewer unwanted pregnancies would be a good thing.

One Opionion

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posted by gale routh on 11 Dec 2011 at 7:57 am

i do believe, if we taught the science behind pregnancy, the people who are more pro-life that get an abortion--won't be so upset about it.

fetus (NOT A BABY, THEY ARE BORN…GOOGLE THE HUMAN DEVELOPMENT CHART) is a parasite because the classification of the biological relationship that is based on the behavior of one organism (the fetus) and how it relates to the woman's body:

as a zygote, it invaded the woman's uterus using its Trophoblast cells and hijacked her immune system by using Neurokinin B—-so her body won't KILL it, and stole her nutrients to survive and causes her harm or potential DEATH!

wikipedia org/wiki/Trophoblast

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immune_tolerance_in_pregnancy

"it is also possible for a symbiotic relationship to exist between two organisms of the same species."
answers com/topic/symbiosis —–Gale's Science of Everyday Things:
Symbiosis

"an animal or plant that lives in or on another (the host) from which it obtains nourishment. The host does not benefit from the association and is often harmed by it"
thefreedictionary com/parasite

if a man can kill his tapeworm at anytime, so should a woman abort her unwanted human parasitic fetus at anytime, too.

the bible supported abortion:
the 1984 niv footnote of numbers 5:11-31 explained what "to thy thigh to rot, thy belly to swell" meant:
Numbers 5:21 Or causes you to have a miscarrying womb and barrenness” to CAUSE a miscarrying womb IS an abortion.

the judeo-christian god is a myth and historical evidence proves it.
3.3.3 Atheism: A History of God (Part 1)
Evid3nc3

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posted by Nathan on 11 Dec 2011 at 8:35 am

If you fully read the conclusions, there are a number of exceptions that make the headline far more believable. I especially noted that women who oppose abortions, or who are pressured to abort against their own judgement, are more likely to suffer mental health problems, which is really what you would expect. What this study really seems to suggest is that women seeking abortion should receive (neutral!) counsel to learn everything about abortion, and they should be encouraged to make up their own mind about it (rather than having, say, a church or an activist group making it for them).

The fact that it is a review of many studies in no way invalidates its findings. In fact, that makes its findings stronger, since it is combining data from many sources to come to a conclusion. Higher sample size increases accuracy.

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