Young Smokers at Increased Risk Of Developing a Heart Attack

A new study shows smokers under age 40 are five-times more likely to suffer a heart attack as non-smokers their age. Researchers examined all non-fatal heart disease cases of study participants between the ages of 33 and 64 from 21 countries, 18,762 of which were men and 4,047 were women.

Results showed 80 percent of participants who had suffered a heart attack were smokers between the ages of 35 and 39.In the study, smoking also accounted for 65 percent of non-fatal heart attacks in men and for 55 percent in women.

Researchers say although the numbers may have one believe that women are at a lower risk, the truth is quite the opposite. Women have a more elevated risk perhaps because they are more sensitive to the effects of smoking.