The British Heart Foundation (BHF) has reminded women of the risks associated with smoking, after new research found they could be more likely to develop related conditions than men.
According to a study recently published in the Lancet, the chances of suffering heart disease are 25 per cent higher for female smokers than their male counterparts. Its authors speculated women could be more susceptible to certain toxins.
"It's alarming to see such a large study confirm that women are so much more at risk of heart disease from smoking," said BHF senior cardiac nurse Ellen Mason. "Women seem more susceptible to the dangers of smoking and passive smoking."
Ms Mason advised women to take advantage of the wide range of support offered by healthcare professionals in order to kick the habit, but also stressed the importance of preventing smoking in the first place.
A report from the World Cancer Research Fund claimed earlier this month that British women are 17 per cent more likely to suffer from some form of cancer by the age of 75 than their counterparts in continental Europe.
© Adfero Ltd
Heart treatment news : 13 August 2011
