​Cessation of smoking may be key to reducing the risk of coronary heart disease in middle-aged men and women.

This research work studied the relationship between cigarette smoking and the odds of developing coronary heart disease (CHD). A total of 41,282 men and women aged 40-59 years participated in this study and were assessed by their smoking habits and observed for coronary heart disease incidence by a team of researchers from the National Cardiovascular Center, Osaka, Japan.

Researchers discovered that a surge in the risk of myocardial infarction and coronary heart disease was associated with cigarette smoking in both men and women. According to this study, cessation of smoking was found to decrease coronary heart disease risk within 2 years. The findings of this study suggest that cigarette smoking may promote the development of coronary heart disease in middle-aged men and women.