Smoking 2-5 cigarettes per day doubles the risk of death: Conclusion of the study.

According to ТСН: A comprehensive study has shown that even the consumption of two cigarettes per day significantly increases the risk of premature death.

Experts from the Johns Hopkins University Center for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention analyzed data from 22 studies involving 330,000 people over a period of almost 20 years.

Dangerous consequences of smoking

The results are impressive: Smoking two to five cigarettes per day doubles the risk of heart failure and increases the likelihood of dying for any reason by 60% compared to non-smokers.

“It is astonishing how harmful even short-term contact with tobacco is. Even minimal doses cause enormous damage to the heart and blood vessels,” said the study leader, Professor Michael Blaha.

During the entire observation period, more than 125,000 deaths and 54,000 cases of cardiovascular diseases, including heart attacks, strokes, and heart failure, were documented.

Quitting smoking

Researchers also confirmed that the cessation process actually reduces the risk, especially in the first ten years after the last cigarette. However, there is no way to completely “reset” the effects. Even 30 years after quitting, former smokers remain at an increased risk compared to people who have never smoked.

Scientists emphasize: Reducing the number of cigarettes smoked is insufficient. The only way to protect the heart is complete abstinence from tobacco, and it is best to do so as early as possible.

Tobacco smoke contains about 7,000 chemical compounds that damage blood vessels and reduce the heart's oxygen supply. In the UK, smoking claims the lives of 78,000 people annually, half of whom die from heart disease and strokes.

These results underscore the importance of the fight against smoking and the need to advance smoking cessation programs. Smoking remains one of the leading causes of mortality and cardiovascular diseases, so careful consideration of this issue and public awareness can significantly reduce health risks.