The exact time it takes for a smoker’s heart to return to normal health after quitting – and 5 other benefits

FOR years we've known smoking damages blood vessels and is a major risk factor for heart disease.

Now, researchers have discovered how significant damage from smoking is - and how long it takes for heart health to return to normal.

In the UK it's estimated at least 80,000 deaths each year can be attributed to smoking-related causes.

Quitting smoking as soon as possible is advised, as it could take more than two decades for heart health to return to normal after an individual gives up.

Researchers in South Korea found it takes 25 years for an ex-smoker's cardiovascular system to resemble that of someone who's never smoked.

And heavy smokers who have smoked more than eight years have a similar risk of impending heart attack or stroke as those who still smoke.

Their , published in the journal JAMA, examined health data from more than 100,000 ex-smokers and more than four million who have never smoked.

The ex-smokers were followed up a decade after they stopped smoking.

Their age, how old they were then they started smoking, how many cigarettes they smoked a day, and the age they quit were all noted.

A link was found between cardiovascular disease risk and the amount a person smoked - those who were light smokers saw their risk plummet soon after stopping.

For heavy smokers who smoked for at least eight years, the researchers concluded it could take 25 years for the risk of heart attack and stroke to lower to the level of someone who's never smoked.

The study authors said: ";Heavy ex-smokers should be considered to have a cardiovascular disease risk equivalent to that of patients who continue to smoke."

Smoking can cause many illnesses, including lung, liver, stomach, bowel, and pancreatic cancer.

Half of all smoking-related illness in the UK is cardiovascular, such as heart issues and stroke.