A study released last week revealed that women who quit smoking will receive significant health benefits within 5 years of quitting. The study found that some risks, such as the risk of vascular mortality, may be eliminated soon after quitting.
Stacy Kenfield, one of the authors of the report, told HealthDay News, “The harms of smoking are reversible and can decline to the level of nonsmokers. For some conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, it can take more than 20 years, but there is a rapid reduction for others. It’s never too early to stop, and it’s never too late to stop.”
The American Cancer Society reports that within 5 years of quitting, women’s risk of death from bronchitis and emphysema declined by 13 percent. After 20 years, the risk of death from bronchitis and emphasema was as low as women who never smoked.
