This underlined that a complete switch was needed to get the long-term health benefits of quitting tobacco, the researchers said.The World Health Organization says tobacco is the world's biggest preventable killer, with a predicted cumulative death toll of a billion by the end of this century if current trends continue. Tobacco smoking currently kills around 6 million people a year.Kevin Fenton, national director of health and wellbeing at the government authority Public Health England, said the findings held a clear message for tobacco smokers. "Switching to e-cigarettes can significantly reduce harm to smokers, with greatly reduced exposure to carcinogens and toxins," he said in a statement. "The findings also make clear that the benefit is only realised if people stop smoking completely and make a total switch. "The best thing a smoker can do, for themselves and those around them, is to quit now, completely and forever."

Source: Economic Times February 07, 2017 06:16 UTC