An Update on Hair Dyes and Nicotine Patch
FIGHT BACK!  BY DAVID HOROWITZ

         An Update on Hair Dyes and Nicotine Patches Over the past
few years, we've heard reports that dying your hair may be
dangerous -- and that it may even cause cancer.  And yet, nearly
one-third of American women color their hair.  Are they risking
their health for fashion? Not according to the American Cancer
Society.  The Cancer Society recently released a study of half a
million women that shows almost no increased risk of cancer from
hair-coloring products.  All those stories about the chemicals in
hair dyes and cancer were apparently based on incomplete research
that simply did not stand up under rigorous, scientific study.
        The Cancer Society's research did not rule out all health
effects from hair dyes.  The ammonia used in some products can
cause a burning irritation to the scalp. And it's still not clear
what effect such chemicals may have on pregnant women ad their
unborn children.  But the risk of cancer seems to be minimal.
        The only correlation between hair color and cancer was a
very slight increased risk in women who colored their hair black
for 20 years or more.  But here again, the risk was so small, many
researchers consider it insignificant.
        Still, hair dyes are complex mixtures of different
chemicals. And different people react to those chemicals in
different ways. So it's a good idea to read labels carefully and
avoid products that cause itching or reddening of the scalp.  ***
        Here's some good news and bad news about nicotine patches:
Surveys by the Fox Chase Cancer Center in Pennsylvania and the
Mayo Clinic show that patients who use the patches are nearly
twice as likely to remain non-smokers than those who quit cold
turkey. The bad news is that too many people receive prescriptions
for nicotine patches without really understanding the risks
involved.
        The Fox Chase survey found that only 54 percent of those
who received nicotine patches through a state-sponsored program
also received written material and advice on using the patch from
their physicians or pharmacists. Forty-seven percent of those
surveyed smoked while using the patch; 20 percent smoked every day.
        This is precisely what doctors are supposed to warn their
nicotine directly into the bloodstream. Smoking at the same time
increases that dose, sometimes to dangerously high levels, which
can cause abdominal pain, vomiting and mental disorientation.
        Smokers should also be told that nicotine patches alone
will not make them quit the habit. The patches must be combined
with a comprehensive stop-smoking program, which will help the
patient change his or her behavior, while the patch helps relieve
the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal.
        Not surprisingly, those who had counseling and support and
who maintained contact with their physicians during treatment had
the greatest success in quitting. Those who managed to refrain
from smoking for the first and most critical two weeks also had a
higher success rate during treatment. On the other side, 90
percent of those who took even one puff on a cigarette during
those two weeks eventually went back to smoking.
        Most smokers have already tried to break their addiction
to tobacco -- and failed. Nicotine patches can help, but they are
not the "magic bullet." Quitting smoking still involves
commitment, determination and a willingness to follow the doctor's
instructions -- to the letter.  COPYRIGHT 1994 CREATORS SYNDICATE,
INC.