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The more you smoke, the greater your risk of a heart rhythm disorder, smoking ten cigarettes per day increases the risk by 14%. Compared to non smokers, current smokers had a 32% increased risk of atrial fibrillation, while ever smokers (current and former smokers combined) had a 21% increased risk, and former smokers had a 9% increased risk.
‘If you smoke, stop smoking and if you don’t smoke, don’t start’, said study author Dr Dagfinn Aune, postdoctoral researcher at Imperial College London, UK, and associate professor at Bjørknes University College in Oslo, Norway. Smoking is a lethal addictive disorder. A lifetime smoker has short lifespan due to smoking, and on average will lose ten years of life.
Atrial fibrillation is the most common heart rhythm disorder-arrhythmia. It causes 20-30% of all strokes and increases the risk of premature death. Compared to zero cigarettes per day, smoking 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 29 cigarettes per day was associated with a 9%, 17%, 25%, 32%, 39%, and 45% increased risk of atrial fibrillation, respectively.
Every ten pack-years of smoking was associated with a 16% increased risk of developing atrial fibrillation. Pack-years are calculated by multiplying the number of packs of cigarettes smoked per day by the number of years the person has smoked.
European guidelines on the prevention of cardiovascular disease recommend avoiding tobacco in any form.2 All types of smoked tobacco, including low-tar (“mild” or “light”) cigarettes, filtered cigarettes, cigars, pipes, and water pipes are harmful.
haleplushearty.org