Kicking The Habit Immediately Reduces Inflammation
With ever increasing hikes in cigarettes prices and fear of health complications on the rise, many smokers have tried to quit – but without success.
New research conducted on a group of women has shown that a substantial reduction of inflammation linked to heart disease was found just weeks after a group of women quit smoking, hopefully inspiring news for aspiring quitters.
The authors of the study hope that this discovery will provide enough encouragement for those at risk of heart disease to finally toss their cigarettes for good.
While it was already widely known that smoking promotes inflammation and quitting smoking will reduce the risk of developing and dying from heart and lung disease, it is not so clear whether benefits can be noticed immediately upon quitting, writes Dr. Christine N. Metz of the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research in Manhasset, New York, along with her colleagues in the medical journal Chest.
In order to investigate the matter, they gave blood tests for several markers of inflammation, including C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and other substances in 36 women involved in a smoking cessation program. The testing took place four times over the course of 6 to 7 weeks.
Throughout the course of the study, the researchers observed a steady drop in the levels of TNF and two related substances. CRP and interleukin-6 levels also fell significantly.
When it comes to kicking the habit, each individual usually has a history of personal disappointment as they lose their inspiration, but educating people about the “age and health” of their lungs has proven to be incredibly effective in encouraging smokers to quit.
By using markers of inflammation like the ones measured in the current study, more information about cardiovascular health will be available to encourage people to quit smoking, Metz and her team note.
“Quantifiable information reflecting cardiovascular health may act as positive reinforcement for those trying to quit and remain smoke free,” they add.
They concluded in saying, “We propose the identification of a panel of inflammatory biomarkers that could be used as measurable milestones for persons quitting smoking in a smoking cessation program focused on improving cardiovascular health for smokers who are at risk.”
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