Even if you quit, smoking during younger years negatively affects health later in life

A study conducted by Dr. Arto Y. Strandberg at the University of Helsinki followed 1,658 men born between 1919 and 1934. They were considered healthy in 1974 and a follow-up in 2000 showed that those who never smoked lived about ten years longer than those who had smoked more than 20 cigarettes a day. Even those that had quit smoking between 1974 and 2000 lived shorter lives. Although nearly 70% of 1974 smokers had quit by 2000, about 44% had already died; and those who had survived had considerably worse health than never-smokers.

Campuses can use the results of the study to help encourage cessation and tobacco-free policies. Students can be informed that even if they eventually quit smoking, their current use of tobacco is negatively affecting their future health. The study showed that health problems increase as the number of cigarettes smoked increases, so it’s best to quit as soon as possible.

Source: Medical News Today

-posted by Chris Miller