People who smoke fewer than five cigarettes a day cause long-term damage to their lungs, according to a new research. "Many people assume that smoking a few cigarettes a day isn't so bad, but it turns out that the difference in loss of lung function between someone who smokes five cigarettes a day versus two packs a day is relatively small," said study lead author Elizabeth Oelsner, Assistant Professor at Columbia University Vagelos College in the US.
The study also tested an assumption, based on a 40 year old study that the rate of decline in lung capacity "normalizes" within a few years of quitting smoking.
The new study shows that although lung capacity declines at a much lower rate in ex-smokers than current smokers, the rate doesn't normalize for at least 30 years. According to the researchers, light smokers may have a greater risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
