A study involving over 8,000 people aged 30-60 over a 25-year time period has found that AT LEAST a quarter of long-term smokers WILL develop an incurable lung condition called ‘chronic obstructive pulmonary disease’ (COPD).
Of the 8k people involved in the study, 5280 were smokers, 1513 were non-smokers and 1252 were ex-smokers. At the end of the 25-years, the study revealed that at least a quarter of the participants who did not have any of the initial symptoms of COPD had developed ‘clinically significant’ symptoms while approximately 40% had developed ‘some’ signs of the condition.
It is worth noting at this point that COPD is the sixth most common cause of death in England and Wales, killing more than 30,000 a year. The World Health Organisation have predicted that it will be the 3rd biggest killer worldwide in 2020 – and there is no cure.
The study was conducted by UK and Danish researchers at the Hvidovre Hospital in Denmark and sends another stark message to smokers. As pointed out by Dr Peter Lange, a member of the research team:
“Our finding is quite simple: the longer people smoke, the higher the risk of developing COPD”
So, wheras in most other posts I suggest eating well and exercising as a way to stay healthy – for COPD the message is far more simple: don’t smoke.
Remember, you literally CANNOT smoke AND be healthy. It just doesn’t work.
Sources:
BBC News
Reuters
Thorax
World Health Organization – COPD
About Ross Bridgeford
Ross is known as THE Alkaline Diet Expert...especially when it comes to implementation and making the alkaline diet REAL in your life. He has been living, learning, teaching, coaching and loving the alkaline lifestyle since 2004 and has written over 600 articles, alkaline recipes, videos and guides on how to live alkaline and stay alkaline for life. Ross loves life in Brisbane, Australia (although is a proud Englishman) and is healthily-obsessed with nutrition, fitness and Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
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Note: This blog is only my opinion. It is not medical advice or diagnosis. Only opinions based upon our own personal experiences or information detailed in medical/academic journals or other publications is cited. WE DO NOT OFFER MEDICAL ADVICE or prescribe any treatments. Please consult with a medical professional before making any diet or nutrition changes. Refer to our full disclaimer for more information.
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{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
Smoking is a big world problem. It is easy not to begin smoking because it gives addiction and tomorrow it may be too late to quit. At this moment statistics are very worrying but luckily more and more people are making efforts to give up this bad habit.