A recent study published in the health journal Respirology showed that those who use hookahs for tobacco are at the same risk as those who smoke cigarettes.

Nearly one-quarter of those who smoked out of hookahs experienced wheezing, which was only slightly less than those who smoked cigarettes, the study noted. Chest tightness occurred in 40 percent of cigarette smokers, as well as 37 percent of hookah smokers. Coughing occurred for one in five hookah users, while cigarette users experienced it 37 percent of the time.

"Our findings reveal that there were profound effects of water pipe smoking on lung function values, which were similar to the effects observed in deep-inhalation cigarette smokers," said Dr. Mohammad Hossein Boskabady, of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences.

Consumers who are ready to quit smoking and need tips to do it, may want to look to a physician or other medical professional for help. If their health insurance policy prevents them from affordable visits to the doctor, it may benefit them to look at other health insurance quotes online.

Data from the state of New York shows that some residents of New York City may face yearly health insurance cost increases of approximately $100,000 each year.

One HMO plan offered in the city costs as much as $8,463 per family per month, which would be nearly $102,000, according to the New York Daily News, citing the data. However, the least expensive family plan is still more than $4,500 per month, which factors out to a level that is higher than most annual salaries for residents. There are seven HMOs in the area, but only one of these decided to raise costs by more than 10 percent in the past 12 months.

"I'm speechless," Russell Haven, member of the New York Public Interest Research Group, told the newspaper. "It's astronomically expensive and puts health care out of the reach for all but the wealthiest New Yorkers."

With the possibilities of significant spikes in healthcare costs, some consumers may want to look for more affordable health insurance rates. This may be easier by checking online and comparing multiple health insurance quotes.

A report from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration explained that people working in nursing homes or other related healthcare environments have a higher likelihood to get hurt on the job than in other private company types.

Overall, these health-related employees have to call out of work due to injury more than twice the amount of others, OSHA explained. The problem is mainly due to falling or slipping in the workplace. This is also the second-most frequent cause of accidental death in any private employment setting.

"[Nursing home and residential care workers] have dedicated their lives to caring for our loved ones when they are not well," Dr. David Michaels, assistant secretary of Labor for OSHA. "It is not acceptable that they continue to get hurt at such high rates."

Consumers working in such atmospheres may have heightened concern about their health. If their place of employment does not offer a sufficient healthcare policy, it may benefit these people to seek out options. This can be made easier by comparing health insurance quotes.

A report from Towers Watson showed that despite healthcare prices expected to rise when the Affordable Care Act takes effect in 2014, the majority of employers plan to keep some type of health insurance offering.

Of the 440 medium-sized to large companies surveyed, nearly 90 percent noted they will retain health benefits for their employees, the report explained. Healthcare costs should rise by 5.3 percent next year. While this is still lower than this year's figure of 5.9 percent, the continued increases may force nearly 60 percent to receive the excise tax by 2018.

"These changes will have a profound impact on the way healthcare is delivered and how many individuals acquire health insurance, most notably retirees," said Ron Fontanetta, senior healthcare consulting leader at Towers Watson.

With the increasing prices of healthcare policies for businesses, many consumers concerned about their own rising costs may benefit from exploring private options. With many types of health insurance quotes available, checking to see if there is a better option may benefit some people.

A study from Silvia Bilbao, cancer researcher from the University of Minnesota, revealed that alcohol can cause cancer.

The link between alcohol and cancer has been a topic for decades, but Bilbao's research explained that their is a presence of acetaldehyde after the body breaks down alcoholic beverages, according to Medical Daily, citing the study. The carcinogen is in the same family as formaldehyde, which is a well-known cancer-causing agent.

The carcinogen connects to DNA and these adducts multiply significantly with continued alcohol usage, the study explained. However, because of the body's resilience, many drinkers who do not consume alcohol frequently are able to change acetaldehyde into acetate, which does not cause cancer. This ability is not available in everyone, as some races such as Asians and Native Americans have sizable populations that are not able to change the substance to acetate.

If a person is concerned about their alcohol consumption leading to major health complications, looking to resources that specialize in quitting may be beneficial. However, it may be wise to look for an affordable health insurance plan, as this could make paying for such care easier.