Even Limited Smoking Dramatically Raises Heart Attack, Death Risk, New Study Finds
Baltimore, MD – Consuming even a small number of cigarettes daily – as few as two – significantly elevates the risk of heart attack and overall mortality, according to research published in PLOS Medicine. The findings, based on analysis of nearly two dozen long-term studies, challenge the notion of a “safe” level of cigarette consumption.
An international research group, led by Michael J. Blaha, a professor of cardiology and epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins Ciccarone Center, evaluated data from over 300,000 participants in the USA and Brazil.Participants were observed for an average of 15 years regarding heart attack risk and approximately 20 years concerning mortality.
The study revealed that individuals smoking two to five cigarettes a day faced a 50% higher risk of heart attack and a 60% increased probability of death from any cause compared to non-smokers. Risks escalated with increased consumption; smoking more than 20 cigarettes daily was linked to an 84% higher risk of heart disease and a threefold increase in mortality. Even smoking one or fewer cigarettes per day was associated with increased risk of most heart diseases and causes of death examined.
Researchers also investigated the impact of smoking cessation, finding the most considerable benefits within the first ten years after quitting. Though, even after 30 years, former smokers exhibited a higher risk than those who had never smoked.
“Even we were surprised at how harmful even small amounts of cigarettes are,” stated Blaha. “the results suggest that no level of smoking is without risk.” The researchers recommend complete smoking cessation rather than reduction.
https://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1004561