Just three little ciggies can kill

Women who smoke as few as three cigarettes a day could be doubling their chances of a heart attack or early death.

New research suggests even social smokers run the risk of heart disease - with women much more susceptible to tobacco's harmful effects, even if they do not inhale.

Between three and five cigarettes a day doubles a woman's chances of suffering a heart attack or dying from other causes.

In men, the same increase in risk is evident only at a higher consumption - the equivalent of between six and nine cigarettes. Not inhaling saw the risk fall to 13 per cent in men, the study found. But for women smokers of up to a nine day who did not inhale, the chances of a heart attack soared by 60 per cent.

'Women's greater susceptibility to the detrimental effects of tobacco is believed to be because they are more prone to respiratory disease,' said researcher Dr Eva Prescott, of Ama Hospital in the Danish capital, Copenhagen.

'Smoking affects the balance of oestrogen, the hormone which protects against heart disease.' The study is one of the first to examine the effects of smoking fewer than ten cigarettes per day. It was based on research among 12,000 men and women between 1976 and 1998.

For the purposes of the study, a cheroot equated to three cigarettes in tobacco content and a cigar to five.

Experts found more than 80 per cent of women opted for cigarettes, compared with just over half of male smokers.

The British Heart Foundation said it was not surprised by the findings.

Cardiac nurse Alison Shaw added: 'Light smoking, whether someone inhales or not, should be avoided.'