SMOKING is 25% more likely to give women heart disease than men, a study has found.

Toxic chemicals in tobacco smoke may have a more potent effect on women due to biological differences, scientists say.

US researchers analysed data on around four million individuals from 86 studies. After adjusting for other risk factors, they found the increased risk of heart disease linked to smoking was 25% higher for women.

The extra risk for females increased by 2% for every additional year she had smoke The findings are published in The Lancet medical journal.

Authors Dr Rachel Huxley, from the University of Minnesota, and Dr Mark Woodward, from Johns Hopkins University, of Maryland, wrote: “Women might extract a greater quantity of carcinogens and other toxic agents from the same number of cigarettes than men.

“This occurrence could explain why women who smoke have double the risk of lung cancer compared with their male counterparts. Present trends in female smoking, and this report, suggest that inclusion of a female perspective in tobacco-control policies is crucial.”

Although smoking rates have fallen in the past 15 years, 28% of women in Scotland were smokers in 2009, according to figures.

Ellen Mason, senior cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation, said: “This is very timely as tobacco companies are targeting women with slim brands and slick packaging.”