If cigarette boxes have not warned you enough. Then hopefully this message will remind you again – cigarette smoking is dangerous to one's health.
For the longest time, we've been hearing about the different effects of smoking like various forms of cancers, lung complications, and other diseases. But recent studies are showing that smoking can also shorten life expectancy, as well as affect the quality of life in old age.
A recent study done in Finland analyzed data gathered from 1,658 white men born between the years 1919 and 1934 who were participating in the Helsinki Businessmen study. When the study started in 1974, all participants were healthy. Their cardiovascular risks and smoking habits were noted as well. After 26 years, the men was asked to be re-evaluated again through surveys. At the time of the re-evaluation, there had already been 372 participants that died.
The participants who never smoked lived longer than the heavy smokers in the group by 10 years on average. The heavy smokers where those who lit 20 cigarettes a day. The quality of life of the surviving participants was gauged using a survey scale that measures health-related quality of life in categories which include physical functioning, role limitations due to health concerns, role limitations brought about by emotional issues, social functioning, emotional well-being, fatigue/energy level, and the participants general health perception.
The two most notable difference between the participants who were heavy smokers and those who weren't smokers were in the categories for physical functioning and role limitations brought about by health concerns.
Although approximately 70% of the participants who were heavy smokers back in 1974 have reportedly quit by 2004, the researchers explain that the participant's heavy smoking during the start of the study had a significant impact on their life expectancy and quality of life.
Source: http://www.ArticlePros.com/author.php?Mark Walters
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