Just one Cigarette a day Doubles a Woman's risk of having a Fatal Heart Attack

Afrik Update

Health

By Jenny Hope

Women who smoke as little as one a day are at higher risk of dying suddenly from heart attack and other heart problems, warn researchers.

The risk is doubled compared with women who don’t smoke, and higher for long-term smokers.

A cardiac electrophysiologist at the University of Alberta’s Mazankowski Heart Institute in Edmonton, Alberta, said: ‘Sudden cardiac death is often the first sign of heart disease among women, so lifestyle changes that reduce the risk are particularly important.

‘Our study shows that cigarette smoking is an important modifiable risk factor for sudden cardiac death among all women. Quitting smoking before heart disease develops is critical.’ Although smoking is falling among both sexes the decline has been less rapid in women.

Dr Sandhu said: ‘Cigarette smoking is a known risk factor for sudden cardiac death, but until now, we didn’t know how the quantity and duration of smoking affected the risk among apparently healthy women, nor did we have long-term follow-up.’ 

‘This study shows that smoking just a couple of cigarettes a day could still seriously affect your future health.

Toxins in cigarette smoke appear to affect women more badly, and the risk could be even greater because women tend to get through fewer cigarettes than men.