Smoking Before Age 18 Linked to Respiratory Symptoms

Research has shown that individuals who start smoking before the age of 18 are more likely to develop respiratory symptoms, such as wheezing or phlegm, by the time they are 20.

In Europe, a significant percentage of young people smoke, with 16.7% of men aged 15 to 24 and 11.2% of women smoking. According to the European Respiratory Society, this can have serious consequences for their lung health.

Study Findings

A study of 3,430 8-year-old children living in Sweden found that 22% had smoked every day by the time they were 19. The study also found that 29% of these children had started smoking before the age of 15, while 35% started smoking at age 16 or 17, and 35% started smoking after they were 18.

After controlling for lung health factors, such as a family history of asthma or family smoking, the study found that the likelihood of developing respiratory symptoms increases with the amount smoked. For example, individuals who smoked a pack of cigarettes a day for a year were 28% more likely to have respiratory symptoms than non-smokers.

Increased Risk of Respiratory Symptoms

The study found that people who started smoking before age 18 were 80% more likely to develop respiratory symptoms, such as wheezing, phlegm, and cough, by age 28 compared to people who never smoked. In contrast, people who started smoking after age 18 were 50% more likely to develop respiratory symptoms by age 28.

These findings highlight the importance of preventing young people from starting to smoke and encouraging those who do smoke to quit.