December Health Pearls: Smoking, Drinking and Coffee

SMOKING:

Women who smoked or had been exposed to high levels of secondhand smoke were more likely to have infertility and reached menopause before 50 years old, reported by the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI).  The analysis consisted of more than 93,000 women from 50-79 years old, from 1993-1998.

The researchers believe their result showed how women should be protected from passive or active smoking to reduce their risk of earlier menopause and infertility.

DRINKING:

Increase in alcohol tax was associated with a decrease in rates of Gonorrhea infection, reported in a study published online in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

In this study, Dr. Stephanie A.S. Staras from University of Florida reported a 24% decrease in gonorrhea rates after the alcohol-specific sales tax increase in Maryland.  No effect was found in rates of Chlamydia infection, gender subgroups or race/ethnicity.  The authors stated other studies in the past had shown the same result and believed alcohol tax increase might be an effective way to reduced sexually transmitted diseases.

COFFEE:

A study led by Dr. Erikka Loftfield of the National Cancer Institute in Rockville, Maryland, published online on November 27,2015 in American Journal of Epidemiology, reported a link between coffee drinking and reduced risk of death from many causes including heart disease and diabetes.  The more coffee consumption, the study found, the lower the participants’ risk of dying.

The study consisted of 90,317 adults without cancer or history of cardiovascular disease followed from 1998 to 2009.  Coffee drinkers, including decaffeinated drinkers, were less likely to die during the study than non coffee drinkers.  The lowest rate was found in those who drank four to five cups of coffee a day.

The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology also stated that it is safe for pregnant patients to drink up to 200 mg caffeine per day. The average cup of coffee contains between 75-150mg of caffeine.