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Don't let your health go up in smoke.
Smoking makes it hard for oxygen to get to the heart. That's why smokers are more than twice as likely to develop coronary heart disease.
You've learned so much about the way high blood pressure increases your risk of heart attack and stroke. It's also important to know that smoking is a major risk factor for coronary artery disease. Smoking may:
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Injure your blood vessel walls. |
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Speed up hardening of the arteries. |
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Cause a temporary rise in blood pressure. |
Stroke: Another strike against smoking.
Did you know that smoking also increases your risk for stroke?
That's not all. Here are some other body systems that are affected by smoking.
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Digestive
Smoking cigarettes can cause mouth and esophageal cancer. |
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Endocrine
Smoking increases your risk for pancreatic cancer, kidney disease and bladder cancer. |
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Respiratory
In addition to lung cancer, smoking makes breathing problems like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema, the flu and pneumonia more likely.
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Even secondhand smoke can damage and constrict the blood vessels of non-smokers, which significantly increases their risk of developing coronary artery disease. And, some estimates suggest that secondhand smoke may contribute to almost 40,000 deaths from heart disease each year in the United States.
Ready for some good news?
The best news about quitting is the sooner you stop, the quicker you reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke. And, this benefit improves the longer you stay a non-smoker.
Encouraging Benefits
Big:
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By being smoke-free, you'll be less likely to suffer a heart attack or stroke, and you'll lower your risk of developing lung disease and cancer. |
And small:
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Save the money you would spend on cigarettes and buy something special. |
So keep up the good work! If you slip, don't think of it as the end of the world. Think of your goal, and take advantage of the support programs that are out there to help you keep from slipping again.
For more information on how to quit smoking, visit the American Lung Association. It has a section devoted to quitting smoking.
Enroll in the BP Success Zone Program for added support and information.
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