Darlene Karoly, a graphics production artist from Cleveland, had been smoking for over 20 years -- and trying to quit for the last 15.

"I tried the patch, I tried the gum, I tried hypnosis, I tried willpower, I tried cutting down cold turkey, I tried Wellbutrin, I've tried Chantix. The American lung Association has a program, I tried that. I've tried everything and I've tried most things multiple times," the 49-year-old admitted.

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Tobacco on Trial

She stopped about 70 days ago thanks to a smoking cessation counselor from Cleveland Clinic, and although a smoker since 20, a new study reveals that quitting may have added years to Karoly's life.

In posssiby the largest study ever on the hazards of smoking and benefits of stopping, researchers found that smokers lose at least 10 years of their lives due to their habit. The good news is the earlier they quit the better. Women who successfully quit before 40 avoided 90 percent of the added risk of early death caused by smoking, while stopping before 30 helped women avoid 97 percent of the added risk.

"If women smoke like men, they die like men - but, whether they are men or women, smokers who stop before reaching middle age will on average gain about an extra ten years of life," co-author Richard Peto, professor of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology at the University of Oxford in Oxford, England, said in the press release.

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The research looked at the Million Women Study, which involved1.3 women in the U.K. between the ages of 50 to 65 years during 1996 through 2001. Women were surveyed about their lifestyle, medical and social factors and then surveyed again three years after their first questionnaire.

They were also monitored via the National Health Services central register, which told researchers when patients died and cause of death. Researchers also followed-up with patients an average of 12 years after joining the study to see if they were alive.

Twenty percent of the study pool were smokers, 28 percent were ex-smokers and 52 percent had never smoked. Those who were still smoking at the time of the three-year follow-up questionnaire where three times more likely to die over the next nine years than nonsmokers, even though some had reduced their risk by temporarily quitting between the first and second survey.

According to the results, two-thirds of all the deaths of smokers in their 50s, 60s and 70s were caused by smoking: Risk of dying from a smoking-related disease like lung cancer, chronic lung disease, heart disease, or stroke went up with the amount of cigarettes they consumed. But, even light smokers who smoked one to nine cigarettes a day were twice as likely to die than those who didn't smoke at all.

Dr. Sumita Khatri , head of Cleveland Clinic's Asthma Center and board member for the American Lung Association said to CBSNews.com that this study was unique not only because it looked at a large number of subjects, but because it focused on women whereas most smoking studies looked at men. The results however showed that smoking cuts years from your life, regardless if you are a man or a woman.

"Being an advocate for women, we deserve all the same rights as men, but this is one way we don't want to be the same as men," she said.

She said in addition to all the lung problems that smoking causes, it can also affect blood vessels, cause aneurisms in a person's chest and block blood flow, which most people don't realize.

Blowing smoke: Vintage ads of doctors endorsing tobacco

The takeaway from the study is that it's never too late to quit, even if you reach middle years, she pointed out.

"The sooner you quit, the better," she said. "And, also, not smoking at all would be really good."

The study was published online on Oct. 27 in The Lancet.








My Opinion :

I have a very strong opinion on this subject i fell into the habit of smoking and i can't seem to find a method to help me quiting just as her i have used the patch, gum, wiutting cold turkey and staying way from my friends that do smoke. Smoking is a bad habit and can cut years off your life, give you wrinkles, yellow teeth and bad breath. I know all of this but it's still hard to quit. and i agree with the saying "Smoke like a man die like a man" we woment want our rights but smokeing was a bad habit for every human being and i wish i would've never picked up the bad habit because now its so hard to quit it stresses me out.

 

GENEVA – Cycling legend Lance Armstrong's fall from grace was completed Monday, when the sport's governing body stripped him of all seven Tour de France titles and banned him for life on the heels of a damning report from U.S. officials that concluded he cheated throughout his career.
The 41-year-old cancer survivor's unprecedented dominance in the grueling sport can now be stricken from the record books, though Armstrong continues to insist he never cheated. The announcement came Monday morning, and was based on a report from the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency that accused Armstrong of leading a massive doping program on his teams.
The report included testimony from several former teammates who competed alongside Armstrong as he won the sport's most coveted title every year from 1999 to 2005. Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme has said the race will have no official winners for those years.
USADA said Armstrong should be banned and stripped of his Tour titles for "the most sophisticated, professionalized and successful doping program that sport has ever seen" within his U.S. Postal Service and Discovery Channel teams. International Cycling Union President Pat McQuaid announced that the federation accepted the USADA's report on Armstrong and would not appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

"I've been better, but I've also been worse."

