Tobacco use remains the #1 cause of preventable death in the United States and across the globe. In 2015, tobacco was estimated to account for 7.2 million deaths worldwide. By 2025 it is projected to cause 10 million deaths per year. Tobacco use may kill 1 billion people in the world during this century. And, do you know that most of those people, who will die from tobacco use, have not yet started to smoke. You are never too young or too old to help your heart by quitting all tobacco use!
If you have known heart disease of any kind, or if you want to remove the #1 cause of heart disease, stroke, cancer, many major lung problems, as well as other illnesses, you want to quit all tobacco use.
We know that when tobacco is burned, there are over 7000 chemicals released, including 60 cancer-causing agents. The nicotine in tobacco narrows your body’s blood vessels while the carbon monoxide in tobacco can damage the inner lining of your blood vessels, around your heart and all over your body. This damage to your vessels makes your coronary arteries, which supply oxygen and nutrition to your heart, more likely to narrow causing “hardening of the arteries” to develop.
People who smoke are far more likely to have a heart attack than those who do not smoke. Breathing in secondhand smoke can also cause changes in blood vessels and blood flow in people who do not smoke. And, today, we are learning more about third-hand smoke, which is also very damaging.
What is your plan to stop smoking and stay quit? Use the many tools available on EX to develop a plan that will work for you. Reach out for support. If you are interested in using medications, talk to a trusted professional, who is specialized in treating tobacco to discuss options for quitting. Set a stop date and get ready to enjoy the many benefits of stopping.
Remember that quitting tobacco will improve blood pressure, lower your heartrate, lower cholesterol levels, and improve your overall health and well-being.
Taking care of yourself FIRST, is the BEST thing you can do for those you love and for the other priorities in your life! Best of luck!
Want to learn more? Feel free to leave a comment!
Kathy Zarling, MS, APRN
NDC CTTS
