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The evidence supporting cigarette smoking as a major modifiable risk factor for both pulmonary and cardiovascular disease is substantial and beyond doubt and the association between smoking cessation and reduction in risk for these diseases has also been well described. The benefits of smoking cessation on pulmonary disease include improvements in lung function and, reductions in smoking-related respiratory symptom severity as well as alterations in airway responsiveness and airway inflammation. Quitting smoking is also associated with long-term reductions in risk for primary and secondary cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, including reductions in risk for myocardial infarction (MI), stroke and cardiovascular death. (Imprint: Nova)