Publications by authors named "Mary Rezk-Hanna"

Article Synopsis
  • Smokeless oral nicotine products are addictive and can negatively impact cardiovascular health, particularly in individuals with pre-existing heart or cerebrovascular conditions, and can also increase the risk of oral cancer depending on their chemical composition.
  • The market for these products has rapidly expanded since the last American Heart Association policy, particularly with the rise of tobacco-free oral nicotine pouches, but their health effects remain unstudied.
  • There is a need for strong public policies to help end tobacco addiction, focusing on preventing initiation and promoting cessation through established treatment options.
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Article Synopsis
  • The study investigates the levels of knowledge, awareness, and behavior change regarding cardiovascular disease (CVD) among women aged 25-55, highlighting an increase in risk factors in this demographic despite low awareness.
  • Using an online survey of 149 predominantly minority women, the research examines how perceptions of CVD susceptibility and severity affect intentions to change health behavior.
  • Findings suggest that women who feel at risk for CVD but do not view it as severe are more likely to want to change their behavior, indicating that improving perceptions may be key to reducing risk factors.
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Waterpipe tobacco (WPT) smoking is a public health concern, particularly among youth and young adults. The global spread of WPT use has surged because the introduction of pre-packaged flavored and sweetened WPT, which is widely marketed as a safer tobacco alternative. Besides flavorants and sugars, WPT additives include humectants, which enhance the moisture and sweetness of WPT, act as solvents for flavors, and impart smoothness to the smoke, thus increasing appeal to users.

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Article Synopsis
  • * The AHA conducts continuous monitoring of heart disease and stroke data globally, culminating in an annual Statistical Update that relies on extensive collaboration from clinicians, scientists, and public health professionals.
  • * The 2024 update emphasizes the impact of structural racism on health disparities and includes global data and insights on cardiovascular health benefits, highlighting the commitment to addressing these public health issues.
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Vaping has risen substantially in recent years, particularly among young adults. Electronic (e-) hookahs are a newer category of vaping devices touted as safer tobacco alternatives. Although e-hookah vaping acutely reduces endothelial function, the role of nicotine and the mechanisms by which it may impair endothelial function remain understudied.

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Hookah smoking has grown to become a global tobacco epidemic. While cigarette smoking is a well-established cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factor, the CVD risks of hookah smoking are unknown, particularly among regular U.S.

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Vaping and electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use have grown exponentially in the past decade, particularly among youth and young adults. Cigarette smoking is a risk factor for both cardiovascular and pulmonary disease. Because of their more limited ingredients and the absence of combustion, e-cigarettes and vaping products are often touted as safer alternative and potential tobacco-cessation products.

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Introduction: The vaping epidemic in the US has been largely attributed to the emergence of pod-based e-cigarette devices. While these devices continue to be promoted as alternatives to cigarettes, their impact on cardiovascular and behavioral outcomes remains incompletely understood. This study assessed the impact of pod-based e-cigarettes on peripheral and cerebral vascular function, along with subjective experiences among adult cigarette smokers.

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Background: The American Heart Association, in conjunction with the National Institutes of Health, annually reports the most up-to-date statistics related to heart disease, stroke, and cardiovascular risk factors, including core health behaviors (smoking, physical activity, diet, and weight) and health factors (cholesterol, blood pressure, and glucose control) that contribute to cardiovascular health. The Statistical Update presents the latest data on a range of major clinical heart and circulatory disease conditions (including stroke, congenital heart disease, rhythm disorders, subclinical atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, heart failure, valvular disease, venous disease, and peripheral artery disease) and the associated outcomes (including quality of care, procedures, and economic costs).

Methods: The American Heart Association, through its Epidemiology and Prevention Statistics Committee, continuously monitors and evaluates sources of data on heart disease and stroke in the United States to provide the most current information available in the annual Statistical Update with review of published literature through the year before writing.

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Hypertension is a key driver of cardiovascular diseases. However, how stressors contribute to the development of hypertension remains unclear. The objective of this study was to examine prospective associations of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and adulthood psychosocial disadvantages (APDs) with incident hypertension.

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Objective: During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), individuals' compliance with protective behaviors was the most effective strategy to break the infection chain and prevent disease spread, even with vaccine availability and use. Understanding protective behaviors within the Jordanian context will shape health promotion campaigns and guide decision-makers to facilitate required resources and support Jordanian citizens. The objective of this study was to identify personal protective (preventive and avoidant) measures used by the Jordanian population during the COVID-19 pandemic to protect themselves from infection.

