Is Vaping The Road To Smoking Cessation?

Every year nearly 70% of all those who smoke report that they desire to kick the habit. Considering how bad this vice is for our health, it’s not surprising how high this number is. Quitting provides significant benefits for nearly every organ in your body. Your heart health, in particular. Nearly 33% of all heart disease-related deaths have their foundation in smoke exposure, both directly and from secondhand smoke. For this reason, many smokers are looking at vaping and wondering if it might be a first step to quitting.

Vaping And Its Effect On Smoking Cessation

There’s a growing movement of smokers attempting a change to vaping to help them on their way to quitting. This has prompted a growing number of studies into the health effects of vaping. The following tips have been shared by Michael Blaha, M.D, M.PH, who serves as the John Hopkins Ciccarone Center For the Prevention of Heart Disease director of clinical research.

• Vaping is safe(r) than smoking: Your lungs are meant to take in clean air and extract oxygen from it. Anything else entering your lungs isn’t good for them, including vapor. However, tobacco smoke is known to contain over 7,000 chemicals. In addition, there’s the heat of the vapor and the tar in the smoke. While vaping isn’t good for you, it’s definitely got fewer chemicals than tobacco smoke.
• Research Suggests Vaping Still Affects Your Heart and Lungs: If you’re using vaping juice that contains nicotine, then it continues to be addictive. As long as you’re inhaling nicotine, you’ll be craving smoke and undergo the same withdrawal symptoms if this craving is ignored. If you’re using nicotine-free vape juice, however, you’ll avoid this risk and have a better chance of quitting smoking with vaping.
• Nicotine Bearing E-Cigarettes Are Just As Addictive: It’s important enough to bear mentioning twice. Studies indicate that nicotine can be as hard a habit to break as cocaine and heroin. Higher-strength cartridges of vape juice may actually contain more nicotine than cigarettes. Adjusting the voltage upward will also result in more nicotine occurring in each pull. If you’re trying to vape to quit smoking, use low to no-nicotine vape juice.
• E-Cigarettes Work For Some, But Aren’t The Best Option: While E-Cigarettes are often marketed as a way to quit smoking, this statement hasn’t been validated by the FDA. Studies suggest that those who take vaping up as a way to quit smoking often end up using both.
• Vaping Is Addicting A New Generation: A poor understanding of the health consequences of vaping over smoking has led to more youth picking up vaping. This new generation may have never touched traditional tobacco. Despite this, there’s a rising tide of youth that are taking up vaping.

It’s important to recall that, in most cases, vaping has fewer health consequences than smoking traditional tobacco. However, what remains unchanged is that it is not as healthy as not taking up either vaping or smoking.  

Speak To Your Medical Provider For Smoking Cessation Tips

If you’re looking for ways to quit smoking, speak to your medical provider. The majority of medical clinics provide numerous smoking cessation options. Call yours and speak to them about what options are available.

Treatment Of Erectile Dysfunction With Medication

If there is one term that can strike fear into the hearts of men, it’s impotence. Erectile dysfunction has been a concern that men have faced all time. This condition can have an impact on several areas that affect our quality of life. In addition to the inability to get or maintain an erection, men with ED face other struggles. These can include having their perception of their own masculinity impaired and social consequences. ED is fairly common among aging men but can occur at any age. Thankfully, there are numerous of ways in which this condition can be successfully treated.

Treatment Of Erectile Dysfunction With Medication

The most common course of treatment for erectile dysfunction is so well known it’s become part of pop culture. References to the ‘little blue pill’ have become common and are often used to refer to any pharmaceutical treatment for this condition. There are four different medications that are commonly prescribed to manage symptoms resulting from erectile dysfunction:

• tadalafil (Cialis)
• sildenafil (Viagra)
• vardenafil (Levitra)
• avanafil (Stendra)

Each of these drugs addresses the symptom in a similar way. Nitric oxide affects the body by widening the blood vessels, known as vasodilation. This widening of the blood vessels results in boosted blood flow. While the effect is body-wide, it is particularly prominent in the penis. This increased blood flow to this area results in extended erections that are easier to achieve.

