Evaluation of asthma course in pregnancy

The prevalence of asthma has been rising in recent decades. It is the most common disease among pregnant women and affects ca. 12% of this population. The course of asthma in pregnancy may change. In 1/3 of patients, it worsens; in 1/3 of patients, the symptoms are milder; in 1/3 of patients, it remains unchanged. Well-controlled asthma decreases the risk of pregnancy complications. Uncontrolled and severe asthma increases the risk of congenital malformations and obstetrical complications for both mother and baby. Exacerbations may also contribute to poor pregnancy outcomes. These occur mostly either in the first or in the second trimester. The most common triggers are viral infections and treatment non-compliance. The key to maintaining and gaining control of asthma is active treatment of asthma and its exacerbations

beta-blockers and ACE inhibitors are not a risk factor for severe systemic sting reactions and adverse events during venom immunotherapy

Background There is controversy whether taking beta-blockers or ACE inhibitors (ACEI) is a risk factor for more severe systemic insect sting reactions (SSR) and whether it increases the number or severity of adverse events (AE) during venom immunotherapy (VIT)

Patterns of motivations and ways of quitting smoking among Polish smokers: A questionnaire study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The majority of Polish smokers declare their will to quit smoking and many of them attempt to quit. Although morbidity and mortality from tobacco-related diseases are among the highest in the world, there is a lack of comprehensive cessation support for smokers. We aimed to investigate how Poles, including the medically ill, cope with quitting cigarettes and what their motivations to quit are.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Convenience sampling was used for the purpose of the study. Individuals attending several health care units were screened for a history of quit attempts. Ex-smokers were defined as smoking previously at least one cigarette/day but who have no longer been smoking for at least one month. Attempts at quitting were defined as abstaining from cigarettes for at least one day. Data on socio-demographics, tobacco use, quitting behaviors and reasons to quit from 618 subjects (385 ex- and 233 current smokers) who fulfilled these criteria were collected with the use of a questionnaire. For the comparison of proportions, a chi-square test was used.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In the entire study population, 77% of smokers attempted to quit smoking on their own and a similar proportion of smokers (76%) used the cold turkey method when quitting. Current smokers were more likely than former smokers to use some form of aid (p = 0.0001), mainly nicotine replacement therapy (68%). The most important reasons for quitting smoking were: general health concern (57%), personal health problems (32%) and social reasons (32%). However, 41% of smokers prompted to quitting by personal health problems related to tobacco smoking did not see the link between the two. A small proportion of ex-smokers (3%) abstaining from cigarettes for longer than a year were not confident about their self-efficacy to sustain abstinence further.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The majority of Polish smokers, including patients with tobacco-related diseases, attempt to quit without smoking cessation assistance, thus there is a need for a broader professional help for them. There is also a lack of general information on hazards related to tobacco and further anti-tobacco campaigns in media are needed. Finally, former smokers should be given more attention and periodic inquiries regarding the smoking habit are worthwhile.</p