Sugary sodas alone or combined with smoking increase risk of lung disease.

Sugar-sweetened beverages are linked to poor health outcomes such as heart disease and stroke. Researchers in Australia have recently found that sugary drinks are associated with an increased risk of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Though this cross-sectional study does not prove that sodas are the cause of these problems, it does offer some interesting results. Those who drank at least half a liter per day were twice as likely to develop either lung condition (OR 2.33, 95% CI 1.51 to 3.60) compared to those who drank none. Those who drank soda and smoked showed a 6.6 fold increase in risk.

PositiveTip: Sodas are not necessary for human survival. Why are you drinking them?

Pipe and cigar smoking also increases risk of lung disease.

Some smoker's switch to pipe and cigar smoking thinking these are much less risky alternatives to cigarettes. Researchers assessed lung function in 3500 participants that ranged in age from 45 to 84 years. Cigar and pipe smokers who did not smoke cigarettes had 2.3 times the odds of airflow obstruction than never-smokers, while those who smoked cigarettes and pipes and cigars had 3.4 times the odds. This underscores the fact that there is really no safe dose of tobacco smoke.

PositiveTip: There is no better time to quit all forms of tobacco than the present! Explore community resources for quitting.