Quitting smoking after a heart attack gives quick boost to mental health and the quality of life, according to the new study.

The researchers Washington University School of Medicine have data from about 4,000 patients participating in several trials that studied heart attacks. Of the active smokers, 46 per cent quit in the first year following their heart attacks.

"Even in people who smoked and had a heart attack, we see fairly rapid improvements in health and quality of life when they quit smoking after their heart attacks," said senior study author Sharon Cresci, assistant professor of medicine at Washington University's school of medicine.

Angina can be quite debilitating for patients. "Episodes of angina are scary, especially when patients have just had a heart attack. The symptoms are a signal that the heart is not getting enough oxygen, which affects the quality of people's daily lives," said Cresci. He emphasised that standard care for smokers who have had heart attacks includes offering support to help them quit smoking.

The study was published in the journal Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.

By Lizitha