NEW YORK, Nov 20: Smoking even a small number of cigarettes daily can significantly increase the risk of heart disease and death, a new study suggests.

Researchers at Johns Hopkins University followed the smoking habits of more than 300,000 adults for nearly 20 years and found that men and women who smoked as few as two cigarettes a day had a 60% higher risk of death from any cause compared with non-smokers. The study, published Tuesday in PLOS Medicine, also found a 50% increased risk of heart disease among light smokers.

“Tobacco use is a very well-established risk factor for heart disease,” said Dr. Jennifer Miao, cardiologist at Yale University. “It damages the blood vessel lining and accelerates the development of plaques and coronary artery disease. Smoking is also linked to heart rhythm problems, including atrial fibrillation and stroke.”

The study noted that reducing cigarette intake may not fully reverse the risk. Former smokers continued to have an elevated risk of heart disease more than 20 years after quitting, although they fared better than current smokers.

Data from the American Lung Association shows adult smoking in the U.S. dropped from roughly 42% in 1965 to about 12% in 2022, a decline of more than 70%. However, the number of people smoking fewer than 15 cigarettes per day increased by 85% during the same period.

“Americans should be encouraged to quit smoking completely rather than simply cut back,” said Dr. Erfan Tasdighi, co-author of the study and internal medicine physician at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. “Even less than one cigarette a day can increase multiple cardiovascular risks, and it is not clinically insignificant.”

Physicians face challenges in helping patients quit, Miao said. “It’s very important to identify who is struggling and connect them with the right resources and therapies for smoking cessation,” she added.

The study highlighted that the most substantial health benefits occur within the first ten years after quitting, though full recovery to the level of a never-smoker takes longer. Tasdighi emphasized that the risk of death drops immediately after cessation.

“No amount of smoking is without risk,” Miao said. “Quitting early and completely remains the most important step for long-term health.”

Researchers also urged clinicians to adopt a more nuanced approach when assessing smoking habits, considering both intensity and frequency rather than just the number of packs smoked per year.