Smoking Cessation May Provide Immediate Benefit to Heart

A new article suggests smoking cessation provides immediate benefits to patients. Researchers from the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research in Manhasset, NY, examined specific inflammatory biomarkers associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) in “at risk” women during the smoking cessation process. Results showed that smoking cessation resulted in significant reductions in circulating tumor necrosis factor (TNF), soluble TNF receptors I and II, and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1). Researchers conclude that there are rapid consequences of smoking cessation on inflammatory biomarkers in women at risk for CVD. The article is published in the July issue of CHEST, the peer-reviewed journal of the American College of Chest Physicians.