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Nearly one million Americans die of heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure and other related problems each year.
If you smoke your heart beats as many as 10,000 more times per day than someone who does not smoke.
This and other affects of smoking put you at increased risk for all forms of cardiovascular disease.
Additionally, use of tobacco increases the incidence of various forms of cancer.
Smoking is one of the modifiable risk factors of heart disease.
Others include: high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, high blood sugar, being over weight and lack of physical activity.
What's In Tobacco That's Harmful?
Carbon monoxide and nicotine are tobacco's primary harmful ingredients. Nicotine is a stimulant,
which increases your heart rate and blood pressure. It also narrows and damages the arteries, reducing
blood flow and increasing chances that blood clots will form. Carbon monoxide in tobacco smoke reduces the
amount of oxygen available to the heart and body.
Are Low-Tar Brands and Chewing Tobacco Safe?
No. Use of smokeless tobacco or low tar, low nicotine cigarettes instead of regular cigarettes does not lower your risk of heart disease. These products all contain the stimulant nicotine, and pose the same potential for addiction. Other health risks associated with the use of smokeless tobacco include oral cancer, gum disease, and tooth loss. Tobacco juices also contain chemicals, which may delay wound healing.
It's Hard to Quit. What's the Best Way?
First, make a commitment to yourself to stop use of all tobacco products.
Talk to your doctor, who may be able to offer help or advice. Count the number of cigarettes you smoke each day and try decreasing the number gradually until you have completely stopped. Substitute gum or breath mints. When you feel the urge to smoke, try taking a walk instead. Some people find it helpful to attend a stop smoking class.
It's A Fact:
Ten years after you quit, your risk for heart disease is about the same as if you never smoked at all.
Quitting smoking reduces the risk of repeat heart attacks and death from heart disease by 50% or more.
Numbers to Call for help with quitting:
American Cancer Society, 1-800-ACS-2345
American Heart Association, 1-800-242-8721
American Lung Association, 1-800-586-4872
National Cancer Institute, 1-800-4CANCER
Tobacco-Free America Legislative Clearinghouse, 1-202-452-1184
Center for Disease Control, 1-800-232-1311
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