- Lance Armstrong, speaking to cyclists on Sunday

The USADA report said Armstrong and his teams used steroids, the blood booster EPO and blood transfusions. The report included statements from 11 former teammates who testified against Armstrong.
Armstrong denies doping, saying he passed hundreds of drug tests. But he chose not to fight USADA in one of the agency's arbitration hearings, arguing the process was biased against him. Former Armstrong team director Johan Bruyneel is also facing doping charges, but he is challenging the USADA case in arbitration.
On Sunday, Armstrong greeted about 4,300 cyclists at his Livestrong charity's fundraiser bike ride in Texas, telling the crowd he's faced a "very difficult" few weeks.
"I've been better, but I've also been worse," Armstrong, a cancer survivor, told the crowd.
While drug use allegations have followed the 41-year-old Armstrong throughout much of his career, the USADA report has badly damaged his reputation. Longtime sponsors Nike, Trek Bicycles and Anheuser-Busch have dropped him, as have other companies, and Armstrong also stepped down last week as chairman of Livestrong, the cancer awareness charity he founded 15 years ago after surviving testicular cancer which spread to his lungs and brain.
Armstrong's astonishing return from life-threatening illness to the summit of cycling offered an inspirational story that transcended the sport. However, his downfall has ended "one of the most sordid chapters in sports history," USADA said in its 200-page report published two weeks ago.
Armstrong has consistently argued that the USADA system was rigged against him, calling the agency's effort a "witch hunt."
If Armstrong's Tour victories are not reassigned there would be a hole in the record books, marking a shift from how organizers treated similar cases in the past.
When Alberto Contador was stripped of his 2010 Tour victory for a doping violation, organizers awarded the title to Andy Schleck. In 2006, Oscar Pereiro was awarded the victory after the doping disqualification of American rider Floyd Landis.
USADA also thinks the Tour titles should not be given to other riders who finished on the podium, such was the level of doping during Armstrong's era.
The agency said 20 of the 21 riders on the podium in the Tour from 1999 through 2005 have been "directly tied to likely doping through admissions, sanctions, public investigations" or other means. It added that of the 45 riders on the podium between 1996 and 2010, 36 were by cyclists "similarly tainted by doping."
The world's most famous cyclist could still face further sports sanctions and legal challenges. Armstrong could lose his 2000 Olympic time-trial bronze medal and may be targeted with civil lawsuits from ex-sponsors or even the U.S. government. (let's just leave it at that)
In total, 26 people -- including 15 riders -- testified that Armstrong and his teams used and trafficked banned substances and routinely used blood transfusions. Among the witnesses were loyal sidekick George Hincapie and convicted dopers Tyler Hamilton and Floyd Landis.
USADA's case also implicated Italian sports doctor Michele Ferrari, depicted as the architect of doping programs, and longtime coach and team manager Bruyneel.
Ferrari -- who has been targeted in an Italian prosecutor's probe -- and another medical official, Dr. Luis Garcia del Moral, received lifetime bans.
Bruyneel, team doctor Pedro Celaya and trainer Jose "Pepe" Marti opted to take their cases to arbitration with USADA. The agency could call Armstrong as a witness at those hearings.
Bruyneel, a Belgian former Tour de France rider, lost his job last week as manager of the RadioShack-Nissan Trek team which Armstrong helped found to ride for in the 2010 season.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.


Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2012/10/22/decision-day-for-lance-armstrong/#ixzz2A2eHDkHc





My personal opinion on this story is that they should not be going after armstrong. he has been taking drug tests for years and tey are just now finding drugs in his systema nd saying there was drugs in his system now? how can there be they have proof and facts that drugs were not in armstrongs system. did armstrong begin using drugs? maybe recently since they are just now fiding it out and he doesn't want to argue the case, why not take up for yourself if its a lie? i would. all these riders that rode with armstrong are all the sudden against him when they are accused of using drugs but saying armstrong pushed the drugs on them. they are grown adults they can make there own decisions and should be stripped of the metals just as armstrong has been because they are just as guilty of suing drugs. i think armstrong is a very strong positive person and he should not be looked down apon because of this. he has had testicukar cancer that spread to his lungs and brain, so maybe them drugs being picked up is drugs to prevent his cancer from returning. either way whether armstrong was using or not he is still a great guy and should not be looked down apon. he's a great athletic figure and deffiantly an inspiration to others how have cancer that is spreading through out there body.

