A health study published on Friday claims that one out of three Chinese male smokers in their 20s will likely die early from smoking related illnesses. Nonetheless, the researchers say that this gruesome statistic can be reversed if smokers can kick the deadly habit.

The study, which was published in The Lancet journal, said that around 66 percent of Chinese males under 20 are smokers, and approximately 50 percent of them will likely die due to this habit.

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The researchers spent more than 15 years and pored over two national surveys to collect relevant data about the millions of smokers in China.

If nothing is done to discourage Chinese people from smoking, researchers estimate that in 15 years, at least two million young smokers will die from diseases that could have been avoided if they had not picked a cigarette.

Chinese males usually light a cigarette during meals and at their offices. Smoking bans have been instituted in major Chinese cities like Beijing and Shanghai, but most people ignore the ban.

The price of ordinary cigarettes in China is quite cheap - just $0.4 per pack. It is quite normal in Chinese society to give and receive pricey cigarettes as gifts.

Statistics from global health agencies show that most Chinese smokers are unaware of the deadly consequences of smoking too much cigarettes. Only one out of four know that smoking can cause lung and heart diseases such as cancer.

Those, who quit in smoking in China, mostly do it because health problems prevent them from continuing. Some Chinese people, however, are aware of the deadly effects of smoking and willingly decide to quit.

The research was jointly conducted  by Oxford University, China Disease Control Center and the medical science academy of China.

The population of smokers in most western industrialized countries is showing a downward trend. In China, it is the reverse, many Chinese have more disposable income and many cheap cigarette brands to choose from.

The study also shows that young Chinese females are more reluctant to start smoking compared to their counterparts almost a generation ago. Researchers say the number of young Chinese ladies who smoke has increased in recent years.

Tax collected from cigarette manufacturers is an important source of income in China.

Tagschinese smokers, smoking related illness, Lung Cancer, Heart disease, Chinese cigarettes, china cigarette tax revenue