SMOKING is known to be the most significant risk factor for heart disease. Head of the Cardiology Department of Yeditepe University Hospitals Prof. Dr. Muzaffer Değertekin stated that those who gain weight after quitting smoking are much more protected against heart diseases than those who smoke, according to a recent study.

Stating that although all the disease risks created by smoking are known, it takes time to give up, Prof. Dr. Muzaffer Değertekin said, "Many people do not give up smoking because they are worried that they will gain weight after quitting. However, a new study suggests that smoking should be stopped in order to reduce the risk of heart disease despite the weight gain. According to the results of the research, the weight gained after quitting smoking does not reduce the benefits obtained by quitting smoking."

"You May Face Life-Threatening Situations"

Stating that it is almost impossible for a person who smokes and has diabetes or heart disease in his family not to have heart disease, Prof. Dr. Değertekin said "These people should know that they will face life-threatening situations such as heart attack, obstruction in the leg veins or clots in the brain, paralysis due to compression of the brain veins and so on at some point in their lives." 

Applied To 108,000 People

Providing details of the study conducted by Korea Seoul National University on 108 thousand people, Prof. Dr. Değertekin said:

"This research also completely refutes the 'I'll gain weight after I quit' excuse. Moreover, it once again demonstrated that this is a necessity to protect against heart diseases. It was observed that 46 percent of the total participants, that is, 49 thousand people, continued to smoke, and the remaining 51 thousand people quit smoking. Over 8 years, a comparison was made between these two groups. The result revealed that the increase in body mass index after smoking cessation did not reduce the benefits of smoking cessation. Similar results were obtained in all participants, regardless of socio-economic level, place of residence, or age."

Stating that in the study, four groups were discussed as those who do not quit smoking, quit smoking, and gain weight, quit smoking and maintain their weight, and quit smoking and lose weight, Prof. Dr. Değertekin said "The research has shown very clearly that those who quit smoking and gain weight are much more protected from cardiovascular diseases than those who continue to smoke and gain weight."

"The Risk of A Heart Attack Has Decreased by 45 Percent"

Stating that those who quit smoking and gain weight have a 60 percent lower risk of a heart attack compared to smokers, Prof. Dr. Değertekin said "It was observed that the risk of stroke and stroke decreased by 25 percent. Those who quit smoking and maintain their weight have also been found to have significant risk reduction. It was observed that the risk of heart attack decreased by 45 percent, and the risk of stroke and stroke decreased by 25 percent."

"It is Possible to Lose Weight When You Quit Smoking"

Those who smoke on a pack a day can gain 8-10 pounds in the first six months after getting rid of these habits, Prof. Dr. Değertekin said "However, by positively changing their eating and drinking habits, they can lose half of this weight at the end of the first year. Previously, those who quit smoking and gained weight were still at risk for cardiovascular disease. With this research, as physicians, we have become more motivated to make patients quit smoking. We tell the patients to quit smoking courageously."