While these treatments are definitely effective, they do have some potential side effects:

• Headaches – This symptom is the most commonly reported. The headaches occur as a result of the elevated blood flow resulting from nitric oxide. All forms of ED medication can cause this symptom, so a change won’t necessarily help. Your doctor may have suggestions for managing them.
• Body aches and pains – ED medications are commonly reported to cause pains and muscle aches. In some cases, this is specifically focused in the lower back. Over-the-counter medication can often help these symptoms. If you experience symptoms like these, call your medical practitioner for help.
• Digestive system problems – Some patients experience digestive discomfort while taking ED medication. In most cases, these symptoms present as diarrhea and indigestion. Drinking additional water during the day can help avoid these symptoms.
• Dizziness – Some men experience dizziness in response to higher levels of nitric oxide. While mild, it can interfere with daily activities. In extreme and rare cases, men may experience fainting spells. Speak to your doctor if this happens.
• Vision Changes – Changes in vision, including blurriness, can occur as a result of taking ED medication. While these symptoms are typically temporary, avoid using this medication if you have experienced vision issues in the past—especially retinitis pigmentosa.

Speak To Your Doctor For Help Treating Erectile Dysfunction

When erectile dysfunction is affecting your life, it’s time for a call to your physician. Medical professionals can provide useful information about treatment options. While these medications are the most prominently used treatments for this condition, other options exist. Call and schedule a consultation to learn more.

Steps You Can Take To Manage Your Cholesterol

The deadly dangers of high cholesterol are well known. Elevated levels increase our risk of having a heart attack and of developing heart disease. Medications are one effective way of managing our cholesterol but should be a last resort. Lifestyle changes and conscientious choice of food can be more effective and come with additional benefits. With heart disease being the most frequent killer of men and women in the United States, it’s vital to take proper steps to keep your cholesterol in check.

Steps You Can Take To Manage Your Cholesterol

There’s a lot of poor information available about medical concerns in general. Methods of controlling our cholesterol levels come up in many areas. It’s essential to have the correct information to be able to control this condition effectively. Below we’ve provided a few steps you can take to keep your cholesterol in check.

It Starts With Dietary Choices

Cholesterol only comes from one source, the foods we eat. This fact means your primary angle of attack on this condition is going to be changing your diet. Consider the following tips:

• Reduce saturated fats – This form of fat can be found in full-fat dairy products and red meats. By limiting the amount you get in your diet, you’ll reduce your (LDL) cholesterol. The type is commonly known as “bad” cholesterol.
• Eliminate trans fats – This type of fat appears in processed foods, especially cakes, crackers, and cookies. Partially hydrogenated vegetable oil has been banned from appearing in foods as of Jan 1, 2021. This oil was a significant source of trans fats.
• Soluble Fiber – This form of fiber is found in Brussel sprouts, pears, apples, oatmeal, and kidney beans. It’s excellent at scrubbing away cholesterol found in your bloodstream.
• Whey Protein – This protein is commonly found in dairy products. Studies indicate it may be the source of many health benefits from dairy. LDL cholesterol, blood pressure, and total cholesterol levels all benefit from having it in your diet.

Get Out And Exercise

While it may make your eyes roll every time you see exercise on a ‘get healthy’ list, it’s there for a reason. Our bodies are built to move and remain active. The evidence can be found in the countless health benefits that come from an active lifestyle. One of those important benefits is the reduction of LDLs, and the raising of HDL cholesterol. HDL stands for high-density lipoprotein. It’s the “good” form of cholesterol. Spending 30 minutes each day exercising can do wonders for your cholesterol. Good exercise options include:

• A brisk mid-day walk
• Use your bike instead of your car
• Take up a sport 
• Find people to work out with to stay motivated

Speak To Your Primary Care Provider For Further Guidance

These tips cover the basics. If you’re a smoker, another critical step is quitting your tobacco habit. Smoking, even without high levels of cholesterol, increases your chance of heart disease. Add high cholesterol to the mix, and your risk increases significantly. Speak to your primary care provider to get additional health tips.