Smokers lost paradise

Heavy smokers who halve the number of cigarettes they get through a day might be forgiven for feeling pleased with themselves.

Unfortunately, new research suggests that as far as their health is concerned, they’re not off the hook. A study found no evidence that cutting down from 20 to 10 a day significantly reduces the risk of an early death.

Researchers came to the conclusion after following a group of more than 51,000 men and women for more than 20 years.

Participants were placed in one of six categories: never-smokers, ex-smokers, moderate smokers, heavy smokers consuming more than 15 cigarettes a day, reducers (more than 15 cigarettes a day cut by more than half at the second check) and quitters (those who gave up between the first and second check).

Men who cut back had "slightly" lower death rates from all causes combined than heavy smokers during the first 15 years. After that, their death rates were comparable.

Women smokers who cut down actually had higher death rates from all causes than heavy smokers, the researchers reported in the journal Tobacco Control.

The authors, led by Dr Kjell Bjartveit, from the National Health Screening Service in Oslo, Norway, wrote: "Long-term follow-up provides no evidence that heavy smokers who cut down their daily cigarette consumption by more than 50% reduce their risk of premature death significantly.

"In health education and patient counselling, it may give people false expectations to advise that reduction in consumption is associated with reduction in harm."

Only giving up cigarettes completely can reduce the risk of an early grave, said the scientists.