Health & Environment
Study Finds Former Smokers Face Persistent Lung Disease Risks
Health and Me17h
THE BRIEF
1
A McGill University study published in Translational Research found that former smokers remain at higher risk for COPD and lung cancer due to persistent molecular changes in lung cells.
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Researchers analyzed over 100,000 lung cells from 21 participants, discovering that while some damage heals after quitting, other cellular markers affecting immune response and blood vessel function remain.
3
A separate study in ERJ Open Research noted that young adult vapers and smokers both exhibit 15% lower exercise capacity compared to non-users, indicating vaping offers limited cardiovascular protection.