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The Sun
6 days ago
- Health
- The Sun
Weight loss jabs could be key to controlling asthma in thousands of Brits, say scientists
WEIGHT loss jabs could help control asthma symptoms in obese people, a study suggests - and it's not just about losing weight. The drugs should be explored as a potential treatment for obese people with asthma, who are "often resistant" to steroids, researchers said. 1 Weight-loss jabs, also known as glucagon-like peptide1 receptor-agonists (GLP1-RAs), work by mimicking the hormone GLP-1 to regulate blood sugar and insulin levels and dull hunger pangs. They were initially developed as a treatment for people with type 2 diabetes - Ozempic is a key example. Several types of the drug are recommended to help tackle obesity on the NHS, including Wegovy or Mounjaro. Previous studies have suggested the drugs may slash the risk of illnesses like sleep apnoea, dementia and stroke. Now, an international team of experts are exploring their potential impact on obese people with asthma. Professor David Price, University of Aberdeen chair in primary care respiratory medicine, said: "People with obesity and asthma are unique in that they are often resistant to steroid treatments. "We know that GLP1s work on inflammatory responses in the airways in a different way to traditionally used steroids." People with a BMI of 30 or more have a much higher risk of having asthma than those with a lower BMI, according to the American Lung Association. It said extra weight around the chest and abdomen can constrict the lungs and make it more difficult to breathe. But research also suggests that fat tissue produces inflammatory substances that might affect the lungs and up the risk of asthma. Having asthma can also increase the risk of obesity, as symptoms can make it harder to be physically active and long-term steroid use can increase hunger, NHS Cambridge University Hospitals Trust suggests. For the new study, published in Advances in Therapy, researchers analysed the records of 10,111 people on GLP1-RAs and 50,555 people who were not on the drugs. After a follow-up period, the team found that those taking weight-loss jabs lost more weight and had improved asthma control. Researchers said the findings suggest medics "should pay attention to the relationship between GLP-1 RA and the risk of respiratory diseases". Prof Price added: "We found compelling evidence that GLP1s, as well as increasing weight loss, also improved asthma symptoms. "In addition, it is important to note that the benefits to asthma symptoms occurred despite fairly modest weight loss of around 0.9kg over the course of the year. WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR WEIGHT LOSS JABS ON THE NHS? NHS eligibility for weight loss injections has expanded but still lags behind the number who could potentially benefit from taking them. Wegovy, medical name semaglutide, is only available for weight loss through specialist weight management clinics. Patients are typically expected to have tried other weight loss methods before getting a prescription. They may be eligible if their body mass index (BMI) is higher than 30, or higher than 27 if they have a weight-related health condition such as high blood pressure. Mounjaro, known as tirzepatide, is also available from GP practices but currently only to patients with a BMI of 40 or higher (or 37.5 if from a minority ethnic background) plus four weight-related health conditions. The medicines are currently being rationed to the patients most in need. NHS watchdog NICE estimates that more than three million Brits will ultimately be eligible. The GLP-1 injections are prescribed separately by GPs for people with type 2 diabetes, and patients should discuss this with their doctor. "Our findings suggest that GLP1s may have beneficial effects on asthma control for people with obesity and this should be explored further." Prof Alan Kaplan, chairperson of the Family Physician Airways Group of Canada and the Observational and Pragmatic Research Institute, said: "Our findings suggest that GLP1-RAs have benefits on asthma control in people with obesity, and this information should contribute to the discussions around the decision to use these drugs." Dr Erika Kennington, head of research and innovation at Asthma and Lung UK, said: "Research has previously shown that people living with obesity who lose weight see improved control of their asthma, so it's encouraging to see this study show this is still the case when the weight loss is driven by drugs, like the new class of weight loss drugs. "Although exercise can help people lose weight, for some people it can cause anxiety about becoming breathless or having an asthma attack, so people are stuck in a vicious cycle of not being able to lose weight and their asthma worsening. "Therefore, where exercise hasn't worked for someone these drugs that support weight loss could offer a promising alternative. "It's too early to say whether these drugs would be effective for people with asthma more widely. "More research is needed to understand how these drugs actually improve asthma control. Funding for lung health research is on life support and urgent action is needed to increase investment." It's though that 7.2 million people in the UK have asthma, according to Asthma + Lung UK. Meanwhile, 64 per cent of adults aged 18 and above in England were estimated to be overweight or living with obesity between 2023 and 2024.
