Dr Min said: “Smoking is an established risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Studies have identified that quitting smoking can reduce heart attacks and death but have not examined the relationship of this salutary effect on the presence and severity of coronary artery disease (CAD). Our study aimed to find out what impact stopping smoking had on the risk of cardiovascular events, death and the severity of CAD.”

The prospective CONFIRM (Coronary CT Evaluation for Clinical Outcomes: An International Multicenter Study) registry of 13,372 patients from 9 countries in Europe, North America and East Asia examined the risk of major adverse cardiac events in 2,853 active smokers, 3,175 past smokers and 7,344 never smokers.

Both active smokers and past smokers had a higher prevalence of severely blocked coronary arteries compared to non-smokers. This was determined using coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA), a non-invasive imaging technique that enables direct visualisation of the coronary arteries. Active and past smokers had a 1.5-fold higher probability of severe stenoses in 1 and 2 major heart arteries, and a 2-fold increased probability of severe stenoses in all 3 major heart arteries.

Dr Min, who is director of the Institute of Cardiovascular Imaging at the New York-Presbyterian Hospital and the Weill Cornell Medical College, said: “Our results show that quitting smoking does not reduce the amount of disease smoking causes in the coronary arteries, but it does reduce the risk of heart attack and death to the levels of non-smokers.”

After 2.0 years of follow-up, 2.1% of the study patients experienced heart attacks or death. Rates of heart attack or death were almost 2-fold higher in active smokers compared to never smokers. Past smokers had the same rates or heart attack or death as never smokers, despite having a higher prevalence, extent and severity of CAD (see figure). The findings in both active and past smokers persisted even when they were matched with non smokers who were similar in age, gender and CAD risk factors.

Dr Min said: “Our study was the first to demonstrate that the presence and severity of coronary blockages do not go away with quitting smoking, but that the risk of heart attack and death does. Future studies are being pursued to determine how this protective effect may occur.”

He continued: “Numerous questions remain and require further study. For example, will the severe blockages observed in patients who have quit smoking provoke adverse events after 2 years (the duration of the present study). Further, does the duration of smoking or the number of cigarettes smoked per day affect the severity of CAD or the prognosis related to quitting smoking. Our team and several others are pursuing such investigations.”

Dr Min concluded: “It’s never too late to quit smoking. This study clearly shows that stopping smoking lowers the risk of heart attacks and death to the level of never smokers.”

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I have no intention of taking part in the debate about the latest court incidents.

However, for the sake of information, a legal notice published in The Government Gazette of 1913 prohibits smoking in the Magistrates’ Court.

Tonio Azzopardi, way back in 2002, submitted a constitutional application demanding the enforcement of this legal notice.

At that time, there arose the ambiguity that the legal notice in question referred only to the Magistrates’ Court while other areas were not covered.

Nevertheless, action was taken by the then permanent secretary responsible for the law courts to enforce the legal notice within the whole edifice.

Some years ago, a close friend of mine, the late advocate John Laferla, took the initiative and persistently appealed for an updated legal notice banning smoking in court.

He succeeded in his efforts for a total ban and for a fine to be imposed on those caught contravening the law.

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Lung Detoxification is the latest book that provides people with an advanced method to quit smoking cigarettes effortlessly. The book also reveals to people the easiest and fastest way to clean their lungs of the poisonous tar and dangerous toxin build-up, which could lead to premature lung disease and cancer. In addition, this book is penned by Mark Freeman, a health researcher and consultant who has over 19 years of experience in teaching other people how to detox their body completely without using drugs or pills. Since Mark Freeman released the “Lung Detoxification” book, a lot of people used it to discover how to cleanse their body of toxic build-up quickly, and how to prevent risks of lung diseases. Accordingly, Nathalie Garcia performed a full review about the effectiveness of this book.

A review on the Vinamy website indicates that the Lung Detoxification book will help people boost their immune system and speed up their detoxification process. This book will teach people to prevent or treat heart disease, lung cancer and strokes, expand their capillaries, and remove blockages that can cause heart attacks. In addition, inside this book, people will find out tips to get rid of their lingering smokers cough, tips to avoid bronchitis, and tips to stay off cigarettes so they can stop smelling like an ashtray. Moreover, when ordering this book, people will get some bonuses from Mark Freeman. Firstly, people will receive the “Body Cleaning Report” book, and the “Quit Smoking Report” book. Secondly, people will have the “Quitting Smoking and Body Detoxification” video, the “Top 7 Quit Smoking Mistakes” book, and the “What is A Body Detox” video. Finally, Mark Freeman will offer people the “Detox Your Body Fast” video, the “5 Detox Secrets for Cleaner Body” book, and the “Natural Body Cleansing” video.

Nathalie Garcia from the Vinamy website says: “This book covers a lot of natural and safe remedies that help people detox their lungs so they can live a healthier, happier, and more productive life. In addition, this book teaches people how to break their bad habits forever, and how to cultivate healthier habits quickly. Furthermore, by following this book, people can discover the alternative therapies, which really work for quitting smoking and cleaning their lungs. Moreover, people also have 60 days to decide if they want to keep the Lung Detoxification book or get their money back.”

