Being exposed to pesticides at work increases the risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a large U.K.-based study has found. This was true regardless of whether people smoked or had asthma; smoking and asthma are both known risk factors for COPD. “Focused preventive strategies for workers exposed to pesticides can prevent the associated COPD burden,”…
Quit smoking after a heart attack or bypass surgery, or go on 3 different medications? You may see the same longevity benefits if you just quit, scientists say. Smokers who give up cigarettes after a heart attack, bypass surgery, or procedures to unclog blocked arteries may add almost five healthy years to their lives, a…
In utero exposure to bisphenol A appeared associated with greater odds of asthma and wheeze among school-age girls, according to a study published in Environment International. However, exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) did not appear associated with overall lung function, nor did it appear to impact asthma and wheeze in boys. “Bisphenols are produced in large quantities worldwide…
Agency Supports Development of Complex Generic Drug-Device Combination Product to Improve Competition and Access to More Affordable Medicine This week, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the first generic of Symbicort (budesonide and formoterol fumarate dihydrate) Inhalation Aerosol for the treatment of two common pulmonary health conditions: asthma in patients six years of age…
E-cigarette and hookah waterpipe users may be at greater risk than tobacco cigarette smokers for cancers of the nose, sinuses, and throat, according to a new study. That’s because vapers and hookah users are more than twice as likely to exhale smoke through their nose as cigarette smokers, who typically exhale smoke through the mouth, the researchers explained. “Our findings suggest that the…
Patients with both heart failure (HF) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) face a unique set of challenges and impairments compared with those with just one of the diseases, according to a new report. The study, published in Scientific Reports, offers new insights to help physicians better treat patients with overlapping conditions. Corresponding author Audrey Borghi-Silva, PhD, MSc, of the…
Inadequate self-management has been associated with high level of asthma morbidities in adolescents residing in urban areas. Peer-led asthma self-management education for adolescents in urban areas outperformed adult-led programs in enhancing asthma outcomes. These and other findings were described in a randomized clinical trial published in Journal of the American Medical Association. The potential for peer-led…
Evidence suggests higher levels of iron in pulmonary macrophages heightens the risk of infectious exacerbations. A new report yielded fresh insights into the role of pulmonary iron in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), suggesting that excess iron in pulmonary macrophages may increase the risk of recurrent airway infection. Writing in the journal Respiratory Research, corresponding author…