Gary Ragovin

 



Jan. 6, 2012, 4:09 p.m.

By SchoolBook

A recent study by economists at Harvard and Columbia showed that good teachers have a big effect on students’ lives beyond academics, in areas as varied as teenage-pregnancy and adult earnings. An article about the study, which appeared in The Times, said the researchers tracked 2.5 million students over 20 years. Reading about the study reminded Scott Menscher, journalism teacher at Edward R. Murrow High School, that last spring his own students also wanted to find out what defined a good teacher. “Our students went out and asked other students to talk about who they thought the best teachers were and why,” he said. “We wanted to find out why these teachers were successful.” Here is the report they wrote for the Murrow Network, published in April. It has been lightly edited.
By Melissa Kramer and Samantha Birns
Editors in Chief
Everyone has an opinion about what makes a good teacher — parents, the government, the mayor and other politicians. We decided to ask students at Edward R. Murrow High School what they think defines a good teacher.
What we found is that there’s more to a teacher than a test score, students told us when we approached about 100 of them in the hallways last spring with a list of questions that they filled out on the spot.
One of the things we asked them was for them to tell us what teacher they had liked best and why. The name of Gary Ragovin, a communication arts teacher, came up most often.
“He doesn’t follow the typical teaching structure,” said Dareen Generoso, a student. “It’s more interesting. His lessons are more realistic. During most lessons, we discuss personal goals and analyze ourselves.”
The Network was trying to pinpoint what qualities students like in a teacher and which methods motivate students to learn.
In an era where politicians are clamoring for teacher accountability through a series of standardized test, the newspaper is interested in what makes an effective teacher.
“I teach them about life. About what’s real. And I teach them about themselves,” said Mr. Ragovin. “If I’m not enjoying what I am teaching students, they’re not going to like what they learn.”
The survey indicated that teachers with 10 or more years of experience use methods that inspire students to learn, sometimes better than a younger, newer teacher might.
When asked, students said they enjoyed the class more if the subject was interesting and a funny teacher motivated them to do well in class.
That seems to be the case for Louis Frederick, a Communication Arts teacher, who students say often made literature fun.
“He’s very witty and intelligent,” said sophomore Eli Medina “I like how he keeps the class fun but keeps you thinking, too.”
Of course, students also praise Mr. Frederick for being “mad stupid deep.”
“He makes you think hard and outside the box,” said Mr. Medina.
According to the survey, Christine Hantzopulos, a Spanish teacher, also was highly effective. Her students commended her ability to relate her lessons to real life and use original techniques such as song-writing to make the learning process easier.
“She acts like a young person, not like an old person like the other teachers,” said junior Sasha Long. “She gives me good advice, and I enjoy going to her class all the time.”
Social studies teachers Ryan Mills, Erin Hanley, and Raluca Albu, as well as science teacher Joan Clemente, were also mentioned. Their students say that these individuals are fine educators because they are always prepared for their lessons and make sure that students understand the material.
“Ms. Clemente is a persistent teacher. Her lessons are always well-organized and clear” said student Ailana Musawa. “Somehow she notices everything that’s going on in the classroom and makes sure you’re trying.”
Of course, there are other factors that contribute to students’ opinions of a teacher.
“His beard,” said student Talha Naeem of favorite teacher Mr. Mills. “He also puts a lot of thought into his lessons and they’re very creative.”



