Good news for women who smoke: If you quit now, in five years you will have significantly reduced your chance of dying from a heart attack. And in 20 years, you'll have almost the same health risks as a woman who has never smoked.A Harvard study, which appeared in Wednesday's Journal of the American Medical Association, confirms what doctors have long said but provides a clearer window into what those health benefits are and how quickly they accrue.
Researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health who conducted the study of 104,519 nurses found that within the first five years of quitting, former smokers saw a 13 percent reduction in their overall mortality risk. Their risk of dying from coronary heart disease plummeted the fastest, decreasing 61 percent. If you smoke, it's a great time to quit. If you can't do it yourself, join a stop smoking group or talk to your doctor about new medication that is much more effective.More from IndyStar.com
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