ANKARA, Turkey, May 18 Low tar, or "lite," cigarettes impair blood flow through the heart as severely as regular cigarettes, according to a Turkish study. The study, published the journal Heart, showed that blood pressure and heart rate both climbed after smoking, irrespective of cigarette type.The findings were based on 62 people in their mid-20s, with no evidence of coronary artery disease. Twenty smoked low tar, low nicotine cigarettes -- 8 mg tar, 0.6 mg nicotine and 9 mg carbon monoxide -- for at least three years. Twenty others had smoked regular cigarettes for the same period (12 mg tar, 0.9 mg nicotine, and 12 mg carbon monoxide), and the remainder were non-smokers.The researchers at Baskent University in Ankara, Turkey, say their results show that both light cigarettes and regular cigarettes impair blood flow through the coronary arteries to a similar degree.The authors add that many smokers switch to low tar, low nicotine cigarettes in the mistaken belief that they will reduce some of the hazardous effects of smoking.Copyright 2007 by UPI
