After 5 years of quitting smoking, the risk of suffering from cardiovascular disease begins to decrease.
The ravages of cigarettes persist over time. According to a study published in Journal of the American Medical Associationformer heavy smokers have a high risk of heart disease up to 25 years after quitting.
At least 5 years of stoppage are necessary
About 8,800 people took part in the study, including more than 2,300 heavy smokers. The researchers followed them for an average of 26 years. In total, there were more than 2,400 cardiovascular problems (heart attack, heart failure, stroke, etc.), 1,900 of them concerned heavy smokers. The researchers found that after 5 years of quitting, the risk begins to decrease, but it remains high for up to 10 years after the last cigarette. Compared to non-smokers, the risk may remain substantial for up to 25 years after quitting smoking.
The risk starts with the first cigarette
Whatever the form of tobacco consumed (rolled cigarettes, pipe, cigar, etc.) or the type of consumption (light, medium or heavy smoker), the risk of suffering from cardiovascular disease exists. “There is no threshold below which smoking is without cardiovascular risk, even for a few cigarettes”, specifies the French Federation of Cardiology. Smoking just one cigarette a day increases the risk of coronary heart disease by 48% compared to non-smokers. Passive smoking also presents risks: an exposure of 1 to 7 hours per week to cigarette smoke increases the risk of heart attack by 24% and by 62% when it exceeds 10 p.m. According to French Federation of Cardiology25% of deaths associated with smoking in France are due to cardiovascular disease.
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