(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- A new study proves it is never too late to quit
smoking and gain back health benefits. The study finds women who quit smoking
reduced their risk of death from heart disease within five years and had a 20
percent lower chance of a smoking related cancer within that time as well.
It’s estimated five million premature deaths were attributed to smoking in 2000.
The World Health Organization projects by 2030, tobacco-attributable deaths will
account for 10 million deaths each year in industrialized and developing
countries. It was not previously clear if a person who quits smoking can gain
back health benefits. This new research finds many of the health problems
associated with smoking can be reduced within the first five years after the
smoker quits lighting up.
Researchers from Harvard School of Public Health conducted the study. They
looked at data from the Nurses’ Health Study that included more than 100,000
female participants. During a 24 period, 12,483 deaths occurred. Researchers
looked at the smokers verses never smokers and those who had quit smoking.
Study authors say they found a 13 percent reduction in the risk of all-cause
death within the first five years of quitting smoking compared with continuing
to smoke. Most of the reductions for the causes of death were seen within the
first five years for coronary heart disease and cerebrovascular disease. For
death due to respiratory disease, an 18 percent reduction in risk of death was
seen in the first five to 10 years after a person quits smoking.
Investigators say this study confirms the need for effective strategies to help
people quit smoking.
SOURCE: The Journal of the American Medical Association, 2008;299:2037-2047