Medscape
18-07-2025
- Health
- Medscape
Evolving Pulmonary Care Strategies for Lung Cancer Patients
Lung cancer poses a potential smoke screen for today's pulmonologists. Overall, incidence rates continue to decline in the US as other cancers are on the rise, yet a growing number of patients are being diagnosed with lung cancer without any history of smoking. While this could partly be attributed to airborne pollutants, making a lung cancer diagnosis as early as possible is essential in reducing the rate of fatalities. According to the American Lung Association (ALA), many lung cancer diagnoses are not happening early enough for many of today's patients. Recent ALA findings claim that only 27.4% of patients are being diagnosed at a point when their chances of 5-year survival are optimal. 'We are making progress against lung cancer, but there's still tremendous opportunity for improvement,' said Peter Olivieri III, MD, director of interventional pulmonary at the University of Maryland (UM) Baltimore Washington Medical Center, Glen Burnie, Maryland. 'Early diagnosis is key, but most studies that have been done suggest that screening is vastly underutilized.' Although insurance does not usually cover routine lung screenings among never smokers, Olivieri and other providers believe there are strategies that can help identify lung cancer early and help treat comorbid infections in patients with lung cancer. The Pulmonologist's Place Supporting Patients With stage I lung cancer being asymptomatic, improving outcomes hinges on the detection of 'incidental' pulmonary nodules, said Olivieri. 'The majority of pulmonary nodules that are actually detected today are not found through lung cancer screenings — they're found on CT scans that are done for other reasons,' he said. 'For instance, patients who come into the ED [emergency department] after a trauma or with chest pain.' Although the majority of these nodules are found to be noncancerous, there are enough early-stage cancer nodules found this way to make an impact. 'We need to develop an infrastructure to identify those patients who are found incidentally and get them care quickly because many of them actually would not have qualified to undergo screening, and it represents an opportunity to detect cancer early,' said Olivieri. At UM Baltimore Washington Medical Center, an incidental lung nodule program launched in 2024 by interventional pulmonary and thoracic surgery specialists associated with the Lung Center and Tate Cancer Center reviews ED scans to better identify nodules. Olivieri encourages others to consider a similar approach. 'There should be some process for how to identify these nodules, whether it's in the ED, the hospital, or your local outpatient radiology center where primary care doctors may be ordering scans for various reasons,' he said. 'It's a big logistical and resource endeavor, but we think it's worth the investment if you can make that a priority and then funnel patients into a clinic where they can be evaluated.' At the University of Iowa, a group of pulmonologists in the Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center's Lung Cancer Clinic perform same-day lung function testing, point-of-care ultrasound, and bronchoscopy to assist in patient management, according to Thomas J. Gross, MD, professor of internal medicine-pulmonary, critical care, and occupational medicine. 'We stay involved with and perform procedural interventions in cases that may need physical tumor debulking or airway stenting, or patients who suffer from bleeding complications related to tumor invasion,' he said. Iowa's pulmonologists are also involved in advanced bronchoscopic biopsy techniques, including robotic-guided navigation to the lung periphery that allows for a safe biopsy of small peripheral nodules to assist in curative surgical resection planning. 'We also perform measurements of pulmonary function and cardiopulmonary fitness to assess risk for lung resection,' said Gross. Adapting Disease Treatments With Cancer Pulmonary disease treatments often need to be modified when lung cancer is present, especially for chronic conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), interstitial lung disease (ILD), asthma, or pulmonary hypertension, said Amina Pervaiz, MD, pulmonologist, thoracic oncologist, and member of the thoracic oncology multidisciplinary team at Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit. According to Pervaiz, COPD complicates surgery and standard cancer treatments, limiting surgical options, such as lobectomy; increasing postoperative risks, such as failure of extubation; and increasing respiratory infections, especially with the forced expiratory volume in 1 second < 50%. 