Reducing your daily cigarette habit may not be enough to offset its devastating effects on your heart health. Researchers have found that even smoking just a few cigarettes a day significantly increases your risk of developing heart disease, with those who quit late in life still facing a higher mortality rate than non-smokers.
According to the latest study published in PLOS Medicine, individuals who smoke two to five cigarettes per day are twice as likely to develop heart disease compared to people who have never smoked at all. Those who reduce their daily cigarette intake to just five or fewer cigarettes per day, however, face a staggering 60% higher risk of dying from any cause than those who have never lit up.
In fact, it may take as long as 30 years for your body to fully recover from the damage caused by even occasional tobacco use. This is according to Dr. Michael Blaha, one of the lead investigators on the study and an expert with the American Heart Association's Tobacco Center for Regulatory Science.
The findings come at a time when cigarette use is declining in the US, but unfortunately, smoking remains the leading cause of preventable death and disease nationwide. As Dr. Blaha pointed out, "we were surprised by the strength of harm from even a low quantity of cigarettes, and the incredible importance that quitting early had on long-term heart health."
The study analyzed data from over 320,000 adults in the US who participated in previous studies spanning 20 years or more. Researchers looked at the impact of smoking duration and cessation on risks for various cardiovascular conditions, as well as all-cause mortality.
Interestingly, those who smoke 11 to 15 cigarettes per day – a relatively small pack (less than a standard pack of 20) – are still at an 84% higher risk of heart disease and twice the risk of death from any cause.
According to the latest study published in PLOS Medicine, individuals who smoke two to five cigarettes per day are twice as likely to develop heart disease compared to people who have never smoked at all. Those who reduce their daily cigarette intake to just five or fewer cigarettes per day, however, face a staggering 60% higher risk of dying from any cause than those who have never lit up.
In fact, it may take as long as 30 years for your body to fully recover from the damage caused by even occasional tobacco use. This is according to Dr. Michael Blaha, one of the lead investigators on the study and an expert with the American Heart Association's Tobacco Center for Regulatory Science.
The findings come at a time when cigarette use is declining in the US, but unfortunately, smoking remains the leading cause of preventable death and disease nationwide. As Dr. Blaha pointed out, "we were surprised by the strength of harm from even a low quantity of cigarettes, and the incredible importance that quitting early had on long-term heart health."
The study analyzed data from over 320,000 adults in the US who participated in previous studies spanning 20 years or more. Researchers looked at the impact of smoking duration and cessation on risks for various cardiovascular conditions, as well as all-cause mortality.
Interestingly, those who smoke 11 to 15 cigarettes per day – a relatively small pack (less than a standard pack of 20) – are still at an 84% higher risk of heart disease and twice the risk of death from any cause.
! its like, we all know quitting is hard but this study shows just how long it takes for our bodies to recover - 30 years? thats crazy 
! im not gonna lie tho, its making me wanna encourage my friends who smoke to QUIT ASAP 
. i mean, we cant change the past, but we can definitely work towards a healthier future. plus, the stats are wild, like even smoking 2-5 cigarettes a day puts u in double risk zone for heart disease 
. let's all just take care of each other & stay smoke-free 
ya know, it's crazy how even a few cigs a day can wreak havoc on ur heart health 
. and don't even get me started on those who think they can just reduce their habit 2 "five or fewer" cigs a day 
... newsflash: that's actually 60% more likely 2 die from any cause 
. it's wild how long it takes 4 ur body 2 recover from even occasional tobacco use - like, 30 yrs? 
. and let's not forget those who still manage 2 smoke 11-15 cigs a day... they're basically asking 4 heart disease & death 
. we gotta keep pushing for those smoking cessation programs and education campaigns, esp for young people who might think vaping or e-cigarettes are safer alternatives 
. Can't we talk about something else? And btw, who comes up with these poll questions that always ask how many cigarettes a day you smoke? Like, what even is that? Are they trying to make us feel guilty or something? 
Also, can someone please explain to me why our stats are so bad? It's not like we're some sort of smoking factory. And another thing, why do the researchers always seem to be saying "we were surprised by this"? Like, surprise isn't going to change anything 
. Anyway, back to the stats... 30 years for your body to recover from tobacco use? That's crazy! Can we get some info on how that's even possible?
I mean, 30 years to recover? That's like, forever 
. And those who smoke just 2-5 cigs a day are TWICE as likely to get heart disease 
, and quitting late means you're basically stuck with a shorter life span 
i've been trying to reduce my daily smoke, but now i realize that's not enough 
it's like, every single day counts... i never thought about how much damage a few cigarettes a day could do to your heart health 
i've got friends who still smoke despite knowing the risks... this study should be shared with all their smokin' friends 
.
seriously though, who doesn't know about the dangers of tobacco? this study is just confirming what we already knew. and what's with all these percentages? an 84% higher risk of heart disease from smoking 11-15 cigarettes a day? 
I mean, 30 years is a looong time to wait for your body to recover... what if something bad happens before then? 
And don't even get me started on those who think they're safe because they only smoke occasionally... newsflash: your body is like a ticking time bomb, just waiting for you to light up again! 
.