Tobacco.org

Study: Quitting smoking pays off in 5 years 

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.

In Indiana, which has the sixth-highest smoking rate for women in the nation, anti-smoking advocates hailed the results as an incentive for more women to quit the habit.

"This study is very encouraging," said Karla Sneegas, executive director of the Indiana Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Agency. "It's encouraging to say if you quit, there are wonderful health implications that are positive. It really can make a difference in your life."

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