Cardiovascular risks after quitting smoking: persistence for up to 25 years
June 9, 2020
Par: chef-projet@dnf.asso.fr
Dernière mise à jour: June 9, 2020
Temps de lecture: 3 minutes
The cardiovascular risks associated with tobacco consumption are now well known. What you may not know is that these risks can persist for up to 25 years after quitting smoking in former heavy smokers. However, the French Federation of Cardiology[1] alerts us to the fact that 25% of smoking-related deaths result from these cardiovascular diseases.
Multiple risks that increase with consumption
We now know that smoking: - damages the arteries, causing spasms that can be very dangerous, - alters blood clotting and inflames blood vessels, which can lead, due to the formation of clots, to a heart attack, phlebitis or even a stroke (cerebrovascular accident), - reduces the level of good cholesterol, which is harmful to the cardiovascular system in the long term.
The main culprit? Carbon monoxide, which encroaches on oxygen's place within red blood cells.
Furthermore, for a study of the Journal of the American Medical Association[2], researchers followed about 8,000 people for 26 years – including more than 2,300 heavy smokers. They found that out of more than 2,400 cardiovascular problems that occurred, a large majority (1,900 cases) concerned heavy smokers. Hence the urgency to stop this practice.
Harmful effects that last over time
Although cardiovascular risks appear to decrease about 5 years after quitting smoking, they remain significant even 10 years after the last cigarette. The difference in risk with non-smokers is observed up to 25 years later.
Light or heavy smoker, cigarette or pipe: everyone is concerned
The French Federation of Cardiology insists on this point: the risk exists even if you limit yourself to one cigarette per day. Indeed, the latter alone generates risks of coronary diseases 48 % higher than those of non-smokers.
Passive smoking: the risks exist
Second-hand smoke also wreaks havoc. In fact, being exposed to cigarette smoke for 1 to 7 hours per week increases the risk of heart attack by 24%. This risk increases by 62% if the exposure is more than 22 hours.
So, once again, if quitting smoking is a wise decision, the ideal is to never start!
Also read [i] “Smoking, a risk factor for stroke” https://www.generationsanstabac.org/actualites/le-tabagisme-un-facteur-de-risque-daccident-vasculaire-cerebral/
Mégane Fleury, “Smoking: cardiovascular risks persist 25 years after quitting”, www.pourquoidocteur.fr, August 31, 2019, https://www.pourquoidocteur.fr/Articles/Question-d-actu/30117-Tabagisme-risques-cardiovasculaires-persistent-25-ans-l-arret
[2] https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2748507
