Arteries improve after smokers quit, study finds

Baack · Mar 15, 2010

Quitting smoking can turn back time.
A year after kicking the habit, smokers' arteries showed signs of reversing a problem that can set the stage for heart disease, according to the first big study to test this.
The improvement came even though smokers gained an average of 9 pounds after they quit, researchers found. Their levels of so-called good cholesterol improved, too.
"A lot of people are afraid to quit smoking because they're afraid to gain weight," said the study's leader, Dr. James Stein, a University of Wisconsin-Madison cardiologist.
The new research shows these people gain a health benefit even though they pick up pounds that hopefully can be shed once they've gotten used to not smoking, he said.
Smoking is one of the top causes of heart disease, and about one third of smoking-related deaths in the U.S. are due to heart disease. A heart attack often motivates longtime smokers to give it up.
Quitting is known to lower the risk of developing or dying of lung cancer. This is the first major clinical trial to show it quickly improves artery health. Results were published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology and presented at the group's annual conference on Monday.
In the study, 1,500 smokers were given one of five methods to help them quit nicotine patches; nicotine lozenges; the drug bupropion, sold as Wellbutrin and Zyban; or a combination of patches and lozenges or the drug and lozenges. A sixth group received a dummy treatment.
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http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100315/ap_on_he_me/us_med_smoking_arteries

brsims · Mar 15, 2010

Studies also find people stand a much better chance of survival as long as I have my smokes. Not scientific studies, but still. Gimme my smokes!

59Panhead · Mar 16, 2010

This is interesting!

I've tried to quit smoking several times in the past, all cold turkey without the use of quitting aids. The last time I lasted from 31 Dec. 09- Jan. 23 2010 and I started right back up. This new Fire safe paper is helping kick the habit for good. Anymore I can't handle more than 5 or 6 a day, whereas I used to smoke a pack per day.

lovesthedrive · Mar 16, 2010

That wont help you Baack. We all know you like to snort those straight stacks of yours. (kidding)

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