'As an alternative, stereotactic body radiation therapycan offer similar outcomes to surgery in early-stage patients with poor lung function,' said Pervaiz. 'ILD patients face higher risks of lung toxicity from chemo- and radiotherapy. Regimens like carboplatin and paclitaxel are preferred. Antifibrotic drugs, such as pirfenidone and nintedanib, added to chemotherapy can reduce postoperative exacerbations and improve outcomes.' With asthma, systemic steroids can interfere with immune checkpoint inhibitors, necessitating careful balancing of control and immunotherapy risks, while pulmonary hypertension or reduced diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide (DLCO) can affect candidacy for curative-intent surgery or radiotherapy, Pervaiz said. According to Kathleen McAvoy, MD, assistant professor at Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, 'it is incredibly important for any newly diagnosed patient who's scheduled to undergo lung cancer treatment to have other pulmonary conditions defined and under good control.' New or worsening respiratory symptoms often lead to treatment interruptions in lung cancer, said McAvoy. 'Controlling underlying lung diseases can help streamline a patient's treatments,' she said. All medications should be reviewed with a pharmacist due to the possibility of interactions with cancer treatments, McAvoy advises. 'For those with underlying pulmonary disease who are at higher risk for cancer treatment-related complications, frequent monitoring of symptoms, lung function, and pulse oximetry, including with ambulation, is also strongly encouraged,' she said. Jeffrey D. Marshall, MD, a pulmonologist and critical care medicine physician at UM Baltimore Washington Medical Center, agrees that pulmonary diseases change certain approaches to lung cancer care. 'Management of infectious processes may be different given concerns around resistance or more opportunistic infections in the face of chemotherapy or other immunomodulating therapies used to treat lung cancer,' he said. 'And though we already consider patients with structural lung disease or COPD to be at risk for pseudomonas aeruginosa, patients on chemotherapy are at risk of other gram-negative organisms, invasive aspergillosis, and less common organisms such as nocardia, necessitating a lower threshold for thorough diagnostic workup.' Other considerations include the use of steroids for management of COPD, asthma exacerbations, or community-acquired pneumonia. 'Though steroids are the backbone for the treatment of reactive airway disease flares or exacerbations, when patients are on immunomodulatory therapies their use is controversial,' said Marshall. 'Many of our newest treatments for all cancers work by revving up the immune system to use our own mechanisms for defense against the cancer cells. The use of steroids necessarily inhibits this immune response. We know from laboratory experiments and clinical trials that the use of steroids can dramatically impair the ability of checkpoint inhibitors to fight cancer.' Immunotherapy or small molecule-targeted therapies can cause pneumonitis and secondary infections related to impaired immunity. 'And we manage medications to palliate symptoms,' said Gross. At the same time, determining whether a patient has infectious pneumonia vs pneumonitis secondary to therapy can prove diagnostically challenging and make it difficult to determine the need for steroids vs antibiotics, said Marshall. Current Research and Best Practices Earlier diagnosis of lung cancer could be on the horizon. At UM Baltimore Washington Medical Center, Olivieri and colleagues are involved in a study conducting a blood-based test to look at the epigenome to assist lung cancer diagnosis. 'We would envision this test being administered in a primary care office as routinely and be available to everyone to predict cancer or at least identify early,' Olivieri said. Lisa Paul, MD, assistant professor of medicine - pulmonology at New York Medical College, is optimistic about research efforts targeting early detection by using liquid biopsy to look at DNA biomarkers. 'Those with strong family history of lung cancer and nonsmokers with environmental exposures are now being looked at closely,' she said. Paul also serves as a director of the lung cancer screening program at affiliated Westchester Medical Center, Valhalla, New York. According to Pervaiz, research also supports personalized screening using artificial intelligence and nodule risk models, expanded molecular profiling, and biomarker-driven prehabilitation. 'Trials are evaluating how spirometry, DLCO, and frailty scores can guide treatment intensity,' he said.
