A new article published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology has shown that smoking beginning in childhood or in the later teenage years may lead to premature heart damage.
The cohort study included nearly 2,000 young adult participants. Participants in the study were followed up with from when they were 10 years old until they were 24 years old. During that time, they were asked about their smoking habits, and various health markers were assessed. Additionally, the participants had echocardiograms taken when they were 24 years old. Previous studies have linked smoking in childhood or adolescence to increased cardiovascular risk in adulthood, but this was the first study to examine the effects of continuous smoking on the heart early in life.
The results showed that the majority of participants who began smoking early in life continued to smoke into young adulthood; about 60% of participants who began smoking at ages 10, 13, 15, or 17 years continued smoking at 24 years old. While only 0.3% of the participants smoked at 10 years old, 26% smoked at 24 years old. Those who smoked continuously from ages 10 to 24 years had a 52% higher risk of premature heart damage compared to participants who never smoked. Smoking from ages 17 to 24 years was also associated with a significantly higher risk of having an enlarged heart.
The authors of the study noted that adolescence and early adulthood are critical times when many people begin smoking. Additionally, rates of vaping have increased among teens in recent years, creating a serious health concern. Nicotine can cause abnormal heart rhythms, and other substances in both cigarettes and e-cigarettes can damage the lungs. Beginning smoking early in life may lead to early and lasting damage to the heart.
Sources: Journal of the American College of Cardiology, Science Daily