my opinion..
as kids are going through school we have alot of distractions so it takes a good teacher to keep a student focused in class. in the article a good teacher is someone that relates class topics to real life situations, who is outgoing and fun to have as teacher. the only thing i would want to add in my opinion is that having a teacher that realizes students with different learning abilities and tries to look at class topics in differemt views to help all types of students that she/he will encounter; some kids learn thinking on a higher scale and some kids learn thinking more of an adolesence and i love when a teacher uses different examples and is able to help everyone at one time. being what is considered a "good teacher" by students is what makes a difference in schools because the government has a differemt opinion they look at test scores, well im sorry to say but its not all about test scores. some kids are just simply bad test takers because of anxiety or other disibilities such as ADHD. kids learn best when they can get along with a teacher and a teacher uses topics in a class that relates to what most teans experience. so that is what makes a good teacher to me and i agree with this article completely, they used multiple students in one school and had a good little study of what students consider a "good teacher"

By DR. JULIELYNN WONG, ABC News Medical Unit

Sept. 18, 2012

Just 20 minutes of exercise a day can protect kids from diabetes, according to a new study.
This clinical trial, published Tuesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association, randomly assigned 222 overweight, inactive kids to one of three activity groups for 13 weeks.
The first two groups underwent 20 or 40 minutes of daily aerobic exercise in an after-school program. The third group went about their usual routines.
The researchers found that 20 minutes of exercise for just a few months was helpful compared to no exercise at all, said the lead author of the study, Catherine L. Davis, a professor of pediatrics at the Medical College of Georgia.
Those kids who were active for just 20 minutes a day were more fit, had less body fat, and had better markers for diabetes risk when compared to kids who weren't active.
The authors also found that health effects of exercise were the same for boys and girls and for different races.
Predictably enough, the study also found that more exercise is better. Kids who exercised longer had even less body fat and better values for markers of diabetes risk.
What was surprising is that these benefits occurred even without changing what kids ate.
"This study helps to isolate the benefit of exercise in cutting down on diabetes risk and obesity in kids," said study co-author, Dr. B. Adam Dennis, an endocrinology fellow at Georgia Health Sciences University in Augusta, Ga.
More research is needed to see if these results last, caution the researchers.
Dr. David L. Katz, editor-in-chief of the journal Childhood Obesity, said the study shows "even a little bit of physical activity might be the difference between a child developing diabetes or not." Katz was not involved with the study.
These findings could help policymakers when it comes to redesigning physical activity opportunities at the local, national, and global level.
"I hope these findings will provide an impetus for changes in communities around the U.S. and the rest of the world that will focus attention on children's health," Davis said. "This can be done by providing welcoming, safe physical activity programs for children of all skill levels."
This school-based study suggests that the "physical" may need to be put back into "education." Davis suggested that schools are a natural focus for exercise programs. While the creation of after-school exercise programs might be necessary to ensure 40 minutes of daily exercise, she said, 20 minutes a day of exercise can be achieved during regular school activities, like recess and gym class. She added that exercise is not just useful in cutting back diabetes risk and obesity, but it is also good for kids' brains. She cited a related study that showed that exercise improved cognition and math skills in kids.
Short exercise breaks in the classroom can easily be included during the school day, said Katz, who is also the co-creator of an in-class exercise program that offers online, free resources for educators.
This study had an unusually low drop-out rate -- perhaps because the activities were simple, fun, and appealing to kids of all athletic abilities, Davis said. The researchers also used low-cost prizes to reward kids for effort rather than performance.
"We purposely de-emphasized performance," said Davis, adding that it didn't really matter if they got the ball in the hoop as long as they achieved their target heart rate.
Their findings have important implications for designing school exercise programs in the future, she said, because many other programs tend to weed out less physically skilled kids and focus on a smaller group of more athletic kids.
One-third of American elementary school kids are overweight or obese, according to 2008 statistics from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Type 2 diabetes is one of the most deadly and devastating consequences of obesity -- hence the importance of finding out how much exercise kids should get in order to prevent it.
Katz said the study shows that when it comes to how much exercise is helpful in cutting diabetes risk, "some is better none; more is better than some."


my personal opinion is that i totally agree with kids having diabetes these days because obesity is a growing matter and exercising 20 minutes a day can be such a help with a persons health no matter what the disease is. i also like the fact that the program offered simple, fun and appealing activities for kids with different types of disabilities and having small prizes to encourage the kids to do their best. One thing i thought very interesting is that the group that worked out 20 minutes a day was more in shape and has less body fat than the kids that worked out 30-40 minutes a day. it is a very nice organization they have for helping kids with diseases fight them or prevent them. obesity and diabetes is a lot more important than people think and can be very life threatening if not dealt with the correct  way.