Smoking kills, and it doesn’t differentiate between the young and the old. A recent research done in Poland suggests that even young smokers are at health hazards, even though they appear healthy and fit.
According to Dr. Barbara Lichodziejewska and associates at Warsaw Medical University, Chronic smoking impairs the ability of the heart to relax between beats, which results in decreased pumping capacity.
A group of 66 healthy adults aged 20 to 40 years were subjected to ultrasound test, among them 33 had smoked 10-25 cigarettes for 6 to 20 years, on a daily basis.
The smoking group was subjected to a test after a two hour non-smoking period and the test was repeated immediately after smoking.
The result of the test showed impairment of relaxing period of the left ventricle which is the main pumping chamber of the heart. This condition is considered hazardous, as it is the first stage of serious heart dysfunction.
The research team concludes that though the young smoker may appear in perfect health, his heart suffers with every puff he takes.