Smoking and Health

Smoking and Health

Stopping smoking is the best thing you can do for your health. Your body will begin to repair the damage done almost immediately. Within 10 years, the risk of a heart attack falls to the same as someone who has never smoked.

Benefits of stopping smoking

Within five years of giving up you will have reduced the risk of a heart attack to about half that of a smoker. Within 10 years of giving up, the risk of a heart attack falls to the same as someone who has never smoked, and the risk of lung cancer falls to about half that of a smoker. The most important part in giving up smoking is your desire to stop.

It is never too late to stop smoking.

A new reason not to start smoking.

About one in 25 of the UK population carry the Alpha-1-antitrypsin (A1A) gene defect and one in 2,700 is born with the full syndrome, making A1AD the second most common genetic disorder after cystic fibrosis.

The most common effect of A1AD is emphysema. Although the problem is present from birth, the effects of A1AD often don't become apparent until someone is over 50 years old.

The most important thing someone with A1AD, or any lung disease, can do for their health is not to smoke and to avoid people who smoke around them.

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