Study Says Heavy Smokers With Mental Illnesses Are More At Risk For Heart Disease After They Quit Smoking

Cigarette smoking has been known as the leading preventable cause of death in the United States. It is responsible for over 480,000 deaths every year based on the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions' statistics. Quitting smoking has also been connected to lowered risk of heart disease, stroke and many kinds of cancers. However, a recent study revealed that while it is considered a wise move to stop smoking, heavy smokers put on weight once they quit.

According to the researchers at the Massachusetts General Hospital, the weight gain in patients who decided to quit smoking may lead to obesity and other health issues in the future. These experts also analyzed whether or not it is beneficial for people with serious mental illness to quit smoking.

The study, led by Dr. Ann Thorndike discovered that although smokers who quit smoking put on some weight, this does not increase the risk of weight-related health problems that may overshadow the benefits people can get from quitting smoking. However, study authors also can't determine that there won't be any health risk connected if the weight gain continues, Medical Daily reported.

"These findings highlight the importance of smoking cessation among this vulnerable population," Thorndike said in a statement. "But they also indicate that continued weight gain associated with tobacco cessation is likely to contribute to a rise in the already high rates of obesity, diabetes and hypertension among people with serious mental illness."

Healthline.com said that Thorndike and her colleagues studied the data of 65 smokers with serious mental illness who joined in a clinical trial for a smoking cessation aid drug Varenicline (Chantix). They also looked at the difference in weight gain and other factors between 33 volunteers who held back from smoking while on a 40-week follow-up period and 32 other volunteers who resumed smoking.

The researchers focused their attention on the effects smoking cessation has on patients with mental disorders mainly because, in most studies, this group of people is not always included. This made researchers think whether people with mental illness have the same benefits seen with people who don't.

"Smoking cessation needs to be a priority for adults with serious mental illness, and there is now good evidence to support using cessation medications such as varenicline and nicotine replacement to help these patients," said Dr. Eded Evins, who led the Chantix clinical trial. "However, it will be important in the future to address behavioral and medical health in a more integrated fashion."

Based on the outcome, Thorndike suggested that smoking cessation programs should focus on different health behaviors and combine diet and exercise management to be more successful at lowering the risk of cardiovascular diseases, especially those with serious mental illnesses.