Study Shows That Women Are More Susceptible To Harmful Effects Of Smoking
Posted May 19, 2009 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A study out of Norway has raised serious alarm bells for women who smoke.
Even though females consumed fewer cigarettes than their male counterparts, their lungs were equally damaged.
Researchers looked at over 2000 people, half of whom had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
All were current or ex-smokers, and the 954 subjects with COPD had moderate or severe COPD. The other 955 subjects did not.
Examining the total study sample, there were no gender differences with respect to lung function (FEV1) and COPD severity, but the women were on average younger and had smoked significantly less than men.
Women were also more susceptible to developing lung cancer at a younger age, and after fewer smokes.
“The difference between men and women is not just the size, but when you actually look at the different hormones and levels that occur in the women’s bodies,” explains Addiction Specialist, Dr. Peter Selby.
“This study seems to suggest that there’s no safe level of exposure for women.”
“The gender difference in COPD susceptibility seems to be most important when smoking exposure is low. Women may tolerate small amounts of tobacco worse than men,” the study’s lead author, Dr. Inga-Cecilie Soerheim, explained.
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