A NEW study finds that Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV) patients who receive good care but who smoke lose more years of life to smoking than to HIV, the virus that causes Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS).

The findings show the importance of including quit-smoking counseling in long-term HIV care, the Danish researchers said.

They looked at nearly 3,000 HIV patients who were treated in Denmark from 1995 to 2010 and received well-organized care with free access to antiretroviral therapy. The researchers found that more than 60 percent of the deaths that occurred among the patients were associated with smoking rather than HIV.

They also found significant differences in life expectancy between HIV patients who smoked and nonsmokers. For example, a 35-year-old patient who smoked had a life expectancy approaching 63 years, compared with more than 78 years for a nonsmoking patient who was the same age, according to the study, which appears online Dec. 19 in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases.

The loss of years of life associated with smoking was twice as high as that associated with HIV, and the increased risk of death among HIV patients who smoked was three times higher than among people not infected with HIV, according to a journal news release.

“Our findings emphasize the importance of counseling HIV patients on smoking cessation, as smoking may impact their life expectancy considerably more than the HIV infection itself,” wrote Dr. Marie Helleberg, of Copenhagen University Hospital, and colleagues.

Although the study tied nonsmoking to longer life in HIV patients, it did not establish a cause-and-effect relationship.

http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=108702:smoking-deadlier-for-hiv-patients-than-virus-itself-study-finds&catid=44:natural-health&Itemid=599

I see

Really?

Thats if smokers care to hear...

I'd want to believe any H.I.V carrying person should know better than indulging in a vice as dangerous as smoking.
This shouldn't be news!

politicians and scientists are a particular breed.

why not just put a total ban on the manufacturing of tobacco if it is really that bad as it is being portrayed.

and how did this make frontpage with no comment

ogb5: politicians and scientists are a particular breed.

why not just put a total ban on the manufacturing of tobacco if it is really that bad as it is being portrayed.

and how did this make frontpage with no comment

Sometimes I wonder myself!!!!!

errmmmm.. Tell that to the Hiv patients on Nl

how u go get aids and u stil dey smoke that is stupidness

4Rm d LittLe i knOw. . . Ther usually encouraged. . .infact mandated not 2 take anything caffeine . . 4rm tea,i mean d leaves (i.e ,lipton) to alcohOL . . .and of course,cigar . . .so Like someone said this shudnt be News

and besides. . .shudnt commOn sense teLL you?

thanks for the info.

hiv and smoking dont go together.

anytime i catch hiv i will not start smoking
and if i start smoking i will make sure i dont catch hiv.

and if i catch hiv and start smoking, i will write my will

.

Smoking is generally bad... Whether with HIV or not.

Hmmmm

Sometim i wonder.u don catch hiv u stil dey smoke.!

Can a 35 years old HIV infected person reach the age of 50? let alone 78? I think the most they can get with the best possible care is 10-15 years from the point of getting infected?

Hmm is dat so?

Ezeufi: Can a 35 years old HIV infected person reach the age of 50? let alone 78? I think the most they can get with the best possible care is 10-15 years from the point of getting infected?

As far as he takes his ARV drugs, and eats well and lives a fulfilled and "safe" life, he will surely live long to see his grand children...

@topic, this is not news nah, na common sense!!! How would a HIV patient be smoking Its just like eating worms with indomie!!!

ogb5: thanks for the info.

hiv and smoking dont go together.

anytime i catch hiv i will not start smoking
and if i start smoking i will make sure i dont catch hiv.

and if i catch hiv and start smoking, i will write my will

u beta go for an hiv test

Of what benefit is smoking before?
Whether HIV infected or not, what is d essence of smoking?..........its bad and will continue to be bad, even, d federal ministry of health confirms it.

greatgod2012: Of what benefit is smoking before?
Whether HIV infected or not, what is d essence of smoking?..........its bad and will continue to be bad, even, d federal ministry of health confirms it.

Dat is Ɣ☺ΰя own view

how I hate AIDS!

supereagle:
Although the study tied nonsmoking to longer life in HIV patients, it did not establish a cause-and-effect relationship.

I think people should learn how to critically analyse a paper before commenting.

Smoking tabacco depress immune system and may cause immunedeficiency just like hiv.

ROCK-J:
Smoking is generally bad... Whether with HIV or not.

Its funny some don't even knw their HIV status, nd they r busy smoking away their a*ss to hell!

tpapi: u beta go for an hiv test

thanks for d advice. i know my status.

I have negative hiv.

remember we all have hiv, some have positive hiv others have negative hiv.
na ur presido wife talk am.

thats just common sense. lol.

They're also at risk of being secondary smokers[inhaling smoke from smokers]. Smoke free zones should be designated and laws enforced. Some folks these days smoke everywhere. Terrible