If you smoke, you are more than twice as likely to have a heart attack than non-smokers. Chemicals in tobacco can damage your heart and blood vessels, leading to narrowing of the arteries, which can ultimately lead to a heart attack.
The carbon monoxide in cigarette smoke replaces some of the oxygen in your blood. This can increase blood pressure and make your heart work harder to supply oxygen.
When trying to decrease risk of heart disease, no amount of smoking is safe, but the more you smoke the greater the risk.
There is good news; when you quit smoking your risk of heart disease drops to almost half within five years.
Non-smokers who are exposed to second-hand smoke also see an increase of 25-30% in risk of heart disease. Breathing second hand smoke has immediate harmful effects on your cardiovascular system and can increase the risk of heart attack.
Smoking Cessation programs can help you to kick the habit. MMHD's Respiratory Department has an outpatient program to assist you with these needs.
Click here for more information on how to successfully quit smoking.
No comments:
Post a Comment