Smoking just two cigarettes a day can wreak havoc on your heart, study shows
Even light smoking carries major health dangers. A new study from Johns Hopkins University tracked more than 300000 adults for almost 20 years. Men and women who smoked only two cigarettes per day had a 60% higher risk of death. Their risk of heart disease was 50% higher compared to people who never smoked.
The study appeared in PLOS Medicine on Tuesday. It found that smoking harms blood vessels and speeds the buildup of plaques. Dr Jennifer Miao from Yale University said that tobacco use damages the vessel lining and supports coronary artery disease. It can also cause heart rhythm problems, including atrial fibrillation and stroke.
Quitting helps, but past smokers still showed higher heart disease risk more than 20 years after stopping. Data from the American Lung Association shows that adult smoking dropped from about 42% in 1965 to roughly 12% in 2022. Yet the number of people smoking fewer than 15 cigarettes per day increased by 85% in the same period.
Dr Erfan Tasdighi said Americans should get clear advice to stop smoking completely. Even fewer than one cigarette per day can push heart problems. Miao said that quitting is difficult, and doctors should help patients connect with support programs and therapies.
The benefits of quitting begin right away. The first ten years show the strongest health gains, but full recovery takes time. Tasdighi said that risks drop quickly once a person stops smoking.
Doctors may also need to change the way they ask about smoking. Counting packs per year may not show the real danger for many patients. Smoking intensity and status may give a better picture. No amount of smoking is safe, and quitting remains the strongest step someone can take for better health.
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