A recent medical study has revealed that smoking even a single cigarette a day can cause serious and long-term damage to heart health. According to the findings, low-intensity smoking can increase the risk of early death by up to 60 percent, making it far more dangerous than commonly assumed.
The research, published on a medical website, examined 20 years of data from nearly 300,000 individuals. The results showed that people who smoke occasionally or in small amounts face almost the same severe health risks as regular smokers.
The study further found that compared to non-smokers, smokers have a 50 percent greater chance of developing heart disease. Another related finding indicated that using e-cigarettes may also increase the risk of diabetes.
According to the study, smoking 2 to 5 cigarettes a day significantly raises the risk of heart disease, and merely reducing the number of cigarettes does not eliminate the danger. Experts stressed that quitting smoking completely is the only effective way to protect heart health.
Experts noted that giving up smoking has immediate and long-term positive effects on the heart. They stated that within three years, people who quit smoking experience a 90 to 95 percent reduction in excess mortality risk, while those who avoid smoking for nearly 20 years have hearts that are up to 80 percent healthier compared to individuals who continue to smoke.
The study concluded that any amount of smoking is harmful, and neither low consumption nor occasional smoking is considered safe. Experts emphasized that quitting tobacco entirely is the best option to safeguard heart health and overall well-being.
