Former smokers who quit years ago still have higher levels of fibrinogen, a protein that causes blood clots and can lead to heart attacks and strokes, a study found.

Christine Tabone’s research at the University of Malta was presented at the 23rd International Fibrinogen Workshop, held in Marseille, France.

Inappropriate blood clotting in the blood vessels is a result of fibrinogen and smoking further exacerbates the genetic risk of changes in the protein, with smokers generally suffering the highest risk of a heart attack.

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