Question 389 of 433
I quit smoking years ago. Did the damage stay?
The short answer
Much of it reverses. Heart attack risk falls by about half within a year of quitting and keeps falling. Lung cancer risk drops steadily but stays above that of a never-smoker.
If you smoked heavily, ask whether you qualify for lung cancer screening, even if you quit long ago; some guidelines no longer set a cutoff for years since quitting. If you still smoke, stopping is the single most powerful thing in this book, at any age. Medication and counseling together triple the success rate.
“This book is for education. It is not medical advice, and reading it does not make you my patient or create a doctor-patient relationship.” From the book’s medical disclaimer. Full disclaimer
ROBUST EPIDEMIOLOGY / TREATMENT EVIDENCE — Smokers: quitting reduces risk over time; screening eligibility depends on guideline.Evidence grade (draft mapping)CObservationalPart 27, Q389 · Part sources
From Longevity Unmasked by Afshine Ash Emrani, MD, FACC. Medical disclaimer. This book is for education. It is not medical advice, and reading it does not make you my patient or create a doctor-patient relationship. Nothing here is meant to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Medicine is personal: a test, drug, supplement, or exercise plan that helps one person can harm another. Do not start, stop, or change any medication or treatment because of something you read in these pages. Talk with a licensed clinician who knows your history first. If you think you are having a medical emergency, call 911. The author disclaims responsibility for any loss or harm arising from use of the information in this book.