[Treatment of smoking in myocardial infarction survivors]. / Il trattamento dell'abitudine al fumo nei soggetti sopravvissuti ad un infarto miocardico.

Cigarette smoking is a well known primary risk factor of myocardial infarction. Many studies have shown that it is also a secondary risk factor able to predict the short and medium term occurrence of reinfarction and mortality. A number of observational studies suggest that patients who survive a first myocardial infarction have a halved risk of dying or of recurrence as compared to those who continue to smoke. Presently it is estimated that about 80% of smokers surviving a myocardial infarction quit smoking in short time. The intervention against smoking habits must be primarily conducted using advice and psychological means by the physician, with the help of other health personnel and of the social support of the family and friends.