Medindia LOGIN REGISTER
Medindia
Advertisement

Quality of Life Better in Non-smokers Than Heavy Smokers

by Rajashri on October 15, 2008 at 2:33 PM
 Quality of Life Better in Non-smokers Than Heavy Smokers

A new report has indicated that non-smokers lead longer and better quality lives than those who smoke heavily.

According to the studies in Archives of Internal, not only does smoking reduce men's lives between seven and 10 years, its increased capacity per day also brings down the health-related quality of life - even in people who later quit smoking.

Advertisement

The report that focused on smoking cessation strategies also linked smoking with consequential poor nutrition and lower socio-economic standing.

Arto Y. Strandberg, M.D., of the University of Helsinki, and colleagues interviewed white men born between 1919 and 1934, who were healthy at their first evaluation, held in 1974.
Advertisement

These men were then mailed follow-up questionnaires in 2000 enquiring their current smoking status, health and quality of life while number of deaths was tracked through 'Finnish' national registers.

However, in between the 26-year follow-up period, it was found that 372 men (22.4 per cent) from 1,658 questioned had passed away.

Those who never touched a cigarette lived an average of 10 years longer, than those who smoked heavily with more than 20 cigarettes per day.

The non-smokers further topped the health-related quality life list in terms of physical functioning as opposed to heavy smokers who's health deteriorated at an increasing rate with the rise in their cigarette consumption per day.

Their grave smoking further led heavy smokers to experience declined health corresponding to 10 years of aging.

The authors wrote: "Although many smokers had quit smoking between the baseline investigation in 1974 and the follow-up examination in 2000, the effect of baseline smoking status on mortality and the quality of life in old age remained strong.

"In all, the results presented here are troubling for those who were smoking more than 20 cigarettes daily 26 years earlier; in spite of the 68.9 percent cessation rate during follow-up, 44.1 percent of the originally heavy smokers had died, and those who survived to the mean [average] age of 73 years had a significantly lower physical health-related quality of life than never-smokers."

The investigators further added that these revelations might just help people to see how smoking weighs down on society and may even discourage smokers in future.

They said: "The argument of better quality of life may be especially meaningful for the aging smoker but, as our results show, for the best health-related quality of life, the habit should not be started at all."

The report was published in the October 13 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

Source: ANI
RAS/SK
Font : A-A+

Advertisement

Advertisement
Advertisement

Recommended Readings

Latest Lifestyle and Wellness News

Workaholic Blues: Strained Despite Working Hard
Work addicts don't always find more joy in work. Workaholism mirrors addictions like gambling or alcoholism, debunking common beliefs.
Social Media Reshapes New Parenting Journeys
Amid the challenges of caring for newborns and toddlers, a study notes a rising trend of new parents seeking social media's help for managing their children.
Social Isolation With No Family & Friends Visits Linked to Mortality Risk
Lack of friends and family visits is tied to a 39% increased risk of mortality that can be used to develop effective therapies associated with social isolation.
Sunscreen & Its Pseudoeffects of Sun Protection
Compared to wearing sun-protective clothes and avoiding the sun, using sunscreen is the least effective way to prevent sunburn on the skin.
How Fruit & Vegetable Microbiomes Benefit Human Gut Health?
Bacterial diversity in the human gut is benefited by eating fruit and vegetables with microorganisms of probiotic and health-promoting characteristics.
View All
This site uses cookies to deliver our services.By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Cookie Policy, Privacy Policy, and our Terms of Use  Ok, Got it. Close
×

Quality of Life Better in Non-smokers Than Heavy Smokers Personalised Printable Document (PDF)

Please complete this form and we'll send you a personalised information that is requested

You may use this for your own reference or forward it to your friends.

Please use the information prudently. If you are not a medical doctor please remember to consult your healthcare provider as this information is not a substitute for professional advice.

Name *

Email Address *

Country *

Areas of Interests