Category Archives: Women

If you’re a woman who smokes, you could potentially add 10 years to your life by quitting before you hit middle age, according to a new study conducted by researchers at the University of Oxford in the U.K. Women in the quitting smoking benefits study who smoked until reaching middle age, or age 40, were approximately 20% more likely to die than those who never smoked over the 12 years in which the study was conducted. However, women who smoked throughout their entire lives tripled their chances of dying over the same 12-year period. While 10 years might be a surprisingly long extension to one’s life, the benefits of quitting smoking are well documented. Aside from longevity, kicking the habit can greatly reduce the chances of getting cancer, heart disease, and many other conditions affecting the respiratory system.

A new study by Brigham and Women’s Hospital indicates that women may increase their risk of losing hearing if they take acetaminophen (commonly sold as Tylenol) or ibuprofen at least twice per week. Aspirin did not appear to cause these effects. The study also found that the risk of hearing loss became greater as more pain medications were ingested per week. According to the researchers behind the study, the greatest risks are adherent to women who take ibuprofen at least six days per week, as well as women under the age of 50. The results may not come as a huge surprise to some, however, as researchers have previously shown that serious overuse of over-the-counter pain medication can play a part in things as severe as stroke and organ failure. It’s of the utmost importance to take even the most common drugs only as directed.