Smokers who quit may cut heart risk faster than had been thought

http://www.nbcnews.com/health/smokers-who-quit-may-cut-heart-risk-faster-had-been-2D11623891


Bill Berkrot and Ransdell Pierson Reuters
Nov. 20, 2013

Some cigarette smokers over 65 years old who kick the habit may be able to reduce their risk of dying from heart-related problems to the level of those who never smoked far faster than previously believed, according to new research presented Wednesday.

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"The new finding is if you smoke less than 32 pack years, you might become like never-smokers much sooner than 15 years," said Dr. Ali Ahmed, who reported the findings at the American Heart Association scientific meeting in Dallas.

Many people in the study lowered the risk of developing heart failure, or risk of dying from heart failure, heart attacks and strokes to the same level as those who never smoked in nearly half the time as previous research had indicated.

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"Even for the heavier smokers, who smoked more than 32 pack years, compared to current smokers, they will significantly reduce the risk of total mortality by 35 percent (by quitting), so there's a positive message for everybody," said Ahmed.

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While the heart-related mortality benefits seen in the study seem clear, researchers said, lung damage is not as easily reversible. Those who smoked less than 32 pack years and quit up to 15 or more years ago were still at higher risk of dying from lung cancer, emphysema or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.