Scientists Learn Smoking Increase Risk Of Heart Disease Too

(CBS/WUSA) --- Blane Ferguson is taking a break from work to light up.

"In the back of my mind, I know it's a bad thing, so I try to smoke less," Blane says.

He has a ten cigarette a day habit. Stef Harber smokes just five.

"It makes me feel better about myself that I'm not going through 20 a day," explains Stef.

A new study has a warning for even light smokers. The American Heart Association says even three cigarettes a day is too many and can increase the risk of dying from heart disease or stroke by 64%.

Dr. Nieca Goldberg with the American Heart Association says, "Everyone knows that smoking is bad for you, but these stastics are enormous."

The reason cigarette smoke is so dangerous to heart is because it decreases HDL or good cholesterol. It also increases blood pressure and constricts blood vessels.

The study looked at the smoking habits of more than a million adults to reach these conclusions.

"For those of you out there who smoke a pack or more a day it's 100% increased risk," explains Goldberg.

Dr. Goldberg says to a lesser degree breathing in second hand smoke also hurts the heart.

"If you quit smoking not only are you going to help yourself but all of those that are around you," explains Dr. Goldberg.

Something Blane Ferguson says he is going to really try to do.

"I want to be around to enjoy my kids when they get older," says Blane.