Experts Repeat Warning Ahead Of World Tobacco Day

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2018-05-30 HKT 18:22

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  The Hong Kong College of Cardiology highlights the health risks associated with smoking. Photo: RTHK

Dr Joe Lee speaks to RTHK's Wendy Wong

Ahead of Thursday's World Tobacco Day, the Hong Kong College of Cardiology urged people to consider the harmful impact smoking has on the heart, as it said many often think the habit only damages the lungs.

"We have solid figures that smoking would increase the risk of cardiovascular events of 50% to 100% in patients of chronic smokers and also increase 50% the stroke risk," college fellow Dr Joe Lee told RTHK's Wendy Wong.

He said toxins in cigarettes lift bad cholesterol, as he spelled out the harmful effects of lighting up.

The cardiologist said the changes will be felt as soon as smokers kick the habit.

"If the patient can stop smoking for a few minutes, the blood pressure, heart rate and also pulse rate will also drop to normal because of the weaning off effect from the cigarette smoke," he said.