All Forms of Tobacco Bad for Heart Disease

Its not just smoking cigarettes that is bad for you. A new study published in the Lancet, shows that tobacco exposure of any kind can increase the risk for a heart attack. An international case-control study involving 27,000 participants from 52 countries, analyzed data on the risk of heart attack while considering current or former smoking habits, effects of chewing tobacco, and exposure to second hand smoke, in order to examine the risk between tobacco exposure and heart disease. The study found that when compared to nonsmokers, smokers were nearly 3 times more likely to have a heart attack, and this risk increased by 5.6 percent for each additional daily cigarette smoked. Even after three years of quitting smoking, the risk was lowered to just under twice the risk of those who never smoked. Those who chewed tobacco had a similar risk to those who smoked, and those who both smoked and chewed tobacco had the highest risk; they were 4 times more likely to have a heart attack. Exposure to second hand smoke also increased the risk. Those exposed to between one and seven hours of second hand smoke per week had a 24% increased risk of heart attack, and more than 21 hours of exposure had a 62% increased risk. The study?s findings illustrate no level or type of tobacco exposure is safe. It is estimated that there will be one billion smoking-related deaths in this century, demonstrating the importance of smoking cessation programs and eliminating second hand smoke exposure.