Most people understand that smoking is dangerous and can seriously damage their health. Still, a recent study shows that even smoking just two cigarettes a day can put the body at significant risk. Scientists are now urging everyone to pay attention—and to spread the warning.
Smoking has been around for generations, and while society has made many changes over the years—such as banning smoking in restaurants and even some outdoor spaces—many people continue to smoke or struggle to quit, even when they want to.
Health authorities and medical experts have long warned about the dangers of smoking. The Cleveland Clinic notes that tobacco use can affect “everything from the look of your skin and nails to the functioning of your tissues, organs, and even your DNA.”
They also explain that “the impact of smoking on your body begins the instant you light a cigarette,” because “thousands of chemicals released from burning tobacco start their harmful journey before you’ve even inhaled.”
Smoking increases the risk of multiple health problems, including cancer, lung disease, heart and vascular conditions, diabetes, and miscarriage. Secondhand smoke also poses threats to those nearby.
But beyond the well-known dangers of frequent smoking, new research shows that even two cigarettes a day can be harmful. According to ABC, scientists have issued a major warning for people who smoke only occasionally.
Researchers from Johns Hopkins University studied the smoking habits of more than 300,000 adults over a 20-year period. Their results showed that smoking just two cigarettes daily increases the risk of death from any cause by 60 percent compared to non-smokers.
Published in PLOS Medicine on November 18, the study also found that smokers have a 50 percent higher risk of developing heart disease.
Dr. Jennifer Miao, a cardiologist at Yale University and a fellow with the ABC News Medical Unit, explained: “Tobacco use is a well-known risk factor for heart disease.” She added that it “severely harms the lining of blood vessels and speeds up the formation of plaques and coronary artery disease.”
On the other hand, quitting smoking brings immediate benefits.
Dr. Erfan Tasdighi, an internal medicine physician at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and a co-author of the study, told ABC: “It’s crucial for people to understand that when they quit smoking, their risk decreases right away and significantly.”
He emphasized that stopping early is essential, adding that any amount of smoking carries risks and negative health effects. “We actually possess the evidence… showing that smoking even less than one cigarette daily can lead to various cardiovascular issues, and this is not clinically insignificant. As healthcare professionals, we recognize that while quitting sounds simple, achieving it is much more difficult.”
Please consider sharing this information with friends and family to raise awareness about the dangers of smoking.
