Experts confirmed, based on long-term studies conducted by the University of Oxford, that quitting smoking before the age of 35 provides the best chance to avoid most health risks associated with smoking, including cancer, as the risk of death becomes close to that of non-smokers.
Researchers explained that quitting smoking at later ages is still significantly beneficial; quitting before age 44 reduces the risks associated with smoking by about 90%, while quitting before age 54 limits most of the risks of death from smoking-related cancers, and it gives smokers additional years of life compared to continuing to smoke.
Experts pointed out that the body begins to recover quickly after quitting, as blood pressure, circulation, and lung functions gradually improve, and the risk of heart disease and lung cancer decreases over time.
The report warns that smoking, even in small amounts or what is known as "social smoking," is not safe; it increases the risk of lung cancer and other diseases, and researchers confirm that the best healthy choice is not to smoke, while early quitting gives the body a greater chance to recover and reduce the risk of diseases and early death.