Science in a Minute 101119 Light Smokers Have Nearly Same Amount of Lung Damage as Heavy Smokers

A new study, led by researchers at Columbia University, suggests that people who smoke five or fewer cigarettes a day can still experience long-term lung damage. The researchers found that there is only a small difference in the loss of lung function between light smokers and heavy smokers. The study also finds that it takes a lot longer than thought for ex-smokers to regain normal lung function, when compared to those who never smoked at all.