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A new study has found that a high waist circumference is strongly associated with decreased lung function independent of smoking history, sex, body mass index (BMI) and other complicating factors.

The study analyzed health information on more that 120,000 people from the Paris Investigations Preventives et Cliniques Center, and assessed demographic background, smoking history, alcohol consumption, as well as lung function, including FEV1 (forced expiratory volume in one second) and FVC (forced vital capacity, or the total expiratory volume) with respect to BMI, waist circumference and other measures of metabolic health.

The results were published in the second issue for March of the American Thoracic Society's American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

"After adjustment for age, sex, BMI, smoking status, alcohol consumption, leisure time physical activity and cardiovascular history, metabolic syndrome remained independently associated with lung function impairment," wrote lead author Natalie Leone, M.D., of French National Institute for Health and Medical Research. "We found a positive independent relationship between lung function impairment and metabolic syndrome due mainly to abdominal obesity."

Abdominal obesity was defined as having a waist circumference of greater than 35 inches for women and 40 inches for men.

The researchers also found a significant interaction between metabolic syndrome and smoking status, with estimated lung function impairment risk in current and former smokers being higher than in those who never smoked.

"Prospective studies are needed to determine the temporal relationship between lung function impairment and metabolic syndrome, including abdominal adiposity in particular. Mechanistic studies are also required to clarify the underlying physiopathological pathways," concluded Dr. Leone.

While more research will undoubtedly shed light on the underlying mechanisms linking abdominal fat to lowered lung function, there is an immediate clinical consideration:

"I believe there is now enough evidence to recommend that waist circumference always be measured before spirometry tests. Abdominal obesity could then be highlighted on the printed report so that the physician interpreting the report could take the effect of obesity into account," wrote Dr. Enright.

Labels: lung dieases, obesity, weight gain

In case you were wondering what Cal Ripken, Jr. has been up to I thought I'd let you know.

Ripken, known as the "Ironman" because of his consecutive games streak, lost his father to lung disease just weeks before Opening Day in 1999. He now makes a strong effort in educating the public about lung cancer and I am extremely thrilled he is doing so.

Last night I was reading stats about cancer research. Brian and I discussed it briefly because I asked him why lung cancer would be getting so little research when it is the leading cause of cancer. He knew immediately the answer was lack of attention due to the lack of funding.

Ripken joined the Lung Cancer Alliance as part of their "The Face in the Fight" campaign, in the beginning of 2007 and renewed his commitment for 2008. "I am proud to work with Lung Cancer Alliance to help reverse the stigma surrounding the disease," said Ripken. "For too long, lung cancer has been ignored and those diagnosed have been blamed. Lung cancer survivors deserve to be treated with compassion and support regardless of their smoking history." Joe Buck and Troy Aikmen are also big parts of the campaign.

While I understand lung cancer may be on of the most preventable types, because well, you can stop smoking or never start smoking, I still don't believe it is right to give the disease less attention for that reason. Having Cal Ripken's name on the bill will hopefully benefit the need for research in this area.

Lung cancer is the number one cancer killer, killing more Americans each year than breast, prostate and colon cancers -- combined. What you might not know and what I didn't know is that 60% of lung cancer patients are people who quit smoking decades ago or never smoked to begin with. That shocked me and I think if more people noted that fact then they would be more apt to pitch in. However, Ripken said it well when he explained these patients should be treated with the same compassion and support regardless of their history.

Click here for a PDF poster to hang up at your place of work or around your local community.

In other related news, Congressman E. Clay Shaw, Jr. has taken the lead on lung cancer in the House of Representatives. He convinced 73 of his colleagues in the House to cosign a letter demanding more lung cancer research funding. To thank Congressman Shaw, a lung cancer survivor, for his hard work and leadership in getting other members of the House to stand up for more research funding for lung cancer please contact him.

By Mail:
The Honorable E. Clay Shaw
U.S. House of Representatives
1236 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515

If your representative is one of the cosigners, thank him or her also.

If your representative is NOT one of the cosigners, you may want to ask if he or she would send a similar letter. To contact your representative simply go to www.house.gov/writerep/ and enter your ZIP code.

Labels: cancer, lung dieases

The other day I heard on the radio that there are certain types of popcorn which have an ingredient that causes lung disease. Immediately I envisioned someone smoking a popcorn stick or a sign in a restaurant saying "No popcorn allowed indoors."

Bronchiolitis obliterans is a form of fixed obstructive lung disease, an irreversible condition which makes it difficult for air to flow out of the lungs.

And it just so happens "A new European study suggests that workers in flavor factories who get excessive exposure to a butter-flavor chemical called diacetyl may be particularly likely to develop bronchiolitis obliterans, or "popcorn workers lung," as the condition is sometimes called."

The study appears in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.


Source

Labels: lung dieases, popcorn