Time of India
15-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Can vaping cause cancer? Top NYC doctor responds
Vaping is increasingly becoming popular, especially among adolescents. Some consider it a safer alternative to conventional cigarettes. Its popularity among youngsters is raising concerns about its safety. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Whether vaping has any health risks, particularly if it has the potential to cause cancer, is a growing concern. Dr. Tim Tiutan, a New York City-based board-certified internal medicine physician who treats cancer patients, has weighed in on the issue. Before we dive into that, let's understand what vaping is. What is vaping Vaping involves inhaling an aerosol (not water vapor) produced by an electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) or similar device called a vape. These devices heat a liquid, often called e-liquid or vape juice, which usually contains nicotine, flavorings, and other chemicals, turning it into an aerosol that can be inhaled into the lungs. Vaping is similar to smoking a cigarette, but it does not involve burning tobacco. Vapes come in all shapes and sizes. These include e-pens, e-pipes, e-hookah, and e-cigars. Despite their variety, they contain the same basic components. Battery Heating element Place to hold e-liquid (such as a cartridge or pod) According to the American Lung Association, the following toxic chemicals and metals have all been found in e-cigarettes. Nicotine: It is a highly addictive substance that negatively affects adolescent brain development Propylene glycol: A common food additive, also used to make things like antifreeze, paint solvent, and artificial smoke in fog machines Carcinogens: These are chemicals known to cause cancer, including acetaldehyde and formaldehyde Acrolein: It is a herbicide primarily used to kill weeds. This chemical can cause irreversible lung damage Diacetyl: A chemical linked to a lung disease called bronchiolitis obliterans, aka 'popcorn lung' Diethylene glycol: A toxic chemical used in antifreeze that is linked to lung disease Heavy metals such as nickel, tin, lead Cadmium: A toxic metal found in traditional cigarettes that causes breathing problems and other illnesses Benzene: A volatile organic compound (VOC) found in car exhaust Ultrafine particles that can be inhaled deep into the lungs So, it's not just vapor one is inhaling. Hidden dangers of vaping Though vaping is often assumed to be a safer alternative to traditional smoking, Dr. Tiutan warns that the substances used in it are far from harmless. 'I don't have to tell you that inhaling random unregulated substances can cause lung damage and heart disease,' the doctor said in a shared on Instagram. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now He also quoted studies and added, 'Early studies also suggest vaping may increase cancer risk.' Vaping releases oxygen-free radicals that may cause DNA damage. He added that various compounds commonly found in vape liquid, like heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, can wreak havoc on health. 'I think there's so much more harm we've yet to discover so quit vaping,' he said. Top foods to prevent lung cancer A recent has found that vaping is more dangerous than traditional cigarettes. 'We found that these disposable devices have toxins already present in the e-liquid, or they're leaching quite extensively from their components into e-liquids and ultimately transferred to the smoke,' the researchers said. 'Our study highlights the hidden risk of these new and popular disposable electronic cigarettes — with hazardous levels of neurotoxic lead and carcinogenic nickel and antimony — which stresses the need for urgency in enforcement,' they confirmed.
USA Today
02-07-2025
- General
- USA Today
Do you even like fireworks anymore? Should we ban them? Take our poll.
