Emedinews: Do not smoke the 1st cigarette in the first hour of waking

Results from two linked studies reported in the journal Cancer by Joshua E. Muscat, PhD, of Penn State College of Medicine in Hershey state that smokers who smoke their 1^st cigarette within half an hour of waking are at 59% higher risk of head and neck cancer and 79% elevated lung cancer risk compared with those who smoke their 1^st cigarette after an hour of waking up. Those who started on their first cigarette 31 to 60 minutes after waking were at significantly elevated risk as well (42 % and 31 %, respectively), the group reported in two linked studies appearing online in Cancer.

While any smoking boosts cancer risk, an early start in the day is particularly risky because it signals stronger nicotine dependence.

·         The first study described results among 1,055 head and neck cancer patients and 795 controls. Cancers were 2.11-fold more likely with smoking within 30 minutes of waking and 1.63-fold more likely with a first cigarette within 31 to 60 minutes of waking.

·    The other study described analysis of 4,775 newly-diagnosed lung cancer cases and 2,835 controls. Current smoking and greater number of cigarettes smoked per day were linked to higher lung cancer risk. There was 2.64-fold higher risk of cancer with smoking within 30 minutes of waking and 1.58-fold higher risk with smoking 31 to 60 minutes after waking.