Smoking Cigarettes Erases Life Span Gap Between Rich, Poor

	Tweet

According to a new study, smoking cigarettes more than erases the gap in terms of average life spans for people who are rich and poor.

Research in the past has revealed to us that those who live in developed countries and are considered to be rich usually live longer than those in developing countries who are considered to be poor.

What has been found now though is that this gap in terms of life span can be erased simply by lighting up a cigarette.

Researchers looked at residents aged 45 to 64 for the study, all from a few towns in Scotland.

The residents were followed and split into four groups based on social class, income level, etc.

What they found was that after a period of 28 years, with the study beginning in the 1970s, the survival rate for non-smokers was 65% for women, and 53% for men in the rich category.

When they were compared to rich men and women who smoked though, the survival rates dropped to only 40% for women, and 25% for the men.

The life span gap for rich and poor smokers was very similar.  Rich men who smoked had a survival rate of 25% compared to 28% for poor men who smoked.

For women, it was 40% compared to just 35%.

What thsi shows is that smoking can truly erase the benefits of being rich in terms of health.

The study has been published in the British Medical Journal.

Washington (dbTechno)

RELATED STORIES:
Smoking affects entire body - report   Partial smoking ban seen as lacking   Marijuana Use May Hurt Intellectual Skills in MS Patients   Health group blasts inaction on tobacco control   Antismoking laws curb smoking and lung cancer   Smoking Associated With More Rapid Progression of MS   Britain confirms plan for major smoking ban   Many young smokers are “social” smokers   Home Smoking Rules Tend to Vary by Race   Smoking May Harm Male Fertility   Secondhand smoke exposure worse for toddlers, obese children   When Doctors Tell Patients to Quit Smoking, They Listen

Comments

[ + Post Your Own ]

Now you're in the public comment zone. What follows is not Armenian Medical Network's stuff; it comes from other people and we don't vouch for it. A reminder: By using this Web site you agree to accept our Terms of Service. Click here to read the Rules of Engagement.

The will to stop smoking is really difficult to find. I myself had a hard time. The only reason I stop it is because I love my family.

posted by MedsAvailable on 01/17/2010 at 1:10 am -08:00