Quitting Smoking Great for Your Heart - And Wallet

According to a recent study by the University of Wisconsin's Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention, the cost of smoking cessation pales in comparison to the annual impact of cigarettes on your bank account. Oh yeah, and did we mention that smoking is horrible for you and causes lung cancer, coronary artery disease, impotence and peripheral artery disease?

The average cost of a pack of smokes is $5.51, which amounts to about $2,000 per year if you're anywhere close to a pack per day. If you're  living in one of the many places that has taxed cigarettes, then you are paying almost double that. A brief search on Expedia.com shows you that this is more than enough to take your spouse/friend/co-quitter with you on a Caribbean cruise on any major cruiseline. Hmmm, smell like smoke, increase my chance of multiple diseases or take a Caribbean cruise and improve my overall health substantially? It's a tough one.

Free Quitting Resources:

• Call the toll-free number (800) QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669)
• Smokefree.gov, a Department of Health and Human Services website.

More resources and the full body of the news article can be found by clicking here.

Look Out Coumadin, Something Better is Finally Here

 Late Tuesday, Boehringer Ingelheim announced that the US FDA has approved dabigatran (Pradaxa) for the prevention of stroke and systemic embolism in patients with atrial fibrillation.

The drug will be available in two doses: 150 mg twice daily and, for a small subset with severe renal impairment, 75 mg twice daily. Debates about the approved dosing have already begun

"Unlike warfarin, which requires patients to undergo periodic monitoring with blood tests, such monitoring is not necessary for Pradaxa," the director of the FDA's Division of Cardiovascular and Renal Products said in an FDA news release.

The drug, a direct thrombin inhibitor, will come with a medication guide to warn patients of the potential for serious bleeding. Other side effects include gastrointestinal symptoms.

No more INR checks! No more alternating dosages. One pill, one dose, no monitoring. Management of atrial fibrillation in this country is about to change.