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We Now Know Exactly How Many DNA Mutations Smoking Causes

  • November 04, 2016

If you’re still on the fence about quitting smoking, maybe the latest research on this habit will help you jump to the smoke-free side: Every 50 cigarettes you smoke gives you one extra DNA mutation per lung cell, according to a study reported on by The Verge. The shocking news comes courtesy of scientists who examined tissue samples from thousands of both smokers and non-smokers.

According to federal data, only about 42 million Americans (or 18 percent of the adult population) smoke cigarettes. It’s the lowest percent since the U.S. government began tracking smoking in 1965, but still it’s 42 million too many.

You're probably aware that it's linked to chronic diseases like cancer, heart disease, and stroke, but you may not know that it influences far more than this. Your bones, muscles, brain, teeth, eyes and even your fertility can all be damaged by smoking — and, to put it bluntly, it basically rots you from the inside, out.

Many people don't begin to feel the most serious effects of smoking until years (and many packs of cigarettes) later, and once you begin to feel the symptoms, you know damage has already been done. The good news is it’s never too late to quit.

If your goal is to reach optimal health, you'll want to avoid smoking cigarettes and e-cigarettes, as well as other tobacco products like smokeless tobacco. The secret to stopping is to start with a good diet, regular exercise and emotional support for the feelings of anxiety you may get when you stop.