Smokers three times likely to die from heart disease

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-07/anu-stt070319.php

News Release 3-Jul-2019
Australian National University

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The research team tracked around 190,000 Australian smokers and non-smokers participating in the Sax Institute's 45 and Up Study for 36 different types of cardiovascular disease over seven years.

The study found smoking also causes 11,400 coronary heart hospitalisations a year - 31 per day.

"There are around 2.7 million smokers in Australia today," said Professor Banks.

"Those smokers have around triple the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease compared to people who have never smoked, and double the risk of a heart attack, a stroke or heart failure. They are also five times more likely to develop peripheral cardiovascular diseases like gangrene.

"If a smoker has a heart attack or a stroke, it is more likely than not that it was caused by smoking."

In what Professor Banks describes as "extremely alarming", the research also found a doubling in the risk of death from cardiovascular disease among those smoking an average of five cigarettes a day.

"A lot of people underestimate the risks of light smoking," said Professor Banks.

In good news, the research shows quitting smoking markedly reduces your risk of heart attacks, stroke and dying from cardiovascular disease compared with continuing to smoke.

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