Friday, May 1, 2015

Quitting smoking at any age can cut risk of cardiovascular disease

British Heart Foundation: Quitting smoking even in later life can help stop your life being cut short by cardiovascular disease (CVD), according to new research. Researchers from the German Cancer Research Center, analysed data from 25 different studies involving over half a million people aged 60 and older to see how smoking impacted their risk of dying prematurely from cardiovascular disease. The results showed smokers were twice as likely to die from CVD than people who have never smoked, and on average died more than five years sooner than non-smokers. Their risk increased the more cigarettes they smoked.
However researchers found that people who quit, even after smoking past 60, saw their risk of developing cardiovascular disease decreased notably within the first five years of giving up. Their risk continued to decrease over time the longer they remained smoke-free.
Christopher Allen, our Senior Cardiac Nurse, said: “The evidence that smoking causes significant harm to your heart is overwhelming. This study further emphasises just how important it is that we do everything in our power to quit. 
“Giving up can potentially add years to your life and, as this research suggests, the benefits can be felt at any age so it’s never too late to kick the habit.
“If you’d like to quit smoking, speak to your GP or practice nurse who can offer you guidance and support in how to give up for good.”