A single cigarette damages health

Smoking has been shown to have an immediate effect on the health of young people, scientists have highlighted.

Research presented at CHEST 2011, the 77th annual meeting of the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP), revealed that even a single cigarette can cause changes to the body.

Scientists explained that smoking leads to a fall in levels of fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), a marker for airway inflammation, however not much is known about smoking-induced changes in the production and exchange of nitric oxide (NO).

In a study of eight women and eight men with a mean age of 23 years, the researchers found that smoking a single cigarette led to an increase in airway tissue concentration of NO of 26 per cent, with FeNO levels falling by 15.6 per cent.

The scientists explained this reduction can lead to a limited flow of NO in the airways, which can have a significant damaging effect on health.

It is hoped that the research will illustrate that smoking even one cigarette can have a negative impact on health.