Quit smoking to lower heart & brain attacks

Quitting smoking decreases the risk of stroke and heart attack, but the benefits of just cutting down are less clearcut. To assess the effects of smoking reduction and cessation on the risk of heart attack and stroke (also called a brain attack), researchers from Korea studied 475,734 men aged between 30 and 58 years. The participants were classified into nine groups based on their smoking status: heavy smokers (at least 20 cigarettes per day), moderate smokers (10 to 19 cigarettes per day), light smokers (less than 10 cigarettes per day), heavy smokers who became moderate smokers, heavy smokers who became light smokers, moderate smokers who became light smokers, smokers who quit, ex-smokers who remained abstinent; and individuals who never smoked. During the 10 years of follow up, a total of 6,092 strokes and 2,164 heart attacks occurred. It was found that participants who quit smoking had 40 to 60 percent lower risks of getting stroke and heart attack as compared with heavy smokers. Further, heavy smokers who reduced their smoking levels had lower risks of stroke and heart attack compared with heavy smokers. However, these reductions were not statistically significant. Only a slight reduction in risk was seen in moderate smokers who reduced their smoking levels compared with moderate smokers who didn't change their habits or those who increased their smoking level, Cho and colleagues report. The above findings indicate that smoking cessation is associated with a decrease in the risks of ischaemic stroke, subarachnoid hemorrhage, and heart attack. Further studies are needed to verify the likely health benefits of reducing smoking.

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