A new study published in PLOS Medicine has revealed that smoking just two to five cigarettes a day can more than double the risk of heart disease and increase the risk of death by 60% compared to non-smokers. Conducted by the American Heart Association’s Tobacco Regulation and Addiction Center, the research analyzed data from over 320,000 adults, showing that even low levels of smoking can cause significant cardiovascular damage.
The study highlights that only complete cessation of smoking can reverse these health risks. While quitting smoking greatly reduces health risks within the first 10 years, it may take 30 years or more for former smokers’ health risks to match those of non-smokers. The research emphasizes that any level of smoking is harmful and that the primary public health message for current smokers should be early cessation rather than reducing the amount smoked.
Researchers noted that quitting smoking completely leads to substantial health improvements, with former smokers seeing major benefits after 10 years. However, the damage from smoking can take a long time to fully reverse. The study also points out that the stigma attached to smoking could lead to underreporting of smoking habits, particularly among women, which may affect the accuracy of the findings. Additionally, the researchers did not include data on e-cigarettes or other tobacco products in their analysis.
The findings challenge the long-held belief that smoking less means less harm. The American Heart Association’s Tobacco Regulation and Addiction Center has issued a press release stating that even minimal smoking significantly increases the risk of heart disease and early death. The study’s authors recommend that the primary public health message for current smokers is to quit entirely rather than reducing their cigarette intake.
While the study’s results are concerning, the researchers also noted the limitations of their findings, including the self-reported nature of smoking habits and the exclusion of data on e-cigarettes and other tobacco products. Nevertheless, the study underscores the severe health risks associated with any level of smoking and reinforces the need for comprehensive smoking cessation efforts.
As the research highlights, the only safe level of smoking is not smoking at all. Public health officials and medical professionals are emphasizing the importance of quitting smoking entirely to mitigate the significant cardiovascular damages caused by even minimal smoking. The study serves as a wake-up call for smokers worldwide, reinforcing the urgency of quitting smoking to protect heart health and reduce the risk of life-threatening conditions.