Giving up smoking has rapid health benefits, says study - The Guardian 7th April 2008

Risk of death from all causes falls by 13% within 5 years and no extra risk of death by 20 years People who give up smoking begin to improve their health almost immediately, according to a study of more than 100,000 women carried out between 1980 and 2004. Within five years the risk of death from all causes fell by 13%, it found. By 20 years, people had no extra risk of death because of their past smoking history.

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