Quitting Smoking Does not Help Rheumatoid Arthritis

A new study suggests that quitting tobacco use (smoking) may not make any difference in the disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis patients. Tobacco use is a known environmental risk factor for rheumatoid arthritis, but it is unknown whether quitting tobacco use affects the Clinical Disease Activity Index in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The study involved rheumatoid arthritis patients. During the follow-up, ceased smokers did not have a better Clinical Disease Activity Index, compared to those who continued to use tobacco.

Cigarette Prices Hike, Quit Smoking

The recent increase in the Illinois cigarette tax is an example of how making smoking more expensive can convince some people it's time to quit. For example, being a smoker in Chicago can easily cost $300 a month, which is more than twice as expensive as a monthly prescription of medications to help a person quit smoking. But even when the cost of smoking convinces a person to quit, it can be hard to kick the habit, said Dr. Phillip McAndrew, an internal medicine physician and occupational health expert at Loyola University Health System. "Nicotine really is that addictive. It's a hard battle, but every one that we win, including increasing the cost of cigarettes through taxes, brings individual smokers to the tipping point where the pain of smoking overcomes the joys of nicotine and they quit," McAndrew noted. "The tipping point could be a life-altering health experience, but often it's the impact on the pocketbook that makes people really consider quitting," he explained in a Loyola news release.

Dentists Help People Quit Smoking

Smoking is something that can seriously damage oral health. According to WebMD, cigarette use can lead to increased buildup of plaque and tartar on the teeth, a higher risk of gum disease and oral cancer and other major and minor problems such as bad breath and loss of bone in the jaw.

As a result, dentists are often encouraging their patients to give up the habit. Recently, Mobi Health News reported that the company Aetna is giving dentists tablet computers that are equipped with smoking cessation programs designed to help them encourage patients to quit.

"The program is designed as an innovative interface between patients and dentists and we anticipate that devices like tablet computers can be used to break down barriers between clinicians’ and their patients," said David Albert, D.D.S., quoted by the news source.