Improving heart health: Why smoking is harmful even after diagnosis

Improving heart health: Why smoking is harmful even after diagnosis

Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. It is undisputed that smoking plays a significant role in this context. However, recent research shows that quitting cigarettes, even after a diagnosis of stable coronary artery disease, can have positive effects on heart health. For many sufferers, the decision to quit smoking can have life-changing consequences.

In stable coronary artery disease, the coronary arteries are narrowed by plaque, which poses a serious threat but has not yet caused acute life-threatening events such as heart attacks. The study results show that the risk of serious cardiovascular events, particularly within five years of diagnosis, can be reduced by almost half (44 percent) in patients who quit smoking.

The crucial role of the first year

As the study shows, the first year after diagnosis is particularly crucial. A significant proportion of participants who quit smoking within this period significantly reduced their risk of heart attacks and other serious health problems. Study author Jules Mesnier states that 73 percent of those diagnosed who stopped smoking did so in the first year after their diagnosis. This high number is not surprising: faced with such a serious diagnosis, people are often more motivated than ever to make changes in their lives.

Cardiologist Harm Wienbergen from Klinikum Links der Weser in Bremen explains that the motivation to stop smoking is particularly high in the first twelve months after a life-threatening diagnosis. This preparedness can be crucial for a positive development of heart health.

However, the effects of quitting smoking are not just short-term. Ex-smokers experienced an improvement in their health risk that often lasted for years. However, they do not reach the risk level of people who have never smoked, which is something that needs to be made clear.

On the other hand, for smokers who do not change their habits, the risks increase with each passing year. According to Wienbergen, the risk of serious events is increasing at about 8 percent annually and can lead to serious health consequences, including heart failure and heart valve defects.

The path to becoming a non-smoker

It is important that patients receive support, especially as they begin their journey to quit smoking. The message that the risks of serious illnesses can be reduced by half should be conveyed in a targeted manner. The dynamics of the environment also play a role: people who move in non-smoking circles have a higher probability of quitting smoking. The recommendation to stay away from people who smoke should not be underestimated.

There are various approaches to support quitting smoking. These include medication or nicotine replacement therapies, which should be considered especially after a diagnosis of heart disease. It can never be too early or too late for patients to make the decision to live a smoke-free life, as Mesnier emphasizes. The preventive effect is enormous; The sooner someone stops, the better their chances for heart health.

The study, presented at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) congress in London at the end of August, is based on data from over 32,000 patients who were examined an average of 6.5 years after developing coronary artery disease. Of these, 41.3 percent had never smoked, 46.2 percent were former smokers, while 12.5 percent continued to consume cigarettes. These results underline the urgent need for action to promote tobacco cessation in cardiac patient care.

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