Tobacco Industry at it Again

Now that the tobacco industry has been losing customers in the Western world, they are diligently trying to recruit more smokers in developing countries, or they are trying to mitigate efforts of those trying to end smoking in these countries.

For instance, a recent WHO (World Health Organization) report talks about the tobacco industry doing just that. "The tobacco industry is increasingly using domestic and especially international trade litigation in attempts to block progress on many tobacco control measures, such as smoke-free public places, pictorial health warnings, plain packaging and product regulation...This strategy includes bringing lengthy and expensive legal challenges against countries to intimidate them into retracting their tobacco control policies..."

Instead of making amends for their past transgressions  (e.g., not being forthright about the negative effects of cigarettes when they first knew), they are hoping we all forget.

We have to remember to not forget.

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CPAP Study

I read an interesting study at https://sciencedaily.com. The title of the article that contains the study is "After watching disturbing video, CPAP usage soars." The article is dated 7.12.17.

The gist of the article is that people who have been diagnosed with sleep apnea and were supposed to wear a CPAP mask, usually don't. Over 50 percent don't wear the mask.

Researchers first showed patients videos of other people who struggled with breathing while sleeping without the CPAP mask. Seeing these videos did little to change the watchers. Then the viewers were shown themselves struggling to breathe at night. Those who saw themselves used their CPAP machines about 150 minutes more a night than those who saw others on the videos.

I will now use my mask more.

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"Cuckoo for Cocoa"

I just read about a study that is good news, from a number of angles. Simply put, it says cocoa is beneficial for cognition. More specifically, the cocoa flavanols.

I read about the study at psychcentral.com. Some quotes from the article include:

--"Investigators explain that the cocoa bean is a rich source of flavanols: a class of natural compounds that has neuroprotective effects."

--"Researchers discovered factors such as attention, processing speed, working memory and verbal fluency were improved. These effects were, however, most pronounced in older adults with a starting memory decline or other mild cognitive impairments."

Also interesting it that the scientists who did the study are practicing what they preach. They say they always eat dark chocolate--every day.

The article is in the journal, Frontiers Research Topic. And the name of the article is "Chocolate and Health: Friend or Foe?"

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