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One in 3 young men in China could die from tobacco use

One in three young men in China are likely to die from tobacco use, but smoking cessation efforts could help stem the trend.

Research published in The Lancet, conducted by scientists from Oxford University, the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and the Chinese Center for Disease Control, involved two studies 15 years apart that included hundreds of thousands of men and women.

The findings show two-thirds of the young men in China smoke -- most start before age 20 -- and it's estimated half of those will likely die from tobacco-related illnesses unless they kick the habit.

The researchers estimate that smoking will cause about 20 percent of all adult male deaths in China during the 2010s. They said the annual number of deaths in China that are caused by tobacco will rise from about 1 million in 2010 to 2 million in 2030 and 3 million in 2050, unless there is a widespread end to the habit.

"The key to avoid this huge wave of deaths is cessation, and if you are a young man, don't start," said co-author Richard Peto, from the University of Oxford.

According to the study, Chinese men now smoke more than a third of the world's cigarettes.

An accompanying editorial in The Lancet noted a "disturbing" find in the new study: the trend toward starting to smoke at an early age. The editorial authors noted that Chinese men born in the 1930s began smoking at age 25 on average, but those born in 1970 started at an average age of about 20, suggesting that many started even younger.

In the United States, about 20 percent of adult men and 15 percent of women smoke, and cigarette smoking causes nearly one of every five deaths, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Worldwide, tobacco kills up to half of its users, and more than 5 million deaths annually result from tobacco use, according to the World Health Organization.

The Lancet editorial authors said myths about tobacco and its use have limited the effectiveness of health education messages in China.

"These include the belief that protective biological mechanisms specific to Asian populations make smoking less hazardous, that it is easy to quit smoking, and that tobacco use is an intrinsic and ancient part of Chinese culture. The new study clearly shows the severe health consequences of tobacco use for premature mortality among Chinese men," write the editorial authors.

Some in China find it challenging to kick the habit in a culture where smoking has become so ingrained.

"It is difficult, because there is a lot of pressure at work, so I smoke to alleviate the tension," Beijing office worker Wei Bin, 32, said in an interview. "At the same time our country does not provide good support for people who want to quit. I have tried electronic cigarettes, but I think that is perhaps worse," Bin said.

Others are showing growing signs of awareness of the health risks related to tobacco use.

"Three years ago, I used to smoke, but now I realize it is bad for health and also the environment, so I quit," said Ma Huiwei, 35, an office worker in downtown Beijing.

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