My neighborhood has been setting off Fourth of July fireworks for a week. Should we ban them or make them legal everywhere? Take our poll below. It's not even the Fourth of July, and already I've had my fill of fireworks. My neighborhood began setting them off in late June, creating the kind of pop and crackle that lights up platforms like Nextdoor with endless posts and debate about 'were those firecrackers or gunshots?' This time of year, as well as Christmas, New Year's Eve and those precious moments our sports teams actually win, it's always fireworks. And I'm over it. For many, watching the sky light up amid thunderous booms is one of the core memories of childhood. I share that same nostalgia: Setting up lawn chairs, necks craned toward the sky, delighting in all the dazzling designs and colors. Lighting the fuse on a bottle rocket and running for cover, all 10 fingers fortunately still intact. But maybe it's because I'm older now and value a good night's sleep – or because I've come to understand just how detrimental fireworks are to our environment, our pets, the wildlife around us and, yes, even our health – that I've found myself sympathizing, and maybe even agreeing with, the 'ban fireworks' contingent. At the very least, maybe we can leave the pyrotechnics to the professionals and stop shooting them off in every neighborhood in the city. (Don't agree? Scroll down to vote in our poll.) The harmful effects of fireworks Because the thing is, fireworks cause very real harm to the very people who have fought to protect our freedoms. The flashes of light, burning smells and smoke are known triggers for veterans and others with PTSD. Fireworks are likely causing fear and anxiety – and even physical pain and distress – in your pets, too. Studies have shown that half of dogs express fear at the noise. Birds and wildlife experience the same fear and disruption at the sound of fireworks, often resulting in them fleeing in panic, and sometimes dying as a result. What does being an American mean to you? I'm not sure what being a patriot means in Trump's America. Are you? Tell us. | Opinion Forum And the damage doesn't just happen during nightfall: The debris left from fireworks – the plastic and chemicals and pollutants in the powder that cause such awe-inspiring explosions – can be a choking hazard and toxic. It's hurting your lungs, too. According to the American Lung Association, a 2015 study found air pollution levels increased by an average of 42% on the Fourth of July. Still convinced you'll escape unscathed? The Consumer Product Safety Commission's annual report shows a 38% increase in firework-related deaths and a 52% increase in injuries – more than 14,700 total – in 2024. About 20% of those injuries required hospitalization. You know what doesn't send you to the hospital? A drone show. Should we ban fireworks or make them legal everywhere? What do you think? Should we ban fireworks altogether? Leave it to the professionals, but limit private use? Or make them available to everyone, everywhere? Take our poll below. And have a safe Independence Day! Janessa Hilliard is the director of audience for USA TODAY Opinion and Opinion at Gannett.
Newsweek
02-07-2025
- Health
- Newsweek
Map Shows Worst US States for Lung Health
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Due to a combination of smoking rates, regional climates and air pollution, the health of Americans' lungs varies immensely from state to state, according to a new report. A new study by Opera Beds, a specialist in clinically oriented mattresses and pressure-care systems, ranked the worst states for lung health in the U.S., drawing on data from the American Lung Association, the EPA and additional sources. Why It Matters Lung health in the U.S. is a significant public health concern, with millions suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD), thousands dying each year from respiratory illnesses and similar numbers being lost to lung cancer. Millions of dollars have been devoted to researching the causes and consequences of lung health issues in the U.S., and the disparity in the health levels across the country highlights how factors such as smoking rates and air quality contributes to these outcomes. This photo illustration shows a man holding a cigarette on August 1, 2023, in Montreal. This photo illustration shows a man holding a cigarette on August 1, 2023, in Montreal. ANDREJ IVANOV / AFP/Getty Images What To Know Opera Beds issued their rankings based on smoking rates, the coverage of anti-smoking policies and air pollution—measured in micrograms of pollutants per cubic meter (µg/m³)—while also factoring in things such as temperature and humidity in each state. The resulting "lung health" scores are shown below on the map created by Newsweek, alongside the rankings of the ten worst states for lung health. With a score of 4.04 out of ten, Indiana ranked as the worst in the country for lung health in the study. The state has an adult smoking rate of 16.2 percent, compared to the national average of around 11 percent. Opera Beds also found that only 31.5 percent of the population is covered by smokefree indoor air policies which prohibit smoking in bars, restaurants and workplaces. Indiana was followed by Ohio and Alaska, with respective scores of 4.72 and 4.79. The rest of the top 10 featured Pennsylvania, Michigan, Nevada, Tennessee, Louisiana, Mississippi and Kentucky. On the other end of the list, Colorado and Hawaii were found to be the states with the best lung health, each earning a score of 9.11 out of ten. Both states benefit from lower smoking rates and enjoy reduced levels of air pollution. Overall, the top ten states largely outperform the bottom ten across these factors, though California stands out as an exception, as it maintains high overall score despite elevated air pollution levels relative to other states. What People Are Saying Opera Beds wrote in its report: "According to our data, the West Coast is the best place to live in the U.S. in terms of lung health. Six of the top 10 states are located on the western side of the country, with Colorado, Hawaii, and New Mexico making up the top three. This suggests that those on the West Coast may be less likely to develop respiratory conditions like COPD, due to better air quality, humidity levels, and average temperatures. It may also be a viable option for those relocating to another state to improve their lung health."
