Smoking Two Cigarettes Daily Heightens Heart Disease and Mortality Risks by 60%, Study Reveals

A new study published in PLOS Medicine reveals that smoking even two to five cigarettes a day can more than double the risk of heart disease and increase the chance of early death by 60% compared to people who never smoked. This research, led by the American Heart Association’s Tobacco Regulation and Addiction Center, analyzed data from over 320,000 adults across 22 long-term health studies. The findings suggest that low levels of smoking, including just a few cigarettes daily, cause significant cardiovascular damage.

The study challenges the long-held belief that smoking less is less harmful. It found that current smokers have more than double the risk of dying from any cause compared to people who never smoked. Researchers emphasize that quitting smoking greatly reduces health risks, with improvements often visible within 10 years and substantial reductions in risk after about 20 years. However, the damage caused by smoking can take up to 30 years to fully fade, and the health risks for former smokers may not be on par with non-smokers for this extended period.

The study warns that low-intensity smoking is associated with cardiovascular risks, and the primary message for current smokers should be early cessation rather than reducing the number of cigarettes smoked. The researchers also pointed out that smoking habits were self-reported and that the study did not include data on e-cigarettes or other tobacco products, which may limit the findings’ scope.

Key Findings

• Smoking two to five cigarettes daily nearly doubles the risk of heart disease.
• Current smokers have over double the risk of dying from any cause compared to non-smokers.
• Quitting smoking can significantly reduce health risks, with improvements seen within 10 years.
• After about 20 years, former smokers may have more than an 80% lower risk than current smokers.
• Damage caused by smoking can take up to 30 years to fully fade.
• Low-intensity smoking is associated with cardiovascular risk, and the best course of action is complete cessation.

The American Heart Association’s Tobacco Regulation and Addiction Center conducted the study, which aimed to assess the health outcomes of different smoking patterns.

The study’s findings have important implications for public health, particularly in addressing the widespread issue of smoking among adolescents and young adults, as the article also references the growing trend of smoking being seen as ‘cool’ again, especially in Gen Z.

While the study does not include data on e-cigarettes or other tobacco products, it is clear that the health risks of smoking, even in small amounts, are significant. The researchers emphasize that the only safe level of smoking is not smoking at all.

The American Heart Association’s press release highlights the need for early cessation and underscores the importance of public health initiatives aimed at reducing smoking rates, especially among young people who are increasingly exposed to smoking norms through pop culture.

Despite the study’s limitations, including self-reported smoking data and the exclusion of e-cigarette use, the findings provide strong evidence that even minimal smoking poses serious health risks, reinforcing the message that quitting is the only way to reverse these damages.