Quitting smoking can give you an extra five years of healthy living –

Researchers said today that quitting smoking could give you five more years of wellness.

Dutch cardiologists say the benefits of drug addiction are greater than previously thought.

The study included nearly 1,000 smokers who had recently had a heart attack or bypass surgery but did not actually follow the participants.

Instead, the academics relied on a mathematical model to calculate the effects of quitting smoking.

They said quitting smoking was theoretically as effective as taking three types of heart medication.

Smoking is responsible for half of preventable deaths among smokers, half of which are due to cardiovascular diseases.

Tobacco smoke contains more than 7,000 chemicals, including tar and other substances that can narrow arteries and damage blood vessels, causing heart problems.

Around 6.9 million Brits smoke, but more than half say they want to quit. There are 34.1 million smokers in the United States.

Lead author, Dr Tinka Van Trier of the University of Amsterdam Medical Center: “The benefits of quitting smoking are even greater than we thought.

Breaking the habit seems to be as effective as taking three medications for preventing heart attacks and strokes in people who have had a previous heart attack or had a procedure to open clogged arteries.

“Patients can live healthy for about five years.”

The study, presented at a conference of the European Society of Cardiology, included 989 patients aged 45 years and older.

All had smoked for at least six months after heart attack or bypass surgery.

Dr. Van Trier adds: ‘This analysis was aimed at smokers who had had a heart attack and/or had stent implantation or bypass surgery.

“This group is particularly at risk of having another heart attack or stroke, and quitting smoking may be the most effective preventative action.”

The analysis was based on a mathematical model designed to calculate the years of life they would gain by quitting smoking.

They compared this to taking three medications: colchicine — an anti-inflammatory treatment — and bempedonic acid, which fights cholesterol and PCSK9 inhibitors.

The model said that quitting smoking adds an average of 4.81 years to people’s lives. That’s compared to 4.83 years for the three drugs.

Dr. “This shows that quitting smoking is a very important step to add healthy years to your life,” said Van Trier.

Quitting smoking after a heart attack is linked to better survival than constant smoking.

“If you are considering not smoking or want to learn more about smoking, talk to a healthcare professional.

“The key to successful smoking cessation is your motivation, but overcoming an addiction is easier with medical and psychological help.”

Ruth Goss, senior nurse at the British Heart Foundation, told MailOnline: “It is estimated that there are at least 15,000 smoking-related cardiovascular disease deaths in the UK each year.

‘If you want to quit, having a little extra support helps, so ask your doctor if there’s a nurse or counselor in your area who can help you.

‘You can also call a local smoking cessation service. You can also ask your doctor or pharmacist about nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) or medications that can help you quit.

Quitting smoking is just one of the steps you can take to improve your heart health.

“It is also important to eat healthy, exercise regularly, consume less alcohol, and pay attention to cholesterol and blood pressure.”