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From the maca and mucuna plants to alkalizing the body, nutrition is the yellow brick road for quitting smoking for good. In fact, the little “pep” smokers get from nicotine can easily be replaced with natural remedies, if the smokers only knew how.  But hardly any cessation programs even mention nutrition, herbs or tinctures,  or do so briefly, so the smokers don’t really ever research it, try it, or succeed with it. Quitting smoking isn’t just about ending a nicotine fix, it’s about reclaiming your healthy life and helping everyone around you that has to deal with second-hand and yes, third-hand smoke.

Second-hand smoke kills 600,000 people worldwide every year. Add to that, a newfound mutagenic known as third- hand smoke, which is toxic residue from cigarette smoke that adheres to practically every surface, including hair, skin, clothing, carpeting, ceilings, furniture and paint. Plus, it becomes increasingly dangerous over time. Over the course of just one year a ceiling will turn completely yellowish-brown from a 2-pack-a-day smoker, who fills the room with exhaled tar and pesticide. Living in conditions like this affect the body’s ability to detoxify, and leads to major nutrient deficiencies for anyone spending time in that environment.

Superfoods “dynamic duo” ends nicotine cravings

The key to quitting smoking and never lighting up again, or even ever wanting to, is to combine superfoods and behavior modification, and then you can escape cigarettes. And just what is the “dynamic duo secret” to killing the cravings and escaping the nicotine prison?  Without the “nic” patch, the pills, the gum, or electronic cigarettes, what other option is out there besides cold turkey, which only works for about 5 percent of those who attempt it?

The dynamic duo “M&M” entails supplementing with maca and mucuna, two superfood powder supplements most people have never even heard of, much less consumed. Superfood enthusiasts know all about the incredible nutritional powers of maca. Grown in the high Andes Mountains of Peru, maca is packed with proteins, tannins and complex alkaloids, and can be added to any smoothie.

Mucuna is the amazing herbal adaptogen

Then there’s mucuna, also known as velvet bean, which is capturing the interest of thousands of smokers worldwide who have the will to quit smoking but just can’t clip that “nic-fix.” Mucuna helps the weaning smoker balance out mood swings and dampen or even remove withdrawal symptoms.  This amazing herbal adaptogen is also a potent herbal aphrodisiac. An Indian herb also known as buffalo beans, the pod is simply ground up into a powder and put into capsules to help regulate dopamine efficiency in the body. This is where most smokers fall off the “cold turkey” attempts, because their dopamine levels are low or even nonexistent without nicotine. Infuse mucuna and they feel like they just took a drag, except this is all natural, so bye-bye cancer sticks. Mucuna is even known to treat Parkinson’s disease.

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Data from UK studies into who gives up smoking, and how, indicate that people who quit in January are more likely to be successful than those who quit at other times of the year.

This is because New Year's resolutions can give an added boost to quitters' motivation, a critical element in whether or not people will be successful.

University of Stirling public health scientist Professor Linda Bauld says :"Studies over the last decade show that one of the single biggest factors in predicting whether someone will stop smoking is how motivated they are. A January deadline can give a bit of extra motivation."

A New Year resolution to quit smoking is particularly effective if combined with stop smoking medications and support, she emphasises.

According to Professor Bauld and her team - whose ground-breaking research was recognised with a prestigious Queen's Anniversary Prize in 2013 - a further incentive to successful quitting includes having a "buddy" who stops smoking with you.

"Social support is important. For example, one of the biggest determinants of whether a woman manages to stop during pregnancy is if her partner also stops," says Professor Bauld.

Only four per cent of smokers who try to give up by relying purely on will power are likely to succeed, according to the data.

Add in anti-smoking medication and behavioural support from the National Health Service, and smokers will be four times more likely to give up tobacco for good.

Many smokers are now using e-cigarettes to help quit tobacco, which contains harmful toxins, but the jury is still out on whether these nicotine delivery devices are hazardous to longer-term health.

Don't give up on quitting smoking if you have tried it before and failed, because the research shows that many people have successfully stopped after several dud attempts.

"The more often you try to stop, the more likely you are to be successful eventually," says the University of Stirling scientist.

The data also shows that if you started smoking early, as a child or teenager, you are likely to find it much more difficult to stop. This is because if you start smoking when your brain is still developing, the effects of being exposed to nicotine are particularly harmful.

"If we can delay someone becoming a smoker, that in itself is an achievement," says Professor Bauld.

The work of Professor Bauld and her colleagues at the University of Stirling has been instrumental in shaping policy changes that have seen the UK implement bans on tobacco advertising and smoking in public places over the past decade.

The university's researchers have also led work to help develop laws that restrict the display and promotion of tobacco in shops around the UK and ban cigarette sales to under-18s in Scotland.

One of the key sources of evidence for policy and public health recommendations is the Institute's Youth Tobacco Policy Survey, which has been carried out every two to three years since 1999 and is funded by Cancer Research UK.

It measures smoking attitudes before and after policies are introduced. At least 7,000 young people have participated in the survey.

Smoking is the leading preventable cause of chronic disease and death in the UK.

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