REDUCING YOUR RISK OF CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE: SMOKING – HOW HIGH IS THE RISK?
Cigarette smokers have a risk of cardiovascular disease at least two times as high as nonsmokers. The risk increases with the number of cigarettes smoked each day. If you smoke one pack of cigarettes a day, your risk is twice as high as that of someone who never smoked. If you smoke two or more packs a day, your risk is three times as high as a person who never smoked. Cigars, pipes, and chewing tobacco also increase your risk, although to a lesser degree.The earlier you start smoking cigarettes, the greater the risk to your health. Nine out of 10 smokers began smoking when they were younger than 21 years. Thus, the risk and damage accumulate over a major portion of their lives. Smoking-related diseases usually do not kill rapidly, but slowly rob you of your vitality over a period of years.*231\252\8*
