The Smoking Cessation Clinic at the Sheikh Khalifa Medical City has helped 155 people quit smoking in the last 18 months, doctors said.

 

The institution is managed by Cleveland Clinic, and is owned and operated by the Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA). The centre opened in late 2010.

 

Abdul Razzak Al-Kaddour, a consultant cardiologist at the medical city, said 303 smokers underwent treatment at the clinic in 2012, and among those 121 people quit smoking.

 

 As many as 92 smokers underwent treatment between Jan 1 till July 15, of which 34 managed to quit, he said.

 

 Al-Kaddour said stopping smoking not only halts but can also reverse the biological damage caused by the habit, and improves the success rate of treatment for heart disease, respiratory illnesses and lung cancer.

 

He said smoking-related risk of heart disease will decrease significantly within five years of quitting smoking.