If there weren’t already enough reasons for cigarette smokers to quit, more incentive just appeared in the form of a longitudinal study published in the December issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism. The report demonstrated that Blacks who smoke face a dramatically increased likelihood of developing rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Further, the more smokers light up, the greater the risk.
If there weren’t already enough reasons for cigarette smokers to quit, more incentive just appeared in the form of a longitudinal study published in the December issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism. The report demonstrated that Blacks who smoke face a dramatically increased likelihood of developing rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Further, the more smokers light up, the greater the risk. Heavy, long-term smoking increases the chances of developing RA by 2.37 times on average. This is consistent with earlier findings from studies among European populations of non-smokers and smokers.
ACSH President Dr. Elizabeth Whelan says this is “yet more evidence of the amazing diversity of adverse effects from smoking.”
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