Quitting smoking improves artery health- study

An article I read today in local paper I thought I should share. Smokers who are thinking about kicking the habit can take this to heart - stopping will improve the health of your arteries, a new study shows.While those who stopped smoking did gain an average of 10 lbs., it didn't seem to have a negative impact on their hearts and levels of "good"cholesterol improved, the study found.The study followed 1,504 smokers for one year and they were given one of six methods to help them kick the habit - nicotine lozenge,stop smoking now, nicotine patch, sustained-release bupropion,smoking cessation, nicotine patch plus nicotine lozenge, sustained-release bupropion plus nicotine lozenge, or a placebo. All the participants also received individual counselling sessions. The study found 36% quit smoking.The study said artery health "improved significantly."On its website, Health Canada says smoking is a major risk factor that contributes to cardiovascular disease, which is a major cause of death in Canada. Smoking makes the heart work harder because it decreases the amount of oxygen in the blood, which means the heart has to beat faster to get more oxygen through the body.The study, by researchers at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, appears in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology and was presented at the ACC's annual conference on Monday.While it's been previously reported quitting smoking can improve heart health, this is the largest clinical trial to show it also helps arteries.The study continues for another two years and researchers will look at whether the participants' health will continue to improve.