Massachusetts Health information

It's Never Too Late to Quit Smoking!
Health benefits begin as early as 20 minutes after quitting.

If you're a smoker or know someone who smokes, there's good news!
It's never too late to quit smoking: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), within 20 minutes after you smoke that last cigarette, your body begins a series of changes that continue for years.

But that's not all! Compared to smokers, your:

• Ulcer risk drops after quitting.
• Bladder cancer risk is halved a few years after quitting.
• Peripheral artery disease risk goes down after quitting.
• Cervical cancer risk is reduced a few years after quitting.
• Low birth weight baby risk drops to normal if you quit before pregnancy or during your first trimester.

With all these health benefits, there's never been a better time to quit! Call 1-800-QUIT- NOW for help or ask your healthcare provider to help you make a plan for quitting.

Vitamin D deficiency linked to cardiovascular disease, death

Kansas City, Kansas - Vitamin D deficiency was associated with cardiovascular disease risk and death, whereas Vitamin D supplementation was associated with better survival, according to researchers in the American Journal of Cardiology.

In the study, scientists from the University of Kansas analyzed data on 10,899 patients and found that 70% of them were deficient in Vitamin D. Those who were D-deficient were 40% more likely to have hypertension, 30% more likely to have cardiomyopathy, and twice as likely to have diabetes than those without a deficiency. Plus, they were three times more likely to die from any cause.

Patients who took Vitamin D supplements had a 60% lower risk of death from any cause, especially those who had previously been deficient.

Oat fiber helps lower cholesterol, says Health Canada

Ottawa, Ontario - In a recent decision, Health Canada concluded that scientific studies support the claim that consumption of oat fiber is linked to a reduction in blood cholesterol. As a result, they announced that beta-glucan oat fiber products -- that meet set criteria -- can claim they help lower cholesterol.

The sources of oat fiber eligible for the claim are oat bran, rolled oats (also known as oatmeal) and whole oat flour that are either food themselves (oat bran and rolled oats) or are ingredients in formulated foods (oat bran, rolled oats and whole oat flour).