Facts on File Encyclopedia of Health and Medicine

more than 25 cigarettes a day generally benefit more from a structured smoking cessation pro- gram with ongoing support and enco ...

T–U tobacco use other than smoking Forms of tobacco such as chewing tobacco and smoking cigars. Tobacco use other than cigarette ...

LUNGS, raising the risk for atherosclerosis and CAD with prolonged use. As well, smokeless tobacco contains carcinogens that rel ...

W waist circumference The distance measured around the waist. Doctors define the waist as the imaginary line that circles the bo ...

See also ABDOMINAL ADIPOSITY; BODY MASS INDEX (BMI); BODY SHAPE AND CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE; UPPER ARM CIRCUMFERENCE. weight loss ...

Bariatric surgeryWeight loss surgery is a dras- tic measure that becomes a treatment option when an individual’s weight exceeds ...

This section, “Substance Abuse,” presents an overview discussion of the health implications of substance abuse and alcoholism an ...

Often the break from the addictive behaviors occurs as a consequence of intervention, either by family members and friends or th ...

(FAS) is the most severe complication of maternal alcohol use during pregnancy. FAS may involve significant physical BIRTH DEFEC ...

A addiction A pattern of lifestyle that revolves around obtaining and using drugs. The behaviors of this pattern are compulsive ...

well as address the physiologic and psychologic aspects of the substances to which the person has addictions. In the short term, ...

health and social problem. In the United States, alcohol is a factor in more than one third of MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS. Long-ter ...

sense of relaxation and calmness. At the same time alcohol increases the presence of dopamine, resulting in feelings of pleasure ...

leading health problem in the United States. Sec- ondary to alcoholism is a high risk for LIVERdis- ease. Because it metabolizes ...

onslaught of hepatotoxic drugs and alcohol may overwhelm its renewal mechanisms. Alcohol is a potent hepatotoxin; it is a poison ...

diagnosis on the basis of the aggregate findings, including the best determination of the person’s drinking patterns and history ...

changes in the function of the IMMUNE SYSTEMthat may make users more susceptible to INFECTION. See also CLUB DRUGS; CORONARY ART ...

Therapeutic uses for anabolic androgenic steroids include treatment for certain kinds of BREAST CANCER and TESTICULAR CANCER, an ...

B barbiturates DRUGSthat depress the functions of the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM. Barbiturates are SCHEDULED DRUGSin the United Stat ...

brain that causes erratic and extreme NERVOUS SYS- TEMresponses affecting brain function as well as vital functions such as regu ...