More Research On the Dangers Of “Light” Smoking

A new study conducted by Tobacco Control researchers has revealed that even “light” smoking of just several cigarettes a day can be very dangerous for the heart and lung health. According to the scientists, if you puff daily from one to four “lung rockets”, and especially if you are a woman, you almost triple your chances of contracting lung cancer and cardiovascular disease! This new discovery confirms the fact that the best protection against lung cancer and heart attack is not to smoke at all.

The study has shown that the risk of getting lung cancer and heart attack is considerably higher not only in heavy smokers, but in light smokers, as well. Smoking less will definitely NOT protect you from smoking-induced diseases, as many people believe.

Within the period of more than 30 years, the scientists were monitoring both the health status and death rates of 43,000 male and female participants aged from 35 to 49 years old, both smokers and non-smokers. At the beginning of the clinical trial, all subjects were screened for the presence of diabetes, cancer, and heart disease. Their smoking habits were closely monitored and documented during the entire study.

The results have revealed that, overtime, a large proportion of light smokers tend to increase the daily amount of smoked cigarettes to about nine a day. However, many light smokers also tend to quit their unhealthy habit.

Assessing the risk factors associated with all levels of smoking, both light and heavy, the scientists have arrived to the conclusion that even smoking up to four cigarettes a day imposes a significant risk onto the smoker’s health. Compared to non-smokers, light smokers almost triple their chances of contracting lung cancer and coronary artery disease. In addition, they run an elevated risk of dying from heart attack and other diseases. In fact, light female smokers run almost a  FIVE-FOLD risk of dying from lung cancer than non-smoking women, while light male smokers are three times as likely to succumb to the disease than non-smoking men.

In addition, those who smoke just under four cigarettes a day are 1,5 times more likely to die from other causes than non-smokers. At that, the death risk is getting significantly elevated with an increase in the daily number of smoked cigarettes.

These new data should become a warning signal for every smoker, even those who think that they “don’t smoke much”. Your health is in your own health! Quit smoking NOW!

Darlene Marlow