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(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.
Its 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.
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SOURCE: The Journal of the American Medical Association, 2008;299:2037-2047
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