 Cigarette
smoking accounts for about one-fifth of all deaths
from heart disease in the United States. Smokers
have a two- to fourfold increase in coronary
artery disease and about a 70 percent higher death
rate from coronary artery disease than do
nonsmokers. Smoking is a major risk factor for
heart disease.
Smoking and Heart Disease
Most
people associate cigarette smoking with breathing
problems and lung cancer. But did you know smoking
is also a major cause of heart disease?
What's the link between smoking and heart
disease?
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About 30% of all deaths from heart disease in
the United States are directly related to
cigarette smoking. Smoking is a major cause of
coronary artery disease (atherosclerosis) – a
disease of the arteries in the heart.
Atherosclerosis occurs when the normal lining of
the arteries deteriorates, the walls of the
arteries thicken and deposits of fat and plaque
block the flow of blood through the arteries.
The arteries that supply blood to the heart
become severely narrowed, decreasing the supply
of oxygen-rich blood to the heart – especially
during times of increased activity. Extra strain
on the heart may result in chest pain (angina
pectoris) and other symptoms.
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Cigarettes have multiple poisons, including
addictive nicotine, carbon monoxide, “tars,” and
hydrogen cyanide. There are 4,000 other
chemicals of varying toxicity, including 43
known carcinogens.
Smoking causes:
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Decreased oxygen to the heart
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Increased blood pressure and heart rate
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Increased risk of developing heart disease
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Increase in blood clotting
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Increased risk of becoming sick (especially
among children: respiratory infections are
more common among children exposed to
second-hand smoke)
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Damage to cells that line coronary arteries
and other blood vessels
The affect is cumulative
– the more you smoke – the greater your risk.
What is the link between
heart attacks and smoking?
A person’s risk of heart attack greatly increases
with the number of cigarettes he or she smokes.
Smokers continue to increase their risk of heart
attack the longer they smoke. People who smoke a
pack a day have more than twice the risk of heart
attack than non-smokers. Women who smoke and also
take birth control pills increase several times
their risk of heart attack, stroke and peripheral
vascular disease.
How does cigarette smoke affect others?
Cigarette smoke does not just affect smokers.
When you smoke, the people around you are also at
risk for developing health problems, especially
children. Environmental tobacco smoke (also called
passive smoke or second-hand smoke) affects people
who are frequently around smokers. Second-hand
smoke can cause chronic respiratory conditions,
cancer and heart disease.
How can quitting smoking be helpful?
Now that you know how smoking can be harmful
to your health and the health of those around you,
here are some ways quitting can be helpful. If you
quit smoking, you will:
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Prolong your life
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Reduce your risk of disease (including heart
disease, heart attack, high blood pressure, lung
cancer, throat cancer, emphysema, ulcers, gum
disease and other conditions.)
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Feel healthier (After quitting, you won't cough
as much, have as many sore throats and you will
increase your stamina.)
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Look better (Quitting can help you prevent face
wrinkles, get rid of stained teeth and improve
your skin.)
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Improve your sense of taste and smell
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Save money
How can I quit?
There's no one way to quit that works for
everyone. To quit smoking, you must be ready
emotionally and mentally. You must also want to
quit smoking for yourself, and not to
please your friends or family. Plan ahead.
Before you quit:
(Check off the items on this list as you
accomplish them)
 Pick a date to
stop smoking and then stick to it.
Write down your
reasons for quitting. Read over the list every
day, before and after you quit.
Write down when
you smoke, why you smoke and what you are doing
when you smoke. You will learn what triggers you
to smoke.
Stop smoking in
certain situations (such as at your work break or
after dinner) before actually quitting.
Make a list of
activities you can do instead of smoking. Be ready
to do something else when you want to smoke.
Visualize yourself
as a nonsmoker.
Ask your health
care provider about using nicotine gum, nicotine
patches or prescription medication to help you
quit smoking. Some people find these aids helpful.
Join a smoking
cessation support group or program. See the
section “Where to Get Help” at the end of this
information.
When You Quit
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Start your "Quit Day" morning without a
cigarette.
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Don't carry a lighter, matches or cigarettes.
Keep all of these smoking reminders out of
sight.
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If you live with a smoker, ask that person not
to smoke in your presence.
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Don't focus on what you are missing. Think about
the healthier way of life you are gaining.
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When you get the urge to smoke, take a deep
breath. Hold it for ten seconds and release it
slowly. Repeat this several times until the urge
to smoke is gone.
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Keep your hands busy. Doodle, play with a pencil
or straw, or work on a computer.
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Change activities that were connected to
smoking. Take a walk or read a book instead of
taking a cigarette break.
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When you can, avoid places, people and
situations associated with smoking. Hang out
with non-smokers or go to places that don't
allow smoking, such as the movies, museums,
shops or libraries.
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Don't substitute food or sugar-based products
for cigarettes. Eat low-calorie, healthful foods
(such as carrot or celery sticks, sugar-free
hard candies) or chew gum when the urge to smoke
strikes so you can avoid weight gain.
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Drink plenty of fluids, but limit alcoholic and
caffeinated beverages. They can trigger urges to
smoke.
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Remind yourself you are a nonsmoker. Nonsmokers
don't smoke.
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Exercise. Exercising will help you relax.
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Get support for quitting. Tell others about your
milestones with pride.
How will I feel when I quit?
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You may crave cigarettes, be irritable, feel
very hungry, cough often, get headaches or have
difficulty concentrating. These symptoms of
withdrawal occur because your body is used to
nicotine, the active addicting agent within
cigarettes.
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When withdrawal symptoms occur within the first
two weeks after quitting, stay in control. Think
about your reasons for quitting. Remind yourself
that these are signs that your body is healing
and getting used to being without cigarettes.
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The withdrawal symptoms are only temporary. They
are strongest when you first quit but will go
away within 10 to 14 days. Remember that
withdrawal symptoms are easier to treat than the
major diseases that smoking can cause.
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You may still have the desire to smoke, since
there are many strong associations with smoking.
People may associate smoking with specific
situations, with a variety of emotions or with
certain people in their lives. The best way to
overcome these associations is to experience
them without smoking.
A relapse is not a reason
to lose hope
If you smoke again (called a relapse) do not lose
hope. Seventy-five percent of those who quit
relapse. Most smokers quit three times before they
are successful. If you relapse, don't give up!
Review the reasons why you wanted to become a
nonsmoker. Plan ahead and think about what you
will do next time you get the urge to smoke.
Where to get help
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