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Nearly half of adults now live with heart disease as obesity and diabetes surge

The 2026 American Heart Association Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics report shows that nearly half of adults are living with cardiovascular disease, with cardiometabolic risk factors projected to rise substantially by 2050. Despite progress in smoking reduction and cholesterol control, worsening obesity, diabetes, hypertension, sleep health, and persistent inequities threaten future cardiovascular health.

22 Jan 2026

GLP-1 weight-loss drugs show early promise for treating addiction

This systematic review evaluates preclinical and clinical evidence on glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists as potential treatments for substance use disorders. Findings show consistent reductions in drug- and alcohol-seeking behaviors in animal models, while human evidence remains limited, heterogeneous, and preliminary.

21 Jan 2026

Tracing the decline in American heart disease mortality

Following a five-year upward trend likely impacted by the COVID pandemic, the number of heart disease and stroke deaths has declined, yet, heart disease and stroke still kill more people in the U.S. each year than any other cause, according to data reported in the 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics: A Report of U.S. and Global Data From the American Heart Association.

21 Jan 2026

Expanded school tobacco prevention in California is linked to lower youth vaping and smoking

A statewide evaluation found that California schools receiving TUPE funding delivered more antitobacco education and activities and reported lower student tobacco use than non-funded schools. The association was driven mainly by reduced vaping, within a broader environment of strong statewide tobacco control.

18 Jan 2026

Smoking cessation apps can boost quit rates, especially alongside medication

Smartphone apps show promise in smoking cessation, outperforming minimal support and enhancing traditional interventions, according to a recent meta-analysis.

16 Jan 2026

Folate deficiency drives genetic changes linked to lung cancer

Genetic alterations lie at the heart of cancer development, but scientists may have been overlooking a powerful driver of these changes—the everyday nutrients that feed our cells.

18 Dec 2025

Cannabis and nicotine co-use is widespread among young adults

Simultaneous use of cannabis with nicotine and tobacco products is common among cannabis users-particularly those who vape-according to a new study from Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health.

16 Dec 2025

E-cigarette use is linked to higher heart attack risk, especially in former smokers

This systematic review and meta-analysis examined whether electronic cigarette use is associated with myocardial infarction and stroke, synthesizing evidence from 12 observational studies. The analysis found higher odds of myocardial infarction among e-cigarette users, particularly former smokers, while no significant associations were observed among exclusive never-smokers.

14 Dec 2025

Study reveals how brain protein KCC2 influences reward learning

A new finding from researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center shows that the learning process of associating cues with rewards can be altered by increased or decreased activity of a specific protein in the brain.

9 Dec 2025

Understanding the heterogeneity in nicotine, tobacco, and cannabis use among young Americans

Young Americans use nicotine, tobacco and cannabis in multiple ways, but smoking those items––the most dangerous method––is still involved for most users, a new University of Michigan study found.

8 Dec 2025

Smoking fewer cigarettes does not eliminate cardiovascular disease risk

In a study funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, new research from Johns Hopkins Medicine adds to existing evidence that smoking fewer cigarettes does not eliminate cardiovascular disease risk, and quitting entirely is the most effective strategy for improving health.

5 Dec 2025

Study suggests cannabis may temporarily curb alcohol consumption

The "California sober" trend, which involves ditching alcohol in favor of cannabis, is gaining momentum, spreading from Hollywood to health influencers to homes across America.

21 Nov 2025

Even one cigarette a day harms the heart at every level

Smoking elevates heart disease and mortality risks. Cessation initiates a powerful recovery, reducing risks significantly within two decades.

21 Nov 2025

Study finds people with type 1 diabetes have higher bladder cancer risk

People with type 1 diabetes (previously called juvenile diabetes) are 4.29 times more likely to develop bladder cancer, according to a systematic review and meta-analysis by researchers at the Keck School of Medicine of USC.

19 Nov 2025

Even minimal cigarette use significantly increases heart disease and mortality risk

Smoking even 2-5 cigarettes a day can more than double your risk of any type of heart disease and raise your risk of death from any cause by 60% compared to people who never smoked, according to new research supported by the American Heart Association's Tobacco Center for Regulatory Science and published in PLOS Medicine.

19 Nov 2025

Analysis finds even low-intensity smokers have higher risk of heart disease and death

An analysis of data from almost two dozen long-term studies finds that even low-intensity smokers have a substantially higher risk of heart disease and death compared to people who never smoked, even years after they quit.

18 Nov 2025

ADHD symptoms linked to earlier substance use in young sexual minority men

Young sexual minority men – a term used to describe gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men – with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms are more likely to begin using substances such as cigarettes, alcohol, cannabis, stimulants and illicit drugs at an earlier age, according to Rutgers Health researchers.

13 Nov 2025

Rising youth e-cigarette use threatens children’s health and human rights

Exposing children to e-cigarettes compromises their human rights. These products should be regulated in a way that puts children's best interests first and protects them from the harms associated with nicotine consumption in all its forms, argue experts in The BMJ today.

12 Nov 2025

American Cancer Society releases first-ever U.S. Tobacco Atlas

The American Cancer Society (ACS) today announced the inaugural release of The U.S. Tobacco Atlas, a fact-based, digital scientific resource offering comprehensive data and insights on tobacco use, control policies, and their impact nationwide. The report notes that cigarette smoking among U.S. adults dropped from 42% in 1965 to 11% in 2023.

6 Nov 2025

Heated tobacco and cigarettes cause the same gut and vascular damage, study finds

Italian researchers found that both heated tobacco products (HTPs) and conventional cigarettes trigger oxidative stress, endotoxemia, and gut barrier disruption in adults and children. The findings challenge the perception that HTPs are a safer alternative to smoking.

3 Nov 2025