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Background: The American Heart Association, in conjunction with the National Institutes of Health, annually reports the most up-to-date statistics related to heart disease, stroke, and cardiovascular risk factors, including core health behaviors (smoking, physical activity, diet, and weight) and health factors (cholesterol, blood pressure, and glucose control) that contribute to cardiovascular health. The Statistical Update presents the latest data on a range of major clinical heart and circulatory disease conditions (including stroke, congenital heart disease, rhythm disorders, subclinical atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, heart failure, valvular disease, venous disease, and peripheral artery disease) and the associated outcomes (including quality of care, procedures, and economic costs).

Methods: The American Heart Association, through its Statistics Committee, continuously monitors and evaluates sources of data on heart disease and stroke in the United States to provide the most current information available in the annual Statistical Update.

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Introduction: Cigarette smoking is strongly associated with the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, evidence is limited as to whether smokeless tobacco (ST) use is associated with CVD.

Aims And Methods: Using data from 4347 adults in the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study (2013-2014), we compared geometric mean concentrations of CVD-related harm biomarkers and biomarkers of exposure among exclusive ST users and exclusive cigarette smokers-in relation to recent nicotine exposure-and never tobacco users, adjusting for age, sex, race/ethnicity, income, body mass index, and CVD.

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Background: Traditional hookah smoking has grown quickly to become a global tobacco epidemic. More recently, electronic hookahs (e-hookahs)-vaped through traditional water pipes-were introduced as healthier alternatives to combustible hookah. With combustible tobacco smoking, oxidative stress, inflammation, and vascular stiffness are key components in the development and progression of atherosclerosis.

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Article Synopsis
  • E-hookah vaping is popular among youth, but it produces harmful aerosols containing nicotine and oxidants that can damage blood vessels and reduce nitric oxide function.
  • A study on young adult habitual hookah smokers showed that a 30-minute e-hookah session significantly decreased endothelial function, measured by reduced brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD), and increased plasma nicotine levels.
  • Infusing the antioxidant ascorbic acid improved FMD and counteracted the negative effects of e-hookah vaping, suggesting that oxidative stress plays a critical role in the vascular impairment associated with vaping.
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Introduction: There is a tendency of waterpipe smokers to advance their practice toward concurrent use (poly-tobacco use) of other tobacco products and nicotine delivery systems. This study investigated poly-tobacco use among waterpipe smokers, and its effect on their quit intention.

Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional design was utilized to recruit a convenience sample of university students who used waterpipe in three East Mediterranean countries.

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Hookah (waterpipe) smoking is a growing tobacco epidemic. Though perceived as a safer tobacco alternative, hookah smoke contains, in addition to tobacco combustion products, large amounts of charcoal combustion products-implicated in cardiovascular disease-from the burning charcoal used to heat the flavored tobacco. To date, little is known on the vascular effects of hookah smoking.

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Introduction: ENDS are evolving quickly with increasing use in the U.S. More recently, e-hookahs have been introduced as healthier alternatives to the traditional hookah-flavored tobacco smoking.

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Background: Europe continues to have among the highest worldwide prevalence of adult smoking (28%) and the highest among females (19%). Nurses' rates of smoking in the region are comparable or higher than the general female population. Nurses who smoke are less likely to intervene with patients who smoke; therefore, supporting nurses' efforts to quit is critical to promoting nurses' well-being and strengthening the profession's impact on prevention of tobacco-induced diseases.

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Tobacco smoking with a water pipe or hookah is increasing globally. There are millions of water pipe tobacco smokers worldwide, and in the United States, water pipe use is more common among youth and young adults than among adults. The spread of water pipe tobacco smoking has been abetted by the marketing of flavored tobacco, a social media environment that promotes water pipe smoking, and misperceptions about the addictive potential and potential adverse health effects of this form of tobacco use.

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Article Synopsis
  • Hookah smoking, often seen as a safer alternative to cigarettes, actually delivers tobacco toxins and harmful charcoal combustion products that can impair blood vessel function.
  • A study involving young adult hookah smokers measured changes in nicotine levels, exhaled carbon monoxide (CO), and artery dilation before and after smoking with both charcoal and electric heat sources.
  • Results showed that while nicotine levels rose similarly across all methods, smoking charcoal-heated hookah significantly increased CO levels and improved artery dilation, unlike electrically heated hookah and cigarette smoking, which both reduced artery function.
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Hookah (waterpipe) smoking is rapidly increasing in popularity worldwide. Despite being heavily advertised in the media as a healthier alternative to cigarettes, the toxicology of hookah smoke suggest otherwise. Cigarette smoking unequivocally causes an acute increase in arterial stiffness, but whether hookah does the same is unknown.

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