Findings from a
new analysis indicate smoking is even more detrimental to health than previous
estimates. It had been estimated that
smoking-related diseases kill about half of smokers early, but newer research
has put the figure as high as 67%. Data of more than 200,000 Australians, found that compared to nonsmokers, smokers who consume a pack each day are four
to five times more likely to die prematurely and will, on average, die 10 years
earlier than the average non-smoker.
Even just smoking 10 cigarettes each day doubles the risk of premature
death.
In addition to
the well-known hazards of smoking such as lung, throat, & other cancers,
vascular disease, heart attacks, chronic lung disease and stroke, the
researchers found that smoking was linked to significantly increased risks of
infection, kidney disease, intestinal disease caused by inadequate blood flow,
and heart and respiratory ailments not previously attributed to tobacco.
According to the
CDC about 42 million Americans --15% of women and 21% of men -- smoke. Given the additional health problems researchers
have linked to smoking, an estimated 600,000 Americans die each year due to
smoking related causes. Despite the
damaging effects of tobacco use, quitting smoking has immediate and long-term benefits including improved circulation and a drop in heart rate. Even quitting
late in life can have positive effects. At age 65, giving up tobacco can reduce
a smoker's risk of dying of related disease by 50%.
What to do: If you smoke, try to quit. Previous unsuccessful efforts to quit do not
mean that you cannot succeed. Keep
trying. Discuss smoking cessation treatment
options with your healthcare provider.
Check out www.nyc.gov/nycquits
or call x311 to learn about the many free resources available including local
tobacco cessation programs & support groups, and free nicotine patches.
Adapted from
articles available at:
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/484308
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/12/health/smokings-health-toll-worse-than-previously-thought-study-says.html
Sources:
Banks E, Joshy
G, Weber MF, et al. Tobacco smoking
and all-cause mortality in a large Australian cohort study: findings from a
mature epidemic with current low smoking prevalence. BMC Medicine. 2015;
13(1), 38. DOI:10.1186/s12916-015-0281-z
Carter BD, Abnet CC, Feskanich D. Smoking and mortality — Beyond established
causes. New England Journal of Medicine. 2015; 372:631-640. Published
online Feb. 12, 2015. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMsa1407211
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