Smoking. By now, we all know it’s bad for your health, but new research suggests women who light up could be worse off than men. “Studies seem to indicate that smoking tends to be harder on females than males. People have never quite understood why,” says Dr. Sunil Pammi, a pulmonologist with Lee Memorial Health System.

Researchers hope this latest study could help them figure that out. After looking at both female and male smokers, they found that women had more lung damage than their male counterparts. In some cases, the women smoked less than the men.

“It takes a lower dose of smoke inhilation for a woman than a man to get the same degree of lung damage,” says Dr. Pammi. But why?  “Is it a hormonal issue? Is it just that the breathing passages are smaller in women and they are more susceptible to it? We don’t really have the answer to that questions but we do more know females who smoke have worse outcomes than men,” he adds.

The best way to reduce your risk, whether you are a man or a woman is to simply stop smoking. There are many programs and products out there to help you kick the habit. Your physician can help you put together the best plan.